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A
stroke occurs when part of the brain is damaged
because its blood supply is disturbed. As a result, the
physical or mental functions controlled by the injured
area are permanently damaged or sometimes may be
partially restored via alternate pathways. The
disturbance may be from one of three types of vascular
disorders: cerebral thrombosis (clotting within a blood
vessel), cerebral embolism (blockage of a vessel by an
embolus which could be a blood clot, fat or air), or
cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain).
(a) Sudden numbness or weakness of the face,
arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion, difficulty in talking and forming
understandable sentences. Sudden trouble with vision
in one or both eyes, difficulty in walking,
dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination and
sudden severe headache with no known cause. (b) The disease is more common in middle-aged
and old people. (c) Computed tomography (CT) scanning is the
preferred diagnostic technique for acute stroke, it
is helpful in the determination of location and
extent of cerebral necrosis (tissue death). Another
imaging device used for stroke patients is the
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. MRI uses
magnetic fields to detect subtle changes in brain
tissue content.
There are three forms of stroke:
- A cerebral thrombosis, can happen when an
artery that supplies blood to the brain is narrowed,
usually from atherosclerosis (degenerative disease
of the arteries). A plaque, or large deposit of
cholesterol, at the narrowed and roughened portion
of the artery may break open and make a place where
the blood can coagulate and form a thrombus, or
clot. This thrombus may grow until it partially or
completely blocks the artery.
- A cerebral embolism is also a blockage, but
it is caused by an embolus, which is a clump of
material in the bloodstream. The embolus may be a
bit of debris from a section of an artery where
atherosclerosis has occurred, or a small clot from a
diseased heart. It is carried in the bloodstream
until it becomes wedged in a place where it
obstructs the crucial flow of blood that goes to an
area of the brain. In some cases where injury has
occurred fat or air may enter damaged arteries and
pass through the bloodstream to cerebral vessels,
causing a stroke.
- A cerebral hemorrhage, the artery is not
blocked; it bursts or leaks. Blood spreads from the
rupture into the surrounding brain tissue until the
bleeding stops because blood pressure falls or
because blood clots seal the leak. The initial
effects of a hemorrhage may be more severe than
those of a thrombosis or embolism, but the long-term
effects of all three types of stroke depend on which
part and how much of the brain is affected.
During the acute stage of stroke, Chinese medicine plays
only a secondary role to Western medicine but during the
later stage of the disease, Chinese medicine plays a
primary role. Acupuncture in particular gives excellent
results in the treatment of hemiplegia (weakness in one
half of the body) and facial paralysis. The time factor,
however, is very important: best results are obtained if
treatment is given within one month of the attack. More
than six months after its occurrence treatment becomes
increasingly difficult.
This ailment,
according to TCM, has different syndromes. The treatment for
these syndromes using herbal medicine and acupuncture is shown
below.
Syndrome (a)
Channel and collaterals
being attacked
(i) Wind -evil attacking the channels
Numbness, heaviness and inflexible movement of the limbs
(arms, legs), or sudden distortion of the face,
difficulty with speech and hemiplegia, or accompanied
with chill and fever, thin and white coating of the
tongue, floating and wiry pulse.
To treat byHerbal
medicine Therapeutic principle: Expel wind and remove
obstruction in the collaterals (small channels with the
main vessels).
(ii) Deficiency of liver-yin and kidney-liver, wind
stirring inside due to excess of yang
Dizziness, headache, tinnitus (ringing in ears),
soreness and weakness of the loin and knees. Sudden
numbness and heaviness of the limbs, distortion of the
face, hemiplegia, and rigid tongue, slurred speech, a
red tongue, thready and thin pulse.
To treat byHerbal
medicine Therapeutic principle: Tonify the liver and
kidney, tranquilizing the liver to calm endogenous wind.
Prescription/Formula: Pacifying the Liver and
Subduing Wind Decoction Achyranthes root 30g; Red ochre
30g; Gragon𠏋 bone 15g; Oyster shell 15g; Tortoise
plastron 15g; White peony root 15g; Scrophularia root
15g; Lucis asparagus root 15g; Sichuan chinaberry 6g;
Germinated barley 6g; Oriental wormwood 6g; Licorice
root 4g.
To treat by Acupuncture and
Moxibustion
(iii) Obstruction of collaterals by wind-phlegm
Sudden numbness of the limbs, distortion of the face,
hemiplegia, constipation, rigid tongue, thick and sticky
coating of the tongue, wiry and rolling pulse.
Therapeutic principle: Resolve phlegm and relax
the bowels
To treat byHerbal
medicine Prescription/Formula: Decoction for Expelling
Phlegm Pinellia tuber 6g, Bamboo shavings 6g, Fruit of
immature citron 6g, Tangerine peel 9g, Licorice root 5g,
Tuckahoe 5g, Fresh ginger 5 pieces, Arisaema with bile
9g, Rhizoma acori graminei 9g.
To treat by Acupuncture and
Moxibustion Prescription: Baihui (Du 20), Fengfu (Du 16), and
Tainchuang (SI 16).
Supplementary points: For paralysis of the upper
limbs, Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (SJ 5),
and Hegu (LI 4), are added; for paralysis of the low
limbs, Huantiao(G 30), Yanglingquan (G 34), Zusanli (S
36), and Juegu (G 39); for deviation of the mouth and
eye, Dicang (S 4), and Jiache (S 6).
Syndrome (b)
Zang-Fu organs
being attacked
(i) Tense syndrome ( Phlegm-Fire clouding the mind)
Clenched fists, contracture or spasm of the limbs and
body, lockjaw, heavy breathing, profuse sputum, flushed
face, feverish sensation in the body, absence of
sweating, constipation, a yellow sticky tongue coating,
and a wiry forceful pulse.
