What atrial fibrillation is
The NHS describes atrial fibrillation (AF, sometimes called AFib) as a type of heart rhythm problem in which the heartbeat is not steady [1]. Symptoms it lists include an irregular pulse, heart palpitations, a heartbeat faster than 100 beats per minute, feeling very tired, chest pain or tightness, and feeling short of breath, lightheaded, dizzy or faint. Sometimes there are no symptoms [1].
According to the NHS, there is currently no cure for atrial fibrillation, but treatment should help manage the symptoms and lower the risk of complications such as blood clots, stroke and heart failure [1]. Medicines used include ones that control the rate and rhythm of the heart, and anticoagulants that lower the risk of blood clots or stroke [1].
What the research says about acupuncture
A 2024 meta-analysis. A systematic review of 15 randomised controlled trials with 1,960 patients, published in 2024, reported that acupuncture was associated with a higher rate of return to normal (sinus) rhythm, and that acupuncture added to conventional treatment was associated with a lower ventricular rate and a shorter time to return to normal rhythm than conventional treatment alone. No severe adverse reactions caused by acupuncture were reported in the trials. The authors note that the limited number of studies may affect how far the findings can be generalised [3].
A 2018 systematic review. A review of 9 trials with 638 patients with heart rhythm problems found that only one trial had a clearly low risk of bias. Acupuncture alone showed no significant benefit on response rate compared with the drug amiodarone in people with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. The authors wrote that acupuncture may be a useful and safe alternative or addition to anti-arrhythmic drugs, but that they could not reach a robust conclusion because the overall evidence was of low quality [4].
A 2011 trial after cardioversion. A trial by researchers in Milan, published in 2011 (online in 2010), followed 80 people with persistent AF after their heart rhythm was restored by electrical cardioversion; 17 of them received acupuncture. Over 12 months, AF came back in 35% of the acupuncture group, compared with 27% of a group already taking amiodarone, 69% of a sham acupuncture group and 54% of a group with no acupuncture or anti-arrhythmic drug. The amiodarone group was made up of people already taking the drug; only the other three groups were assigned at random [5].
Acupuncture in Malaysia
What acupuncture is. NCCIH, part of the US National Institutes of Health, describes acupuncture as a technique in which practitioners insert fine needles into the skin. The needles may be manipulated by hand or stimulated with small electrical currents (electroacupuncture). Acupuncture originated from traditional Chinese medicine [2].
Registration. Malaysia's Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775) defines traditional and complementary medicine to include traditional Chinese medicine [6]. Under section 25 of the Act, in force since 1 March 2021, a person who is not a registered practitioner shall not practise traditional and complementary medicine services [6][7]. A registered practitioner must hold a valid practising certificate, which is valid for not more than twelve months and must be displayed at the place of practice (section 26) [6].
Referral. Section 30 of the Act requires a registered practitioner to refer a patient to a medical or dental practitioner if the patient has an acute medical emergency, or if the condition is beyond the practitioner's skill, competency or expertise [6]. Under section 30(3) the practitioner must explain this duty to the patient, or the patient's guardian or representative, so that they can make an informed decision about whether to refuse being referred. Section 30(4) says that if the patient, guardian or representative gives written notice consenting not to be referred, the practitioner is not obliged to refer [6].
NCCIH's guidance is not to use acupuncture to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem [2].
Safety. According to NCCIH, relatively few complications from acupuncture have been reported, but complications have resulted from nonsterile needles and improper delivery. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections, punctured organs and injury to the central nervous system [2]. The NHS lists two situations in which acupuncture may not be safe: taking blood-thinning medicine or being at increased risk of bleeding, and having a skin condition or skin infection [8].
When the sources say to get medical help
Each source below sets its own level of urgency.
Emergency. Malaysia's emergency line is 999 [9]. The regulator's numbering plan also lists 112 as the code for mobile phones routed to emergency services [10]. The NHS (UK) lists these as reasons to call 999 [1]: a fast or irregular heartbeat at the moment together with any of
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- sweating
- feeling or being sick
- fainting, feeling dizzy or falling over
- a severe headache
- weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body
- blurred vision or loss of sight
- confusion or difficulty speaking
The NHS also says people should not drive themselves to A&E in these cases [1].
See a GP (NHS, UK) [1]:
- possible symptoms of atrial fibrillation
- heart palpitations that keep happening or are getting worse
- a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation where treatment is not helping the symptoms
In Malaysia (Ministry of Health portals). Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur, a government health clinic, lists outpatient (Pesakit Luar) services. It lists its service hours as 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, with extended hours on weekday evenings and on weekends and public holidays, and says it is closed on some festival days [11]. Hospital Kuala Lumpur's emergency department says it provides 24-hour emergency medical services to people in Kuala Lumpur [12].
Find a clinic
The clinic directory lists acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine clinics across Malaysia by state and town.
Sources
- NHS. Atrial fibrillation. Page last reviewed 13 January 2025.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), US National Institutes of Health. Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. Last updated October 2022.
- Liu Y, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture assisted treatment for atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials. Medicine (Baltimore), 2024. PubMed 39612438.
- Liu J, et al. Conventional acupuncture for cardiac arrhythmia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2018. PubMed 28432528.
- Lomuscio A, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture in preventing atrial fibrillation recurrences after electrical cardioversion. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 2011;22(3):241-7. PubMed 20807278.
- Laws of Malaysia. Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775), English text published by the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Sections 3, 25, 26 and 30.
- Federal Government Gazette P.U. (B) 118, 23 February 2021. Appointment of date of coming into operation, Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016.
- NHS. Herbal medicines and complementary therapies. Page last reviewed 1 May 2026.
- Malaysia.gov.my (MyGovernment portal). Malaysia Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999. Page updated 25 September 2025.
- Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. Numbering and Electronic Addressing Plan, issued 26 January 2006. Schedule D.
- Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur.
- Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Kecemasan & Trauma.