OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Chinese medicines on Qi stagnation and blood stasis in rats with myocardial ischemia.METHODS: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n =10) as follows: (a) sham operation (Sham),(b) myocardial ischemia (Model),(c) treatment that regulates Qi (Qi),(d) treatment that promotes blood circulation (Blood),(e) treatment that both regulates Qi and promotes blood circulation (QB).The rat model was established via activities restriction for 6 h followed by tail clamp stimulation for 5 mins every day for 7 d and occlusion left coronary anterior descending artery.Afterwards rats were treated with medicines that regulate Qi and/or promote blood circulation via gavage for 14 d.Behavioral parameters were evaluated using open field and elevated plus-maze tests.The tongue color and sublingual vein were visually examined.Blood flow perfusion of tongue and auricle were detected using PIM Ⅱ.The mesenteric microcirculation was examined via capillaroscopy,and hemodynamics was assessed using a polygraph system.Serum homocysteine (Hcy),creatine kinase isoenzyme (CKMB) levels and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured.Hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were employed to detect the myocardial morphology and ultrastructure,respectively.RESULTS: Compared with findings in Sham group,rats in model group had coarse hair,dark mucosa of the lips and claw,low activity,and increased anxiety.Compared with findings in Model group,rats in the three treatment groups exhibited a lighter tongue color without an extended and varicose sublingual vein.There were significant increases of auricle blood flow perfusion in the Qi group and tongue bottom blood flow perfusion in the QB group.Compared with findings in Model rats,rats in Blood group exhibited improved mesenteric microcirculation associated with increased mesenteric blood flow and a larger arteriole diameter.Moreover,compared with findings in Model rats,Qi and QB rats exhibited increased left ventricular ± dp/dtmax,decreased serum CKMB,Hcy,ET-1 levels,and reduced myocardial ultrastructural damage.CONCLUSION: Myocardial ischemia damage was suppressed by Traditional Chinese Medicines that regulate Qi and promote blood circulation.