Stroke

I’ve had many clients ask me about alternative treatments for stroke. With the weather changing so frequently, the incidence of stroke goes up especially for those who are at a high risk, such as people with hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity. Stroke comes in 2 forms: it can be a blood clot in the vessels which is called an ischemic stroke; or uncontrolled bleeding in the brain which is called a hemorrhagic stroke. There are a variety of symptoms: unconscious,difficult to close the eye,mouth moving to one side; difficulty or the inability to speak and chew; and partial paralysis, are just a few examples. A stroke caused by a hemorrhage or uncontrolled bleeding in the brain, will usually present serious symptoms. Starting acupuncture treatment as soon as possible is strongly suggested. The addition of herbs can compliment treatment for someone with more serious symptoms. Acupuncture as a treatment for stroke can be 90% effective as long as you begin treatment within half a year after it happens.

About half a year ago, a 60-year old client came to see me about treatment for a stroke he had suffered more than five years ago. In addition, he had hypertension and diabetes. When we first met, he walked with his left leg dragging, was unable to straighten his left arm and his left hand was balled into a fist. I explained that because it had been five years since his stroke, I would try, but could not promise that he would see any improvement. He agreed to commit to at least ten treatments. From his sixth treatment, we could already see evidence of improvement. His is now able to walk sometimes without using his cane, his arm is more relaxed and fingers more flexible. These improvements exceeded my initial doubtful expectations. I would have to say that he is now doing pretty well,

Another client of mine, who is now 27, had a stroke when he was 13 – a sad situation. His main complaints were severe headaches and insomnia. With acupuncture treatment, his headaches went away and he is now able to get a good night’s sleep. It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to improve his limited limb movement. I truly admire my client’s continued optimism.

Prevention from stroke is key. Practicing the following steps daily will help reduce your risk: avoid stress, quit smoking, limit your alcohol intake, avoid extreme moods, do moderate exercise, watch your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and weight.