Hangzhou Kezhentang TCM Clinic
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Physical condition adjustment during the recovery period after a stroke

Appropriate TCM technical services · Provided within the approved scope of TCM department

What is the constitution adjustment during the recovery period after a stroke?

For individuals in the recovery period after a stroke (cerebral apoplexy), the clinic utilizes comprehensive methods such as internal Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and massage to regulate the body and assist in functional rehabilitation. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the core pathogenesis during the recovery period after a stroke is "deficiency of Qi and blood stasis," and the direction of nourishment is to "invigorate Qi and activate blood, and dissolve blood stasis to unblock collaterals." Auxiliary rehabilitation is conducted on the basis of regular neurology and neurosurgery diagnosis and treatment.

Applicable Population and Common Symptoms

  • Recovery period after stable condition of ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke (specifically assessed by the attending physician)
  • Limb dysfunction: hemiplegia (paralysis), limb numbness and weakness, fine motor skills impairment
  • Speech disorders: unclear speech, speech difficulties, swallowing difficulties
  • Facial hemiplegia: recovery period of facial palsy
  • Weak constitution: fatigue, shortness of breath, lack of energy, decreased immunity
  • Patients with underlying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia require comprehensive constitution management

Mechanism of Action

Family members should cooperate with rehabilitation training and daily care.

Treatment Method

  • Internal herbal medicine administration: The main formula is adjusted according to the degree of Qi deficiency and blood stasis
  • Acupuncture: The specific frequency is determined by the licensed Chinese medicine practitioner based on individual condition
  • Massage and rehabilitation: The specific adjustment time is determined by the licensed Chinese medicine practitioner based on individual condition
  • Conforms with regular rehabilitation treatments such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy

Precautions

The treatment must be conducted only after the neurology doctor confirms the condition is stable.

The content above is for reference only, the specific treatment plan needs to be formulated after the TCM practitioner makes a diagnosis

Related TCM Disease Encyclopedia

Stroke

Licensed TCM Physicians

Chai Xia Yang
Chai Xia Yang Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
 Zhu Yongbing
Zhu Yongbing Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
 Chen Yan
Chen Yan Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner

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Common Questions

Compiled based on real medical consultation scenarios, please take the face-to-face diagnosis of a practicing Chinese medicine physician as the standard.

My father has had a stroke for half a year now, and he can walk a few steps with support, but his left hand is still not very functional. Can there be further improvement? The rehabilitation department says it's difficult to have significant improvement after half a year.

Although modern rehabilitation medicine generally considers the first 3-6 months after a stroke to be the golden recovery period, TCMRegulate or adjust can help activate meridian Qi, especially having a certain auxiliary effect on the improvement of limb muscle strength: herbal medicine such as the Bu Yang Huan Wu Decoction to tonify Qi and activate blood circulation, acupuncture to stimulate the acupoints of the Hand Yangming and Foot Yangming meridians to activate meridian Qi, and massage to passively move joints and regulate tendons to improve spasm and muscle atrophy. Many stroke recovery patients can still achieve certain improvements through long-term adherence to TCMRegulate or adjust after the golden period.

My husband has been speaking with a thick tongue and has difficulty drinking water after a stroke. Can acupuncture improve this?

Yes—it is called "Slurred speech and difficulty speaking" in traditional Chinese medicine, and acupuncture at local tongue points (Jin Jin Yu Ye point) and limb acupoints (Shou Li, Lian Quan, etc.) has an auxiliary effect on improving articulation and swallowing function. However, it must be combined with rehabilitation training guided by a qualified speech therapist, as acupuncture alone is not sufficient.

What should we family members do? The elderly person's temperament has also become worse after a stroke.

The role of family members is very important: ① Assist with daily massage and joint movement to maintain muscle strength ② Encourage and supervise the consistency of rehabilitation training (this is the most difficult) ③ Depression or emotional fluctuations are very common after a stroke—TCM believes it is due to "phlegm and blood stasis blocking the meridians + liver Qi not flowing smoothly," and emotional nourishment combined with herbs that relieve liver Qi can help improve emotional state. Family members need to understand that these emotional changes are part of the disease, not the person's "temper."

Will acupuncture during the recovery period lead to a recurrence of stroke or cause bleeding again?

This is a very important question—the answer is acupuncture is safe after the condition is stable and the practitioner determines the contraindications. Acupuncture selects the Yangming meridian points at the distal ends of the limbs (such as Hegu, Quchi, Zusanli), which are far from the brain and heart, and will not trigger a recurrence of stroke or bleeding. However, the prerequisite is that the condition must be confirmed stable by a neurology department, and the acupuncturist must be familiar with the patient's entire medical history (especially whether they are taking anticoagulant drugs—this is crucial for the safety of acupuncture).

What can we do at home to help the stroke patient? Are there any simple massage techniques?

Yes—young family members' daily care is very important during the recovery period. Several safe assistance methods: ① passive joint movement—daily assist the elderly person to slowly flex and extend the elbow, wrist, and finger joints on the paralyzed side of the upper limb, and the knee, ankle joints on the lower limb (5-10 times per joint, 2-3 sets per day); ② gentle muscle massage—from the fingers to the shoulder, and from the toes to the thigh in a unidirectional push and rub (centripetal push and rub promotes blood return, do not go in the opposite direction); ③ foot bath with warm water—water temperature of 38-40°C, soak up to the calf, assist in relaxing the limbs. These methods are safe and have certain help, but they are all auxiliary—core recovery training needs to be carried out under the guidance of a rehabilitation therapist.

The above Q&A is compiled based on common medical consultation scenarios.