The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is responsible for the maintenance and regulation a number of involuntary yet vital muscle and organ functions in the body. In patients with advanced heart failure, SNS activity is two to three times greater than normal; the greater the activity, the worse the prognosis is for the patient.
Research found that acupuncture can effectively inhibit SNS activity, and that with further study, it could be used as a complement to (or replacement for) traditional drug therapy.