Natural and Alternative Stroke (CVA) Treatment Options

Some cognitive decline is expected with aging.  Mild cognitive impairment, however, is an early middle ground between the more serious dimension and those changes that are expected with aging.  Some of these changes may also be brought on by vascular changes such as head trauma or a stroke.  In western medicine the medication nimodipine is used to help patients recover from stroke and other vascular issues with the brain and has been researched and used as a way to slow cognitive decline.

Acupuncture has long been used and studied clinically for stroke recovery.  Within the field there are many differing methods many of which are effective.  Researchers from Hunan University in Changsha China recently conducted a study comparing the effects of electroacupuncture (acupuncture with electrical stimulation) vs. standard acupuncture for stroke rehab.

Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and tuina is widely used as a complementary and even primary treatment for stroke.  Particular attention has been paid to stroke recovery for which acupuncture shows particularly positive results.

Acupuncture is becoming better and better understood in the west as time goes on but in some other countries it is already very well integrated into the "western" medical establishment.  This integration is perhaps less important - outside of mutual respect and understanding - for less significant health issues but it is crucial for the types of conditions that require aspects of both Chinese and Western systems of medicine.

A recent study published in the biological and pharmaceutical bulletin analyzed the neuroprotective effects of leonurine (yi mu cao, chinese motherwort, herba leonuri) on brain damage from a stroke (in rats). Rsearchers from the department of pharmacology at Fudan University treated rats with leonurine approximately one week before creating a stroke to see if the herbs provide any protection from damage.

A recent study from researchers at the Department of Acu-moxibustion in the College of Chinese Medicine in China looked at differences in effectiveness between using auricular, scalp, and body points in the recovery of patients who have had acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the US and the third leading cause of death. Every year strokes effect 15 million people worldwide with 5 million of those resulting in death. Of the remaining 10 million survivors at least 5 million of those will be disabled to varying degrees requiring immediate and long-term care to regain function, speech, memory, and other related impairments. Smoking, obesity, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and high blood pressure are important risk factors for stroke, with high blood pressure being the most strongly correlated.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is widely used to aid a patients recovery from a stroke.  The first study listed below is a relatively simple one to show basic changes from acupuncture in mobility.  The second study below is a small meta-analysis of a number of studies showing positive changes.  The authors of the second study state "our observations demonstrate that patients may be more likely to remain independent and in their own homes one year post stroke if they receive acupuncture".

For patients who have had a stroke the single most important recommendation is to not delay in seeking acupuncture. Muscular/facial paralysis, speech problems, urine/stool issues, etc. can all be helped significantly with acupuncture. When patients seek acupuncture within the first few months after a stroke, results often come much sooner and a more systemic when compared with people who come months or years later.