[The adaptive mechanisms of cardio- and angioprotective action of reflexotherapy]

The adaptive mechanisms of action of reflexotherapy are analysed. It was shown in physiological and biochemical experiments on the whole organism, the isolated hearts and strips of resistive arteries of animals that stimulation of acupuncture points by different physical factors increased the activity of opioid, antioxidative, and other stress-limiting systems, reduced secretion of corticosteron during stress, stimulated biosynthesis of stress proteins, induced cyto- and cardioprotective effects, prevented or limited functional and structural hyperadrenal damages. Clinical investigations demonstrated significant hypothensive, anti-ishemic and anti-arrhythmic effects of reflexotherapy, improved resistance of healthy subjects and patients with cardiovascular diseases to physical and emotional loadings.