Blood Stasis in the Brain: An Integrative Approach to the Treatment of Stroke

Stroke is highly prevalent and can be expected to increase along with life expectancy and the rate of metabolic syndrome. Acupuncture, with its associated techniques and the system-oriented thinking of Chinese medicine, can be of use during all stages of the disorder: acute onset, recovery, rehabilitation, chronic care and secondary prevention. This brief introduction presents a seven-step algorithm for post-stroke assessment and treatment planning, along with key points for differential diagnosis and treatment. The emphasis is on using historical Chinese medicine concepts, together with biomedical pathology as it is currently understood, to apply techniques that are familiar or easily grasped by most acupuncturists.