Research Progress of Vagal Nerve Regulation Mechanism in Acupuncture Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Lu-Lu Cao; Hui-Rong Liu; Ya-Jie Ji; Yin-Tao Zhang; Bing-Quan Wang; Xiao-Hong Xue; Pei Wang; Zhi-Hui Luo; Huan-Gan Wu

doi:10.1007/s11655-024-3660-5

Research Progress of Vagal Nerve Regulation Mechanism in Acupuncture Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Chin J Integr Med. 2024 Jul 11. doi: 10.1007/s11655-024-3660-5. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Lu-Lu Cao¹, Hui-Rong Liu¹, Ya-Jie Ji², Yin-Tao Zhang³, Bing-Quan Wang⁴, Xiao-Hong Xue², Pei Wang⁵, Zhi-Hui Luo⁵, Huan-Gan Wu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Immunology Laboratory, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai, 200232, China.
² Breast Disease Department, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China.
³ Graduate College, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
⁴ Department of Acupuncture and Moxibusion Tuina Traumatology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China.
⁵ Graduate College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
⁶ Immunology Laboratory, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai, 200232, China. wuhuangan@126.com.

PMID: 38990478
DOI: 10.1007/s11655-024-3660-5

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice. It has a high prevalence and poor prognosis. The application of antiarrhythmic drugs and even surgery cannot completely treat the disease, and there are many sequelae. AF can be classified into the category of "palpitation" in Chinese medicine according to its symptoms. Acupuncture has a significant effect on AF. The authors find that an important mechanism of acupuncture in AF treatment is to regulate the cardiac vagus nerve. Therefore, this article intends to review the distribution and function of vagus nerve in the heart, the application and the regulatroy effect for the treatment of AF.

Keywords: acupuncture; atrial fibrillation; autonomic nerve; review; vagus nerve.

Publication types

Review