Having a stroke is one of the worst things that can possibly happen to you. It is devastating mentally and physically.
Both of my parents had a stroke. My dad had a stroke in 1997. I was in acupuncture school and was able to help him regain the use of his leg in a couple of days. It was the second week after his stroke.
My mom had a stroke a few years ago. After the second arm treatment, she was able to lift her arm again. I am grateful every day for Chinese medicine. I cannot imagine how it would feel to not be able to help family members when they need it. Yes, I was able to treat her in the hospital. Thank you Baylor Hospital in Plano, Texas. This is an amazing hospital and they also have a rehab facility, if you ever need one. I hope that some day they have Licensed Acupuncturists on staff to help people recover quickly from a stroke.
In the meantime, you can get acupuncture on your own, and use my book to help you. It is never too late.
What Happens During a Stroke?
Having a stroke is like having one side of your body just shut down. It no longer responds to signals from your brain. You cannot lift your arm, and you cannot walk, or cannot walk well.
You will have physical and occupation therapists, who do an amazing job, in hospital and rehab facilities. However, I believe that given how amazing acupuncture is, they should include licensed acupuncturists.
Acupuncture needles stimulate acupuncture points, which sends a signal to the brain. The brain now has to notice it has an arm again. The signal is re-established quickly.
Think about what happens when you put your hand on a hot stove. The fingers send a signal to your brain, which says it is too hot. The brain then tells you to move your fingers from the stove. After a stroke, the brain kind of forgets it has a hand. You can try to exercise, but you do not have a full connection yet. That is why acupuncture is so amazing to treat strokes. It causes the brain to recognize the affected area more quickly. It speeds healing, so the physical therapy works better also.
Check out my book on Amazon, it was just published two months ago. Recover from a Stroke book on Amazon.
This is a list of the chapters in the book. This gives you an idea of some of the things that can happen to a person who has a stroke. All of these issues need to be addressed to recover.
Every Stroke is Different
Each patient has different symptoms after a stroke. The area of the brain affected, and the size of the damage is what determines the symptoms.
This image shows the deltoid muscles of the shoulder. Imagine that your brain suddenly stopped sending signals to these muscles. These muscles lift the arm. If they do not get signals from the brain, they do not work.
Acupuncture surrounding the shoulder, focused on where the muscles attach, stimulates the brain to see the muscles again. Acupuncture WAKES UP your brain so it recognizes that part of the body again.
There are thousands of articles on Pubmed about how acupuncture helps restore function after a stroke. Here are a few links. They all open in a new tab.
Acupuncture, an effective treatment for post-stroke neurologic dysfunction
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39069104/
Abstract
Stroke episodes represent a significant subset of cerebrovascular diseases globally, often resulting in diverse neurological impairments such as hemiparesis, spasticity, dysphagia, sensory dysfunction, cognitive impairment, depression, aphasia, and other sequelae. These dysfunctions markedly diminish patients’ quality of life and impose substantial burdens on their families and society. Consequently, the restoration of neurological function post-stroke remains a primary objective of clinical treatment.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine technique, is endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for stroke treatment due to its distinct advantages in managing cerebrovascular diseases, including ischemic stroke. Numerous clinical studies have substantiated the efficacy of acupuncture in ameliorating neurological dysfunctions following stroke.
This review systematically examines the improvements in post-stroke neurological dysfunction attributable to acupuncture treatment and elucidates potential mechanisms of action proposed in recent years. Additionally, this article aims to present novel therapeutic concepts and strategies for the clinical management of post-stroke neurological dysfunction.
Mechanisms of Acupuncture Therapy in Ischemic Stroke Rehabilitation: A Literature Review of Basic Studies
Abstract
Acupuncture is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an alternative and complementary strategy for stroke treatment and for improving stroke care. Clinical trial and meta-analysis findings have demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture in improving balance function, reducing spasticity, and increasing muscle strength and general well-being post-stroke. The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of acupuncture in stroke rehabilitation remain unclear.
The aim of this study was to conduct a literature review, summarize the current known mechanisms in ischemic stroke rehabilitation through acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) therapy, and to detail the frequently used acupoints implicated in these effects. The evidence in this review indicates that five major different mechanisms are involved in the beneficial effects of acupuncture/EA on ischemic stroke rehabilitation: (1) Promotion of neurogenesis and cell proliferation in the central nervous system (CNS); (2) Regulation of cerebral blood flow in the ischemic area; (3) Anti-apoptosis in the ischemic area; (4) Regulation of neurochemicals; and, (5) Improvement of impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory after stroke.
The most frequently used acupoints in basic studies include Baihui (GV20), Zusanli (ST36), Quchi (LI11), Shuigou (GV26), Dazhui (GV14), and Hegu (LI4). Our findings show that acupuncture exerts a beneficial effect on ischemic stroke through modulation of different mechanisms originating in the CNS.
If you would like a consultation or treatment to address the effects of a stroke, please schedule online. You can also call or text me at 214-302-9820.
It is never too late. The sooner you get acupuncture, the faster you will recover.