Coronary heart disease is recommended drug therapy rather consistently as an immediate treatment. That said, a recent study hosted at the Nanyang First People’s Hospital is highlight the impact alternative treatments like acupuncture can have on patients. Published in the Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the results of this research suggests patients receiving acupuncture and drug therapy in tandem achieved more positive outcomes than patients strictly using drug therapy. In detail, coronary heart disease patients receiving drug therapy only had a 62.5 percent effective rate while patients receiving the aforementioned drug therapy with acupuncture in combination produced an 85 percent effectiveness rate in treating the condition.
Researchers are still exploring why this is the case but based off the data obtained, it appears acupuncture significantly improves blood lipids, blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram indicators in coronary heart disease patients while also reducing plaque. Outcomes where positive results were produced in this study included on levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and others. Five acupressure points were used in the acupuncture for coronary heart disease. The study used CV17 (danzhong), PC6 (neiguan), PC4 (ximen), ST36 (zusanli), and BL15 (xinshu). Acupuncture needles were entered at these locations and remained in their position for 30 minutes. Immediately following, a disposable filiform needle was obliquely inserted toward the spine at BL15, manipulated every five minutes during a 20-minute session. This treatment was conducted twice every day for a total of four weeks in hospitalization. This is far from the only study looking at acupuncture’s effects on the heart. A recent investigation at the University of California found acupuncture to be effective at protective the heart, suggesting acupuncture used consistently on a maintenance basis can produce less ventricular arrhythmias.
If you’re considering using acupuncture for some heart issues, we recommend consulting with an acupuncture practitioner and confirm with your doctor there’s no risk to you. Although many doctors are inexperienced with acupuncture and may not follow the latest research on the subject, they can at least confirm whether there’s a direct risk to you. Also, please note that acupuncture is still not recommended for patients pregnant or lactating, and those who are suffering from acute myocardial infarction or other heart diseases. If you’re an acupuncture practitioner looking to use acupuncture to alleviate coronary heart disease or an experienced user of acupuncture looking to do it at home, Lierre.ca has acupuncture needles and accessories and everything you need to enjoy the benefits of the treatment from at-home. Visit Lierre.ca for more information on how acupuncture may help you.