Beyond the Heart: Acupuncture's Role in Supporting Cardiovascular Health

True cardiovascular wellness involves more than just factors like cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart rate. Though these are important, the other parts of your system – like the blood vessels, nervous system, stress response, and overall circulation – also influence your cardiovascular health. 

Kierstin Beaman, DACM at Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, uses integrative approaches like acupuncture as part of a comprehensive care plan to promote heart and vascular health.

Read on to learn more about how helpful acupuncture can be in supporting your entire cardiovascular system.

How acupuncture supports your whole body

Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and works by stimulating specific points on the body to support balance within multiple systems. Acupuncture focuses on improving communication between the nervous system, circulatory system, and stress response, which can be incredibly powerful when it comes to managing cardiovascular health..

Your cardiovascular health is linked to how your body deals with stress, inflammation, and circulation. Acupuncture is key in managing these health factors.

Stress, the nervous system, and heart health

Chronic stress activates your body’s sympathetic nervous system. This is the body’s “fight or flight” response, which can contribute to elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and vascular tension over time.

Research indicates that acupuncture can:

• Promote relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system
• Reduce stress-related tension
• Support healthier stress responses

By calming the nervous system, acupuncture may indirectly support cardiovascular function. When your parasympathetic nervous system activates, it helps support a healthy heart rate, heart rhythm, heart contractility, and blood pressure. 

Circulation and blood pressure

Healthy circulation means your body effectively delivers oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Studies show that acupuncture helps support circulation by encouraging blood flow and reducing areas of tension or stagnation.

Patients often report feeling warmer, more relaxed, and more balanced after treatment. These are signs of improved circulation and nervous system regulation.

While acupuncture isn’t a replacement for Western medical treatment, it can effectively support healthy blood pressure levels and reduce inflammation when used alongside conventional care. 

Candidates for acupuncture

Consider acupuncture for cardiovascular health support if you:

• Experience high stress or tension
• Are managing elevated blood pressure alongside medical care
• Want to improve circulation and relaxation
• Are seeking a complementary approach to heart health

Dr. Beaman individualizes all treatment plans and designs them to work alongside your primary care or cardiology team.

Additional support for cardiovascular wellness

At Minnesota Integrative Medicine and Acupuncture, Dr. Beaman often combines acupuncture with other supportive therapies such as:

• Lifestyle and stress management guidance
• Nutritional support
• Herbal or Eastern medicine approaches (when appropriate)
• Movement practices and breathwork

Dr. Beaman uses a whole-person approach, recognizing that cardiovascular health is influenced by daily habits, emotional well-being, and nervous system balance. It’s not just about your heart’s lab numbers.

Achieve cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular wellness goes beyond the heart alone. By supporting stress regulation, circulation, and overall balance, acupuncture offers a gentle yet effective way to care for the systems that influence heart health every day.

If you’re interested in a more integrative approach to supporting cardiovascular wellness, acupuncture may be a valuable part of your care plan. 

Call Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture at 651-964-3868, or book an appointment online today to learn more about acupuncture and how it can help your cardiovascular system thrive.