Long term wellness and Monitoring

According to modern TCM research, about 50% to 80% of stroke survivors can have severe disabilities such as paralysis and aphasia. 

The physical functions of stroke patients are often damaged to varying degrees, making recovery a long and challenging journey. In this process, TCM treatment, focused on Long-Term Wellness and Monitoring, can help minimize the disability rate and enhance the patient’s quality of life and self-care abilities.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the most commonly used method at present is acupuncture. Modern medical research also shows that acupuncture treatment can promote the circulation of Qi and blood, improve aerobic metabolism, increase cerebral blood flow and blood sugar supply, and protect the central nervous system during the golden recovery period after stroke. It can reduce the apoptosis of brain neurons; by changing the input of peripheral stimulation, it can also promote the plastic reorganisation of functional areas of the cerebral cortex and activate the brain’s inherent neural pathways, thereby reducing the disability rate and helping patients with stroke sequelae restore physical functions.

A TCM practitioner designs a course of treatment based on the patient’s condition, to achieve the desired effect, and it therefore can be a long or short course. In other words, the course of treatment is not fixed. Usually, on the first to second day of treatment following a stroke, from using acupuncture treatment, the recovery rate can reach 80-90%, and the recovery time is also relatively short. However, it is ideal to use acupuncture treatment during the three months immediately after a stroke. However, clinically, most patients do not seek acupuncture treatment for at least one to two months following stroke. However more commonly, three to six months of acupuncture treatment can roughly assist the recovery from the stroke and for the patient to regain independence.

The frequency and rhythm of acupuncture treatment need to be customised according to the specific situation of the patient. Generally speaking, acupuncture treatment in the early stage of stroke is relatively intensive. In the acute stage, it is recommended to have daily uninterrupted treatment. Acupuncture once a day is enough to relieve the condition. As the condition stabilises and recovery progresses, the frequency of treatment can be gradually reduced, but a certain regularity must still be maintained to consolidate the curative effect and promote the gradual recovery of body functions.

During the recovery period, treatment can be performed one to two times a week; During the consolidation period, acupuncture can be used as appropriate according to the patient’s condition, and treatment can be performed one to two times every two weeks.