Objective To investigate the effect of “ Jiangya Fang” acupuncture on internal carotid artery compliance and the mechanism of vascular protection in spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR). Methods Thirty 11-weekold male SHR rats were divided randomly into a model group (SHR) and an acupuncture group (SHR+Acu), with Wistar Kyoto Rats (WKR) as a control group (n= 15 rats per group). The model group and control group underwent the same handling procedures as the acupuncture group, while the acupuncture group also received “Jiangya Fang” acupuncture once a day for 4 weeks. The contractile and diastolic reactivities of the carotid artery in each group were then detected by in vitro thermostatic perfusion and biological function experiments, and the ultrastructure of the intima and middle membrane of the internal carotid artery were observed by electron microscopy. Serum levels of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of phospho-JNK/ MCP1 in the internal carotid artery was observed by co-immunofluorescence staining. Protein expression of transcription activator protein 1 (AP1) and CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) in the internal carotid artery were detected by Western blot. Results Acupuncture reduced the vasoconstriction sensitivity of the internal carotid artery to norepinephrine and enhanced its vasodilation response to sodium nitroprusside in SHR. Acupuncture also alleviated injury of the intima and middle membrane of the internal carotid artery in SHR, reduced serum levels of JNK and MCP1 (P<0. 05), and decreased p-JNK/ MCP1 fluorescence intensity and AP1 and CCR2 protein expression in the internal carotid artery (P< 0. 05). Conclusions Acupuncture can inhibit the JNK/ MCP1 pathway in the internal carotid artery and may play a benign role in regulating vasomotor reactivity of the carotid artery and alleviating injury of the internal carotid artery in SHR.