Friday, 15 August 2025

TCM Post-Stroke Recovery with Scalp Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy

Kit Li


An eighty year-old male patient experienced an ischemic stroke (1) one month ago.  Prior to the stroke, he suffered from a severe chest infection that did not fully resolve.

He has a long-standing history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and chronic kidney disease for over 40 years, with frequent symptoms including nocturia and lower-limb oedema.

From a TCM perspective, aging and kidney yang deficiency, combined with qi and blood stagnation, may contribute to the accumulation of phlegm and dampness.

Fortunately, his post-stroke symptoms are limited to memory impairment and mild slurred speech, with no mobility issues.

Today, he received his third scalp acupuncture (2) treatment, with Dao-qi technique, also electro-acupuncture (3) applied to several key areas, including the FSA, CA, and selected body points on Du-mai and Ren-mai.  


One week ago, a specific formula, Bi Min Gan (鼻敏感) (4) was prescribed to address his severe hay fever.  The ingredients are Jing Jie (荆芥,  Schizonepeta stem or bud) , Fang Feng (防风, Saposhnikovia root) , Bai Zhi (白芷, Dahurian angelica root), Gan Cao (甘草, Licorice root)....etc.

As shown in the bottom photo, signs of dampness and heat have markedly reduced after one week of herbal treatment.



References:

1) An ischemic stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked, usually by a blood clot or a build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells start to die within minutes.

2) Efficacy and safety of scalp acupuncture in improving neurological dysfunction after ischemic stroke: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7447452/


3) Early intervention with electrical stimulation reduces neural damage after stroke in non-human primates: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61948-y

4) Bi Min Gan (鼻敏感): to treat wind-cold and wind-heat syndromes, expels dampness, reduces inflammation, clears nasal problem and discharge, and relieve superficies.

5) Jing Jie and Fang Feng: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37315642/

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