EECP Therapy

What is EECP?

Enhanced External Counter Pulsation is a safe, non-invasive treatment for cardiovascular disease. ECP was invented at Harvard in the 1950s.  EECP technology facilitates regenerative healing. During an EECP treatment the patient lies on a bed and three cuffs are placed around the patient’s legs. The cuffs inflate and deflate with the heartbeat that is measured by an ECG machine. This external compression helps blood to find its way back to the heart by opening or forming new collaterals. Collaterals are small branches of vessels. When blood flows through collaterals it goes around blocked arteries, acting like a natural bypass. Naturopathic medicine is founded on the body’s ability to heal itself, and EECP therapy encourages this.

The pressure delivered to the lower limbs by compression of the cuffs increases circulation and improves cardiac output. It also helps to decrease inflammation, reduce arterial stiffness, increase nitric oxide production and generate growth factors in the bone marrow that can improve blood vessel health. EECP therapy can be done on its own, or in conjunction with other naturopathic therapies that support cardiovascular health. Our naturopathic approach to cardiovascular health can be both preventative or for patients who already have cardiovascular disease.