Recovering From Stroke with Acupuncture by Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc

Q: I had a stroke 7 years ago. It was due to a blood clot in the brain. I am making a good recovery, but I am curious to know if acupuncture would benefit me.

Tim

A: Tim, the best time to get acupuncture for stroke is immediately afterwards - ideally while still in the hospital, if the docs will allow it. Seven years is a long time to wait for acupuncture. But it still may help you… You won't know unless you try it.

Scalp Acupuncture

Usually scalp style acupuncture is used for stroke. Needles are "threaded" along the scalp underneath the skin. There are at least three different scalp systems (Dr. Jiao Shun Fa's original style from the 1970s, Dr. Zhu's, and Dr. Yamamoto's styles). Call local acupuncturists and find out if they have experience with scalp acupuncture.

How Many Treatments?

It may take 10-20 treatments to get results. In China, they treat patients every day. That's not financially realistic here, but 2 or 3 times per week is good. In your case - after 7 years - it may take sustained and intense stimulus to make a change.

Complementary Therapies

You can also take herbal formulas to balance out the constitutional issues that led to the stroke, and help repair the damage. Acupuncture can be combined with physical rehab. It can improve both motor function (ability to move muscles) and sensory (ability to feel). You may recover function to some degree, but in more serious strokes there may be no response.

Will it Work for Me?

It's hard to say whether an individual will respond and how much- partner with the acupuncturist - they will get to know you case thoroughly, integrate what they're doing with your other medical providers. See the acupuncturist until you hit a plateau. Then your acupuncturist may try another system or strategy.

Stroke and Acupuncture Research

What's clear from several studies is that very severe stroke patients may be less likely to respond to acupuncture. This issue has not been thoroughly researched. Typically, American researchers have used inadequate acupuncture (style, points, and frequency of treatments). They conduct and review studies using points that Chinese acupuncturists would not use, and then conclude that acupuncture doesn't work. I say, "No, it's your brain that doesn't work, because you don't do a thorough literature review before designing your studies!"

As James Rotchford, MD, (a medical doctor and acupuncturist who has reviewed hundreds of acupuncture research studies and reviews on his website, www.acubriefs.com) mentions below, there are many approaches within acupuncture. Scalp styles (there are 3 - who knows which is most effective when - a good research topic) appear to be best for neurological conditions like stroke, MS, and post-concussion syndrome. To study body acupuncture points for stroke demonstrates unfamiliarity with the work that has been done thus far.

Is the acupuncture (style, points, and frequency of treatments) studied in most research considered the most effective kind by acupuncture experts?

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BIO:

Acupuncturist, herbalist, and medical professor Brian B. Carter founded the alternative health megasite The Pulse of Oriental Medicine (http://www.PulseMed.org/). He is the author of the book "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (November, 2004). Brian speaks on radio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed by Real Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.

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