BACKGROUND: It is reported that there is special physiological effect of Neiguan (Luo-connecting point, P6) acupuncture on the cardiovascular system. Instead of acupuncture, irradiation of the Neiguan point with He-Ne laser can improve the cardiac function of senile patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of irradiation of Neiguan acupoint with He-Ne laser on the circulatory system of senile patients with coronary heart disease.DESIGN: Auto-control study.SETTING: Henan Provincial General Hospital of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force.PARTICIPANTS: Forty senile patients with coronary heart disease hospitalized in the General Hospital of Henan People's Armed Police Force for rehabilitation from 2000 to 2001 were selected. There were 28 males and 12 females, aged from 66 to 85 with the average age of 70. The course of their disease was from 2 years to 20 years. Among the patients, 15 were complicated with essential hypertension and 7 were with hyperlipemia.METHODS: He-Ne laser, with wavelength of 632.8 nm and power of 5 mw, was used to irradiate directly the Neiguan acupoint once a day, 15 minutes in each time and 20 times as a whole course. Indexes of hemodynamics were detected before the treatment, just after the first treatment and after the first course of treatment.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Cardiac work total (CWT), left heart work effective (LWE) and left cardiac index (LCI); ② Left heart total pumping force (LTPF), left heart jetting pressure (JP), left heart effective pumping force (LEPF) and pressure of efflux (EPE); ③ Consumption myocardium oxygen (CMO) and coronary compliance (CMR); ④ Modulus of elasticity of the cardiac muscle (VE).RESULTS: All 40 senile patients with coronary heart disease entered the final analysis without any loss. ① Comparison between the first time of post-treatment and the pre-treatment: The data of CWT, LCI, and LWE were decreased [(534.086 ±90.923), (616.587 ±137.426) J/minute;(4.821±0.622), (5.469±1.144) L/minute.m2; (116.528±22.476), (136.603 ±30.796) J/minute, P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01]. Parameter of CMO was decreased but parameter of CMR was increased [(22.783±4.174), (25.255±6.125) mL/minute,(180.108±31.210), (157.031±35.056) g/cm4s2, P ＜ 0.01]. ② Comparison between post-first course and pretreatment: Parameters of CWT were decreased [(489.291±118.434), (616.587±137.426) J/minute, P ＜ 0.05],those of CMO were also decreased but th ose of CMR were increased [(22.472±6.011), (25.255±6.125) mL/minute, (193.757±51.704),(157.031±35.056) g/cm4s2, P ＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION: The treatment of coronary heart disease with He-Ne laser beam instead of needling may induce heating effect, biological effect and electromagnetic field, which can excitated the physiological function of meridian in order to improve cardiac load and myocardial oxygen consumption, to increase the oxygen supply and the utilization rate of tissue, improve relaxation-contraction function of coronary artery and promote the blood supply and circulation of coronary artery.