Stroke is a debilitating condition that robs a person of
normal sensation, mobility, balance, speech and the ability to care for
oneself. According to the World Health Organization, 15 million
people suffer of stroke worldwide each year. Of these, 5 million die and
another 5 million are permanently disabled. While the conventional stroke rehabilitation program usually
includes medications, physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy, acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can greatly enhance recovery in more ways than one.
Having had clinical training in the inpatient stroke ward
in China where acupuncture is done on a daily basis, our Registered
Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Practitioner are equipped with the
knowledge and experience to put together a personalized treatment plan
for any stroke patient desiring a speedier recovery.
Many studies involving thousands of patients have been
done and published in China and Japan. Studies have also been conducted
in Europe, many of which have demonstrated significant benefit. These
studies revealed that patients recover faster, perform better in
self-care, require less nursing and rehabilitation therapy, and thus lowering
the associated cost of health care.
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In a review of acupuncture’s efficacy from controlled
clinical trial, the World Health Organization has expressed confidence
in acupuncture as an effective modality for increasing the therapeutic
outcome of stroke recovery:
"…in randomized controlled studies, acupuncture
treatment of hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction gave better results
than conventional medication and physiotherapy. There were also
beneficial effects when acupuncture was used as a complement to
rehabilitation… In one study, patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular
disease treated with acupuncture were compared with patients treated
with conventional drugs. Nerve function, as evaluated by
electroencephalographic map and somatosensory evoked potential, showed a
much more marked improvement in the patients treated with acupuncture.
This has been further confirmed by experimental studies."
Strokes of different types and durations can be effectively addressed with acupuncture, according to WHO:
"Comparative studies have shown acupuncture treatments
to be as effective for treating hemiplegia due to cerebral haemorrhage
as for that due to cerebral infarction. Since early treatment with
physiotherapy is unsatisfactory, it is advisable to use acupuncture as
the primary treatment. Even in hemiplegia of long duration, remarkable
improvements can often be achieved. Hemiplegia due to other causes,
such as brain surgery, can also be improved by acupuncture (101).
Aphasia caused by acute cerebrovascular disorders can also be treated
with acupuncture (102)."