Objective: To examine the impact of electroacupuncture on HIF-1α/CXCR4/NF-κB and HO-1/SOD pathways in hippocampal tissue of vascular dementia (VD) rats, and to explore the potential mechanisms by which electroacupuncture improves cognitive impairment through regulating pathway signal interactions, inhibiting inflammatory responses, and repairing oxidative stress damage. Methods: SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly assigned to sham surgery, model, electroacupuncture, and sham electroacupuncture groups. Vascular dementia (VD) was induced by bilateral common carotid artery ligation (2-VO). The electroacupuncture group received intervention at Baihui (GV10), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points, administered at 15 min/session, once daily for 14 days. The sham electroacupuncture group received shallow subcutaneous needle insertion without electrical stimulation. The sham surgery and model groups underwent fixation procedures only. Following intervention, cognitive and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze and Y-maze. Histomorphology of the hippocampal region was examined via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Relative mRNA expression of HIF-1α and CXCR4 in hippocampal tissue was quantified by qPCR. Western blot analysis determined relative protein expression of HIF-1α and CXCR4 alongside the p-NF-κB/NF-κB ratio in hippocampal tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the mean absorbance of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in hippocampal tissue.Immunofluorescence was performed to measure the mean fluorescence intensity of HO-1 in rat hippocampal tissue. ELISA was used to determine the levels of MDA, SOD, and ROS in hippocampal tissue. Fluorescent probes were utilized to observe ROS accumulation in the hippocampal region. Results: Relative to sham-operated controls, both the model group and the sham electroacupuncture group exhibited prolonged escape latency, reduced platform crossings, and decreased spontaneous alternation rate (P<0.01). Neuronal arrangement in the hippocampal region was disordered and loosened, with enlarged intercellular gaps. Relative expression of HIF-1α and CXCR4 mRNA and proteins in hippocampal tissue increased (P<0.01), the p-NF-κB/NF-κB ratio increased (P<0.01), increased mean absorbance of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.01), decreased HO-1 fluorescence intensity (P<0.01), elevated MDA content (P<0.05), reduced SOD content (P<0.01), and increased ROS content and accumulation (P<0.05). Compared with model rats, electroacupuncture-treated rats exhibited a shortened escape latency, increased platform crossings, and elevated spontaneous alternation rate (P<0.01). Hippocampal damage was reduced, with decreased mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1α and CXCR4 (P<0.01), a reduced p-NF-κB/NF-κB ratio (P<0.01), TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β mean optical densities decreased (P<0.01), HO-1 fluorescence intensity increased (P<0.01), MDA content decreased (P<0.05), SOD content increased (P<0.01), and ROS content and accumulation decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV20), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) repaired oxidative damage to hippocampal neurons in VD rats and improved cognitive function. This effect was mediated by balancing the HIF-1α/CXCR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway and the HO-1/SOD antioxidant pathway, thereby reducing neuroinflammation and enhancing antioxidant stress levels.