Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approaches to cardiovascular conditions combine physical, psychological, and pharmaceutical strategies that include herbal remedies, diet changes, acupuncture, and manipulations designed to improve the body's energy flow.

All major TCM treatments have been extensively researched in human and animal models. The results range from "no effect(s)" to "significant effect(s)." Studies done in different countries may use different standards and protocols, making comparisons between results difficult. Cardiovascular treatments are among the most frequently studied because of the significant number of sufferers, the severe effects on lifespan and health of many cardiovascular conditions, and the high expense of allopathic treatment.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, angina can result from several types of syndromes. It can occur when qi and blood stagnate in the heart, when there is a blockage in chest yang, obstruction of the heart by heat, cold, or phlegm, or when there is a deficiency in qi and yin of the kidney and heart. Qi is energy that moves through the channels (meridians) of the body, connecting the surface of the body to the internal organs. When qi is stagnant, then the balance between yin and yang are affected and deficiency occurs. In order to stimulate the movement of qi and to restore balance in the system, specific acupoints present along the meridians are stimulated, herbal medicine are used to balance the energy, or physical exercises like qi gong and tai chi are used to self-regulate the body.