A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced by a clot or ruptured blood vessel. Within minutes lack of oxygen and nutrients in the brain tissue will cause brain cells to die and can lead to brain damage, disability or even death. A stroke survivor and their family will find that life has changed overnight with new and unexpected challenges to face daily. These limitations can range from mild to severe, depending on the type of stroke, which part of the brain is affected and how quickly they have received care in hospital.
Fatigue and reduced stamina is normal and can persist long after the initial stroke making everyday tasks more challenging. Other symptoms include paralysis (often on one side of the body), spasticity or muscle weakness that affect balance, ability to walk, stand and swallow. Sensory deficits can cause visual issues, speech and language challenges and numbness or tingling. Cognitive functions may be affected too, leading to memory loss, problems with concentration, impaired judgment, confusion, or generally slowed thinking.
Understandably survivors describe the aftermath as a profound process of grief and loss. Emotionally many struggle with depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, or a loss of motivation. Each of these impairments can deeply affect a person’s quality of life, underscoring the importance of timely intervention and comprehensive rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation should include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy psychological support and scalp acupuncture. Scalp acupuncture is a specialised form of acupuncture that involves stimulating specific areas of the scalp that correspond to different brain regions. It is used for stroke rehabilitation in Chinese hospitals, as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan and, is becoming more common in the West, as part of an integrative medical approach.
Scalp acupuncture aids stroke recovery by targeting areas that map the autonomic, motor, sensory and speech areas of the brain. For example motor area stimulation can reduce spasticity, improve limb movement, co-ordination, balance, fine motor skills of the fingers and the swallow reflex. Stimulating the autonomic areas of the brain will support the systems of the body that work without conscious control ie. the organs that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and digestion.
Speech-related areas in the scalp can improve a person’s ability to comprehend, retrieve the correct words and articulate, helping both Broca and Wernicke’s aphasia. Scalp acupuncture activates neural pathways and promotes neuroplasticity helping the brain to reorganise and form new connections after injury. It can also influence neurotransmitters that regulate emotional wellbeing and improve blood flow, which may increase cerebral blood flow to regions of the brain
that were deprived of blood supply during the stroke and help to nourish brain tissue and support the repair process.
While the journey of stroke recovery is unique, and rehabilitation should ideally start soon after the event, research is confirming that patients can still experience functional improvements and reduced neurological symptoms years after the event with scalp acupuncture.
Amanda Roe is an Acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life and Health Coach specialising in Women’s Health. She offers a range of services including scalp acupuncture for stroke and wishes you and or your loved one strength and healing on your journey of stroke recovery. For more information or to book a consultation visit www.roehealth.ie or call/text Amanda on: 087 6331898.
