Stroke and Neuro Rehabilitation
According to statistics published by the American Heart Association, the global prevalence of stroke in 2019 was 101.5 million people. Of these, 6,6 million died and another 6 million were left permanently disabled.
Stroke is the third most common cause of death in developed countries, exceeded only by coronary heart disease and cancer.
If you’ve had a stroke, it’s important to reduce inflammation and increase the range of motion in your affected limbs. The treatment involves a group of different therapies, which may include Acupuncture.
The use of acupuncture in stroke rehabilitation is the most fruitful and dynamic field in the science of acupuncture, because its good therapeutic effects. Through centuries of exploration, acupuncture have developed sophisticated techniques with standardised manipulation, serving as a unique medical resource in China.
As an integrative therapy, when acupuncture is introduced at earlier stages, the occurrence and development of the sequelae are better controlled (Fan and Wang, 2010).
How we treat it
Acupuncture may be helpful in many neurological diseases, such as: post-stroke, paralysis, aphasia, Bell’s palsy, Parkinson’s, foot drop, transverse myelitis, seizure disorders, spinal cord injuries, peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy, MS – Multiple Sclerosis, neuralgia, and concussion.
Xing Nao Kai Qiao
“Xing Nao Kai Qiao” (XNKQ), literally translates to “awaken the mind and open orifices”, refers to a set of acupuncture points and technique developed by Dr. Shi Xue Min in 1972 for treating patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurological disorders. It is the leading treatment for stroke in China today.
The efficacy of XNKQ is related to techniques of needle manipulation. When this group of points is correctly stimulated, it causes vasodilation, promotes circulation, and rejuvenates the nervous system. To an extent, acupuncture can reset the nervous system and reprogram the brain’s connection with the body and extremities for patients with neurological disorders. The treatment can start as soon as the patient is discharged from the hospital.
Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture
This is an alternative system of scalp acupuncture developed by Mingqing Zhu, an early graduate of the Shanghai school. In scalp acupuncture, very short, fine needles are placed on the scalp to achieve the desired therapeutic effects on different parts of the body. Rather than threading a large area on the scalp, the Zhu system uses multiple needles following the same line with little space between them.
Dr. Zhu incorporates the concept of Daoyin (mental exercises) into his practice, which enhances its scope to include both body and mind. Every treatment involves some kind of Daoyin, whether you have a respiratory disease, a heart problem, a sleep disorder, pain, injury, a stroke or any paralysis. The combination of ZSA and Daoyin makes the treatment more effective.