Aim To study effects of the Bu-shen-ning-xin recipe on atherosclerosis of ovariectomized rabbits and its possible mechanism. Methods Twenty-six female New Zealand white rabbits of three months old were randomly divided into normal group, sham operation group, ovariectomized group and treatment group in which the rabbits were ovariectomized and afforded with Bu-shen-ning-xin decoction. All of rabbits, except normal control, were given high-cholesterol diet two weeks after operation, the treatment group was given additionally by the medication. Twelve weeks later, serum total cholesterol (TC), trig lyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels were measured in routine. The aortas were collected for histomorphometrical evaluation with light and scanning electron microscope. And the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was analyzed by immunohistochemical techniques. Results Following treatment for 12 weeks, no significant difference was found in serum TC, TG, HDLC and LDLC levels among three groups except the normal. The recipe could lower the area ratios of atherosclerotic lesion to endothelium and the thickness ratios of en-dothelium to the medium in treatment group compared with ovariectomized group. The pathologic damage of aortas were relieved and the expression of VCAM-1 protein in aortas were also significantly reduced following the recipe treatment. Conclusion The Bu-shen-ning-xin recipe could inhibit the VCAM-1 expression of aorta, which contributed to alleviate the pathologic progress of atherosclerosis of the ovariectomized rabbit.