Treating Stroke with Acupuncture
by Du Li, LAcc, OMD
A stroke is a “brain attack” that happens
when blood flow suddenly stops. Stroke is the major form of cerebrovascular
disease and is usually caused by hypertension or diabetes. There
are two main types of stroke:
1. Stroke caused by a blockage in the artery supplying blood to a
particular region of the brain (cerebral infarction).
2. Stroke caused by bleeding within the brain (called intracerebral
hemorrhage). In addition, some people experience brief warning signals
that a major stroke could happen in the near future. The medical
term to describe these symptoms is transient ischemic attack or TIA,
sometimes called a mini-stroke because symptoms are exactly like
a stroke, but they last only a short time and leave no disability.
A disruption in blood flow cuts off oxygen to the cells in a part
of the brain and cells without oxygen begin to die. This can cause
slurred speech; deviation of the mouth and eye; paralysis; weakness
or numbness and tingling in the limbs. Strokes cause immediate death
or shortened lifespan. Inflammation around the area of the stroke
causes further injury to brain tissue as the body tries to heal itself.
Stress, depression, anxiety, impaired memory and worsening of illnesses
are common complications.
After a stroke, Western medical science relies on the use of anticoagulants,
diabetes or blood pressure control, and protection against secondary
bacterial infection. In Europe, neuro-protective medications are
given to prevent secondary damage caused by the brain’s healing
process are more commonly used. In China, my practice as a doctor
specializing in acupuncture was devoted mainly to stroke rehabilitation.
If acupuncture treatments start right away, the results are better.
Early and regular treatment of stroke patients using
acupuncture therapy proved to be very effective clinically.
I believe that acupuncture works to preserve brain
tissue by decreasing the stress response, stabilizing the brain’s healing
process, and signaling the brain to keep
making active connections to the limbs which have lost their normal brain control
systems. Clinical studies at Emory and other medical research centers are underway
now hoping to demonstrate that forcing a patient to use damaged limbs prompts
the brain to make new connections and control systems. I believe that acupuncture
stimulation of nerves is a more specific and a more forceful way to accomplish
this healing effect. In our
hospital we found that acupuncture improved facial paralysis, impaired speech,
swallowing difficulties, double vision, in-continence, and reduces depression.
Thanks to modern biochemistry analysis and neuroimaging techniques
we have many ways to understand how acupuncture works. In Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) the old medical language would say that strokes
are due to a yin and yang disorder that makes Chi and blood go upward,
obstructing the brain orifices and hiding the mind and spirit, resulting
in loss of consciousness and vital activities. In acupuncture the
treatment principle is to balance the yin and yang, open the blood
vessels, promote the flow of energy, while stimulating circulation
and decreasing blood or Chi stagnation.
For 14 years I worked in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University
of TCM. This hospital is noted both in China and abroad for its acupuncture
treatment of stroke patients. The acupuncture treatment we developed
is called “activating the brain and opening the orifice” or
Xing Niao Kai Qiao therapy. This method uses points on the energy
channels (Yin and Du meridian). The system we used, studied, and
quantified is quite different from traditional systems of acupuncture
point selection and from traditional acupuncture needling methods
used elsewhere in the treatment of stroke. Since 1972 our hospital
has treated more than two millions stroke patients with the XNKQ
method. In 1995 our research project entitled,“Clinical and
Experimental Research on Apoplexy Treated with XNKQ,” won an
award for Science and Technology Progress of China. This is the highest
honor possible for clinical research achievements in China.
Our clinical research using XNKQ showed that acupuncture has a protective
function in the brain while it also activates mental processes and
quiets the mind. Acupuncture treatment can also improve the function
of the reticular activating center in the brain stem which is the
main system for keeping a person awake and alert. Since XNKQ acupuncture
treats the whole body, it can help to prevent further strokes. In
a case study with 9,005 patients, a very substantial improvement
occurred in 59% of the cases and overall some positive effects were
noted in 98% of the cases.
Our clinical research demonstrated that patients got well faster,
performed better in normal activities, and required less nursing
and rehabilitation therapy. Since acupuncture itself is a highly
safe therapy, the risk to benefit ratio is very favorable especially
if treatment begins immediately.
Dr. Du Li practices acupuncture
at Millennium Health Care.
For a FREE CONSULTATION
Call 770-390-0012. www.templeofhealth.ws
Dr. Du Li practices acupuncture
at Millennium Health Care.
For a FREE CONSULTATION
