Shengfeng Wang,1,* Ruxue Fang,1,* Lei Huang,1,* Liping Zhou,1,2 Haibo Liu,3 Meiling Cai,4 Abubakar Sha’aban,5 Chunxiang Yu,1 Mohammed Ahmed Akkaif3 

1Rehabilitation Department of Chinese Medicine, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Kunshan, Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Community Health, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; 3Department of Cardiology, QingPu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qingpu Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 5Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Mohammed Ahmed Akkaif, Department of Cardiology, QingPu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Email akkaif@fudan.edu.cn Chunxiang Yu, Rehabilitation Department of Chinese medicine, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Kunshan, Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China, Email yuchunxiang868@gmail.com

Abstract: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are increasingly prevalent in clinical settings. With the continuous improvement of people’s living standards, the gradual acceleration of the pace of life, and the deterioration of the living environment in recent years, the incidence of CVDs is increasing annually. The prevalence of CVDs among individuals aged 50 and above is notably elevated, posing a significant risk to patients’ well-being and lives. At this juncture, numerous clinical treatment choices are available for managing CVDs, with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy standing out as a practical, safe, and reliable option. Over the recent years, there has been growing acknowledgement among both medical professionals and patients. With the expanding integration of TCM in the treatment of various clinical conditions, the use of TCM in managing CVDs has gained significant attention within the medical community, potentially emerging as an efficacious approach for addressing cardiovascular diseases. This article conducts a comprehensive review of the TCM approach, particularly acupuncture, as a supplementary treatment for CVDs, highlighting its ability to effectively lower blood pressure, decrease coronary artery events, mitigate arrhythmias, and enhance cardiac function when used alongside conventional medication. The review underscores the promise of acupuncture in enhancing cardiovascular health, although variations in research methodologies necessitate standardized applications.

Keywords: cardiovascular diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, clinical treatment