To treat by Herbal
medicine Prescription/Formula: Decoction of Horn and
Uncaria Ramulus uncariae cum uncis ( Gou Teng) 15g,
Rhizoma pinelliae (Ban Xia) 10g, Rhizoma ariaematis cum
felle bovis ( Dan Nan Xing) 6g, Rhizoma acori gramminei
(Chang Pu) 6g, Tuber curcumae (Yu Jin) 10g, Concretio
silicea bambusae (Tian Zhu Huang) 10g, Rhizoma coptidis
(Huang Lian) 2.5g
To treat by Acupuncture and
Moxibustion Prescription: Renzhong (Ren 26), 12 Jing-well
points, Taichong (Liv 3), Laogong (Pc 8), Fenglong (St
40).
(ii) Flaccid syndrome
Closed eyes, an open mouth, snoring, relaxed hands, and
enuresis (increased urination at night), shortness of
breath, profuse sweating, warm limbs, a red and glossy
tongue, increased sweating, a cold sensation in the
body, cold limbs, and a weak pulse.
Therapeutic principle: Promote the antipathogenic
(against disease) qi of the body.
(i) Hemiplegia (Blood Stasis due to Deficiency of qi )
Deviation of the eye and mouth towards one side,
inability to speak properly, hemiplegia, dark purple
tongue with thin and white fur, thready and weak pulse.
Therapeutic principle: Supplementing qi and
nourishing blood, promoting blood circulation to remove
obstruction in the channels.
To treat by Herbal
medicine Prescription/Formula: Modified Decoction
Invigorating yang for Recuperation. Astragalus root
(Huang Qi) 12g, Chinese angelica (Dang Guo) 10g, Red
peony root (Chi Sao) 10g, Peach kernel (Tao Ren) 10g,
Safflower (Hong Hua) 6g, Earthworm (Di Long) 10g,
Cinnamon twig ( Gui Zhi) 10g, Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuan
Xiong) 12g.
To treat by Acupuncture and
Moxibustion Prescription: Baihui (Du 20), Fengfu (Du 16),
and Tainchuang (SI 16).
Supplementary points: For paralysis of the upper
limbs, Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (SJ 5),
and Hegu (LI 4), are added; for paralysis of the low
limbs, Huantiao(G 30), Yanglingquan (G 34), Zusanli (S
36), and Juegu (G 39)
(ii) Aphasia (or Slurred speech)
Rigid tongue, slurred speech or aphasia, or accompanied
with hemiplegia, sticky coating of the tongue, rolling
pulse.
Therapeutic principle: Subdue wind, resolve
phlegm and open the orifices.
To treat byHerbal
medicine Prescription/Formula: Relaxing Speech Pill
Gastrodia tuber (Tian Ma) 6g, Scorpion (Quan Xie) 1.5g,
Arisaema with bile (Dan Nan Xing) 6g, Giant typhonium
tuber (Bai Fu Zi) 3g, Polygala root (Yuan Zhi) 6g,
Rhizoma acori graminei (Chang Pu) 6g, Aucklandia (Mu
Xiang) 4g, Notopterygium root (Qiang Huo) 3g.
To treat by Acupuncture and
Moxibustion Prescription: Lianquan (Ren 23), Tongli (HE 5),
Zhaohai (KI 6).
(iii) Facial paralysis
Deviation of eye and mouth, the eye on the paralysed
side will not close completely, the mouth will deviate
(move) towards the unaffected side, and the lips on the
paralysed side will not move on attempting to grin, thin
and white coating of the tongue, floating and wiry
pulse.
Therapeutic principle: Expel wind from the
channels, resolve phlegm and resolve paralysis.
To treat byHerbal
medicine Prescription/Formula: Pulling the Upright Powder
Giant typhonium tuber (Bai Fu Zi) 6g, Batryticated
silkworm (Jiang Can) 6g, Scorpion (Quan Xie) 1.5g.
To treat by Acupuncture and
Moxibustion Distal points: Hegu (LI 4), Waiguan (TB 5), and
Taichong (LIV 3). Local points: Yangbai (GB 14), Zanzhu (BL 2),
Yuyao (BL 2), Sizhukong (TB 23), Tongziliao (GB 1),
Sibai (ST 2), Quanliao (SI 18); Yingxiang (LI 20),
Xiaguan (ST 7), Jiache (ST 6), Dicang (ST 4), Heliao (LI
19), Chengjiang (Ren 24), Renzhong (Du 26).
Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing
effect of this specific ailment, however
individual results may vary. It improves the
flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood,
so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't
see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many
exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or
even months of practice before you'll see any
significant improvements.
For the information of different types of Qigong
,just click a link above.
This information is for education purpose only.
We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong
master to learn the correct ways to conduct
these exercises before attempting them.
(b) Medicated diet
1) Tall Gastrodia Tuber (Tianma) 9g, (wrapped
with a piece of gauze), Barbary Wolfberry Fruit
(Gouqizi) 15g, Chinese Date (Dazao) 7 pieces,
Ginseng 3g.
Add water to them to cook until it boils, then
simmer it with gentle heat for 50 minutes.
Applied to those who suffer from hemiplegia with
hepertension.
(c) Life style
1) Abstain from smoking and alcohol.
2) Take low-salt and low-fat food.
3) Avoid being in an anxious state of mind.
Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support
and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this
section would not be possible.
We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir,
MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir
simplified the highly technical medical
documents into easy-to-read documents, for the
enjoyment and education of our numerous
visitors.
