Acupuncture & TCM for Stroke Symptoms
Clinical trials show that acupuncture has a positive effect on stroke symptoms. Not only for post-stroke rehabilitation, but also as a preventive strategy. This could create cerebral ischemic tolerance, especially when it's combined with electrotherapy as electroacupuncture.
TCM & Acupuncture for Post Stroke Symptoms
Stoke symptoms include:
- Weakness
- Paralysis
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Pain
- Numbness, burning and/or tingling sensations.
- Fatigue
Acupuncture can help with weakness, rigidity, and pain of the muscles. It is also able to help the brain release endorphins and serotonin. This in turn, helps to relieve pain and promote relaxation.
In addition, acupuncture is helpful in the early stages of stroke recovery by increasing the flow of blood to injured areas. Acupuncture is able to increase the circulation of blood, relax the muscles, and stimulate the production of neurotransmitters. Also, Acupunture helps to reduce inflammation in the body. It’s important if you’ve had a stroke, as it reduces inflammation and increases the range of motion in the affected limbs.
Preventative Strategy For Stroke With TCM & Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help prevent strokes by treating a TIA. To be more specific, TIA stands for transient ischemic attack and is also known as a mini-stroke. A TIA is a warning of an impending stroke. It may appear hours, days, weeks, or months before a full stroke. However, it is more common within days or a few weeks.
Also, an individual who has had a stroke is in danger of to having another stroke in the near future. The usage of acupuncture can aid to prevent any future strokes.
In a recent study, 35 cases of patients with TIA were given acupuncture therapy. The practitioners had applied needles at the points of the Governing Vessel (Shown in the image below).
The comparison group consisted of 35 cases who were treated with Western medicine. In which aspirin 100 mg/day was taken orally once a night.
In conclusion, the acupuncture treatment based on promoting the circulation of the Governor Vessel achieved much better results on TIA. Also, it proved to have fewer adverse reactions compared to aspirin medication.
