8/7/2019 Acupuncture therapy for stroke

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Acupuncture therapy for stroke-caused conditions such as paralysis, speech and swallowingproblems, and depression is commonly used in the Orient. In China and Japan, an acupuncturistis likely to start therapy as soon as possible after a stroke. However, my recommendation is adelay of 2 weeks before acupuncture for strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, 10 to 20% of strokes (instead of the usual blood vessel block or clot). The wait is due to studies showing thatacupuncture opens blood vessels for better flow and decreases clotting and inflammation. Theseeffects are desired early when arteries are blocked, but after a stroke caused by bleeding hasoccurred, it is safer to wait until the bleeding blood vessel has clotted and is unlikely to bleedfurther before providing the acupuncture.

Acupuncture is done on a daily basis in China. Uncertain as to whether daily acupuncture isessential, even in Western countries, some acupuncturists with experience in treating stroke withacupuncture believe treatment 3 times a week is optimal. Several different approaches have beenused to treat stroke, demonstrating that acupuncture for this disorder remains a healthcare art:Traditional Chinese Yang meridian point therapy, Chinese scalp acupuncture

Dr. Yamamoto's YNSA Japanese scalp therapy, Korean Koryo Chim hand acupuncture,supplemental ear (auricular) acupuncture, and Xingnao KaiQiao (a newer therapy by Professor Shi Xuemin) are each advocated by a number of treatment centers in Oriental countries. One

need not know in depth the approach of each, but it is important to know that more than oneapproach is available and used.

Does acupuncture really work to help stroke victims improve? Many studies involving thousandsof patients have been published in China and Japan, and 2 of 3 studies from Scandinavia,demonstrated significant help. These studies indicate that patients get well faster, perform better in self-care, require less nursing and rehabilitation therapy, and use less healthcare dollars.However, since most studies come from China, they get little credence from the Western medicalcommunity because researchers in China do not appear to be published unless their results arehighly positive, so publication bias is possible. And, no money has been made available in theUnited States for studies needed to confirm the claims of experts in China and Japan of indeedhelping stroke patients. Such studies, if done well, demand significant funding; sources of suchmoney are difficult to find. Most physicians, including rehabilitation experts, have appeared

unwilling to consider acupuncture therapy, not due to bias but because the published studies donot necessarily meet research study criteria for the United States.

Acupuncture is a safe therapy, and my experience has taught that this is especially true whenhelping stroke victims. Even discomfort is generally minimal. If one compares the possiblepositive help to be obtained with the risks associated with acupuncture, my contention is thatacupuncture is worthy to attempt for stroke therapy. Studies are needed in the United States toprove this to medical skeptics. It will be important for such studies to involve skilledacupuncturists with experience in stroke therapy.

Adding acupuncture to rehabilitation therapy obviously increases the cost; daily-to-3 times-weeklytreatment is needed for 2-4 weeks or longer. Concern for added cost would perhaps disappear if the end result demonstrates more self-care and less dependence on family and health providers.