Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Anti-inflammatory therapies hold great promise in cardiovascular prevention and several novel anti-inflammatory drugs have reached clinical development stage. In recent years, the study found that defective inflammation resolution is also important in deciphering the complex process of atherosclerosis progression. Here, this article summarizes the critical aspects of defective inflammation resolution and its influence on Atherosclerosis plaque formation, deeply discusses the efferocytosis of apoptotic macrophages and how it may go awry in advanced atheroma. In addition, this article combines with the mechanism of defective inflammation resolution, discusses the intervention of Traditional Chinese Medicine in inflammation resolution potential targets, in order to seek both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory resolution atherosclerosis drugs and provide scientific and theoretical basis.