Chronic Heart Failure and Acupuncture, "Impressive Results"

A recent study published in The American Journal of Physiology, Heart and Circulatory Physiology, a summary of which can be found here, found that several impressive clinical markers were improved by treating patients with acupuncture after an infarct, most dramatically the size of the enlarged heart was decreased.

The researchers note that Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) is associated with significant neurohumoral responses including excess sympathetic nervous system activity. In this laboratory experiment, acupuncture demonstrated significant homeostatic regulatory effects on sympathetic nervous system responses. Excess cardiac sympathetic afferent reflexes resulting in overactive sympathetic tone combined with deficient parasympathetic activity is contributory towards heart failure and the risk of sudden death. Acupuncture successfully demonstrated regulatory responses on these systems to improve overall cardiac health. 

The researchers note that CHF is associated with significant neurohumoral responses including excess sympathetic nervous system activity. In this laboratory experiment, acupuncture demonstrated significant homeostatic regulatory effects on sympathetic nervous system responses. Excess cardiac sympathetic afferent reflexes resulting in overactive sympathetic tone combined with deficient parasympathetic activity is contributory towards heart failure and the risk of sudden death. Acupuncture successfully demonstrated regulatory responses on these systems to improve overall cardiac health. 

At the Northside Holistic Center, we treat many cardiac issues, including CHF and the results can be quite dramatic.