Stroke is among the leading causes of neurological disability and death in the world. It is an emergency case manifested by falling down with loss of consciousness, hemiplegia, slurred speech and deviated mouth. Because it is characterized by abrupt onset with pathological changes varying quickly like the wind, it has also been termed “wind stroke.”

A stroke occurs when hemorrhage, thrombosis or embolism damage part of the brain causing interruption to its blood supply or leakage of blood outside of vessel walls. The two most important risk factors are hypertension (high blood pressure), which weakens the walls of arteries, and atherosclerosis (thickening of the lining of arterial walls), which narrows arteries. Others are atrial fibrillation, damaged heart valve, and recent heart attack, which can cause blood clots that break off and migrate to the brain. Polycythemia (a raised level of red cells in the blood), hyperlipidemia (a high level of fatty substances in the blood), diabetes mellitus, and smoking all increase the risk of hypertension and atherosclerosis. The above modern medical knowledge is widely accepted.

Chinese medicine approaches the cause of the stroke with a special perspective. Strain, stress, anger, exasperation, anxiety, sorrow, fear and joy are an individual’s normal mental and emotional responses to the environment. When excessively intense or persistent, the effects may disturb the yin-yang and chi-blood balance and give rise to organ dysfunction.

Excessively cold or unclean foods, voracious eating, overindulgence in fatty and sweet foods, alcohol over indulgence, and overly hot or spicy foods may not only affect the spleen and the stomach, causing digestive disturbances, food accumulation, stomach pain, diarrhea, etc.; it may create heat, phlegm (visible or invisible) and dampness, thus causing blood stagnancy and blocking the channel.

Overexertion or insufficient exercise may cause debilitation of original chi. Blood needs the chi to move it around the body.

In summary, maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, choose a low fat, high fiber diet, stop smoking and reduce alcohol intake. Controlling mood and increasing forbearance should help as well.

If you suffer a stroke, seek emergency medical treatment as soon as possible. For any post-stroke patient or person at high risk of stroke, you should be aware that there is an alternative if your conventional treatment is not going well. Chinese medicine can help. Treating post-stroke patients with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has been practiced with a long, successful history. Explore acupuncture and herbal medicine’s power. After a few treatments you will notice the difference.