STROKE REHABILITATION

What is Stroke? 

From a biomedical perspective, stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted. This causes brain cells to lose their function, thus leading to the signs and symptoms commonly observed. From Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, stroke has been thought to be caused by internal and external influences, resulting in disrupted and unsettled flow of Qi and blood in the body which ultimately rush upwards to the head.

There are two main types of stroke:

• Ischaemic stroke occurs due to blockage of the blood vessel, limiting blood flow to the brain. It is the most common type.
• Haemorrhage stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures in the brain, whereas thrombosis occurs when a clot is formed and blocks the blood supply to the brain.

The occurrence of either will cause oxygen-deprivation in parts of the brain, resulting in damage to brain cells and therefore affecting abilities controlled by those areas of the brain.

Bells’ Palsy

Bell’s palsy is linked to facial nerve damage causing rapid onset of facial muscle weakness. It is the most common cause of facial nerve injury. Bell’s palsy and stroke can cause similar symptoms. Read here to find out how TCM acupuncture can help.

Post-stroke rehabilitation

Besides conventional western medical care, TCM treatment, as complementary form of support, can also maximize recovery after stroke. The types and degrees of disability that follow a stroke depend upon which area of the brain is damaged. Some of the common disabilities resulting from a stroke that can be treated by TCM are listed below:

• Hemiparesis and hemiplegia, where there is one-sided weakness or paralysis affecting the face, arm, leg or entire side of the body. These patients may have difficulty with everyday activities such as walking or grasping objects.
• Dysphagia, where patients have a problem with swallowing. This is due to damage to the part of the brain that controls muscles for swallowing.
• Dysphasia, where there are problems with language use, having disruptions either on the productive side (speech/writing) or primarily receptive abilities (comprehension).
• Dysarthria, where muscles used to produce speech are weak or paralyzed, causing slow, slurred speech that is hard to understand. Some people also struggle to maintain the correct pitch or volume when speaking.
• Muscle spasms and spasticity in limbs
• Sensory disturbances, where patients may lose the ability to feel touch, pain, temperature, or position. Some may experience pain, numbness or odd sensations of tingling and pricking in paralyzed or weakened limbs.
• Urinary and faecal incontinence
• Shoulder and arm pain
• Anxiety and depression
• Insomnia

Knowing and understanding the internal and external factors contributing to the development of stroke enables one to take precautionary actions to reduce the risk of stroke occurrence. Early stroke rehabilitation plays a vital role in helping the patient recover bodily functions. 

3 Best TCM therapies for stroke recovery

• Acupuncture

British Acupuncture Council shares that studies suggest that acupuncture may help in a wide range of post-stroke symptoms such as functional recovery in general, motor function, cognition, speech problems, dysphagia, shoulder pain, urinary incontinence, constipation, depression, fatigue and as a preventive intervention for ischaemic cerebral apoplexy.

Acupuncture can help to improve the blood circulation in the brain, which boosts oxygen supply in the affected areas. It also helps to dissipate blood clots so as to speed up recovery. If you want to know more about how acupuncture help with stroke reocery, you may find more here.

• Cupping

Cupping is often used for stroke rehabilitation in Asian countries. In a studies, cupping therapy has shown positive effects on hemiplegic shoulder pain and high upper-limb myodynamia after stroke, as well as aphasia and intractable hiccup after stroke. The vacuum produced from cupping causes a localized expansion of the tissue. This facilitates a profound vasodilation reaction to increase circulation/blood flow to painful constricted areas. Increased circulation improves oxygen supply and cell metabolism, which reduces inflammatory (or toxic) substances.

• Herbal Medication

There are various factors leading to the formation of Internal Wind which eventually brings about stroke. Once diagnosed, these deficiencies, stagnation and pathogenic factors can be managed and improved through the taking of various herbal medication. For example, a pilot study has indicated that Danshen Dripping Pill (DPP) treatment may reduce the risk of stroke/TIA recurrence, and this reduction may be associated with its anti-inflammatory effects. DPP is a herbal medication comprising of Red Sage Root, Notoginseng and Borneol Flakes. These herbs have a combined effect of moving stagnant Qi and removing Blood stasis, potentially alleviating stagnation/stasis contribution towards formation of stroke.

What Shanghai Medical Clinic can do for  patients with stroke 

At Shanghai Medical Clinic, we have a team of TCM physicians and acupuncturists with more than 30 years experience in the treatment of Chinese medicine. Each of them has been trained and worked in the field of in Chinese medicine for a minimum of 20 years. Specifically, Our TCM Physician, Dr. Wang Xiaozhong who specializes in using acupuncture for post stroke rehabilitationn and infertility.

Stroke is a dreadful disease for both the patient and family members alike. It is therefore important to receive the best possible care and complementary treatment in your rehabilitation towards a better quality of life. By combining Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies and expertise with Technology-Enhanced Therapies, we strive to provide the best care possible in your journey of rehabilitation of stroke.

Please contact us at +971 4343 4811 or make an booking for a personalized consultation.