Angina (adjunctive care only)
Also known as: angina, stable angina, chest pain on exertion, coronary heart disease
Angina is chest pain or pressure from reduced blood flow to the heart, usually triggered by exertion. It is a heart condition: diagnosis, risk-factor control and prescribed medicines (including GTN) are essential, and cardiology care comes first. Chinese medicine frames it as Xiōng Bì (chest obstruction) — Heart Blood stasis, Phlegm obstruction, or Yang deficiency cold.
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Lifestyle & Diet
- •Take prescribed heart medicines exactly as directed; carry GTN and know the action plan.
- •Stop smoking — the single biggest change for heart health.
- •Follow a heart-healthy diet and the exercise plan from your cardiac rehab team.
- •Manage blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes with your GP.
- •Learn the heart attack warning signs and when to call 000.
Cautions & Contraindications
- •Chest pain is a cardiac symptom until proven otherwise — never treat undiagnosed chest pain with acupuncture or herbs alone.[,]
- •Blood-moving herbs interact with antiplatelets, anticoagulants and GTN — coordinate all prescribing with the cardiology team.[]
- •Avoid strong stimulation and electroacupuncture near the chest in patients with pacemakers or ICDs.[]
When to reassess or seek care again
Any change in angina pattern (more frequent, at rest, or longer) triggers immediate referral back to the GP or cardiologist.
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Sources & Further Reading
Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.
- NHS · 2024
- Heart Foundation · 2024
- AHPRA / Chinese Medicine Board of Australia · 2024
Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.