Herzinfarkt – Aufbruch zu neuen Ufern

Abstract

Practical knowledge shows that acupuncture treatment of patients with angina pectoris and after myocardial infarction is efficient and helpful. Nevertheless, most acupuncturists avoid treating these patients. The main reason seems to be not to make oneself ridiculous in the eyes of conventional medicine, which holds that an organically determinated process like coronary stenoses cannot be influenced by acupuncture needles. Therefore, acupuncturists have chosen to collectively “forget” their good experiences in treating these patients.In this article, “coronary heart disease”, the generally accepted cause of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, is being questioned. The following statements are supported:The importance of coronary stenoses is by far overestimated. The genesis of myocardial infarction has different reasons. Coronary stenoses are of minor significance. A defective autonomic heart control is of major importance.The defective autonomic activity is based on a significant reduction of vagal heart control. This reduction of parasympathetic heart activity is a pathognomonic attribute of patients with ischemic heart disease. It corresponds to some psychosomatic characteristics, so that the body-mind process of these patients can be understood as a failure of “yin”.A treatment of this “yin-failure” is possible with empathy and loving care, relaxation practices, and all treatments harmonizing the inner balance, such as acupuncture. Acupuncture for angina pectoris, and after myocardial infarction, should therefore be considered a causal method of treatment.