As a female we menstruate for 35 years (between 14 and 49 years of age) give or take a few years. Bleeding is a natural physiological occurrence and usually comes about once a month (in a perfect world, every 28 days). According to Chinese medicine, it is necessary not only for a healthy cycle and physiology but also for the wellbeing of a woman.
We meet many females in our practice who have disrupted, irregular, painful periods. We need you to know that this is not a necessity and if addressed early, will have an excellent chance to improve greatly. It will not only make your periods easily manageable but will also greatly influence your fertility, pregnancies and menopause (change of life).
If there are difficulties with your menstrual cycle, it should be addressed! And by the way, the Pill doesn’t fix all those problems.
If the Qi[1] and the blood flows smoothly, you won’t experience difficulties associated with your menstrual cycle. The flow of Qi and blood depends on a certain core temperature[2] of 36.8 – 37.0 degrees Celsius. At optimal body temperatures the Qi and blood flow un-interruptedly and maintain heathy processes and mechanism throughout the body.
If the blood flow is congested the Qi flow is blocked and vice-versa. This will cause especially one symptom: pain. Cold temperatures congeal the blood and Qi and it will stagnate.
5 things to avoid during your period:
Reduce your intake of dairy food leading up and during your period
Reduce your intake of salads or uncooked foods during your period
Don’t eat any ice-cream leading up or during your period
Don’t swim during your period, of if you have to, immediately change out of your wet bathers
Never have sex during your period!
There is a bigger risk of cold entering into the uterus or being transferred internally especially through the Spleen, Liver and Kidney channels. If you follow this easy rule – 5 things to avoid during your period – you will experience healthy menstrual cycle. If you do experience any problems such as irregular, painful, heavy or no periods, please make an appointment today so we can discuss a treatment plan that suits your constitution.
The practice of dry needling involves inserting an Acupuncture needle into a trigger point (tender spot). It is generally used to treat pain associated with injuries. Dry needling is often conducted by Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors, or Remedial Masseurs to complement their treatment modality. Dry needling can be effective in relieving pain or discomfort associated with an area of your body.
Dry needling programs run for several days and the rudimentary understanding on how to needle a trigger point is easily picked up. The increasing use of the term dry needling has caused some confusion and hence this short article. Acupuncture may involve dry needling techniques but goes beyond inserting a needle into a tender spot on tight band of muscles. Acupuncturists study for at least 4 years and in Australia are registered with the Chinese Medicine Registration board.
Acupuncture involves accessing our body’s energy system. It also differentiates between draining or supplementing, moving or concentrating (energy). Acupuncture assists the body in optimal functioning. It balances the mind, organises soft tissue, relieves pain or aches, vitalizes and much more (depending on your circumstances).
While Acupuncture is considered very safe in the hands of well-trained practitioners, it has been associated with a range of complications, some of them of serious nature. The treatment with Acupuncture generally does not have any adverse effects, however, it must be noted that some recipients might experience a worsening of symptoms in the first 48 hours before the condition improves. Acupuncture causes a deep state of relaxation and a genuine feeling of well being.
If you have any questions about dry needling or Acupuncture, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a serious and potentially deadly disease with a characteristic of high blood glucose. Its classical symptoms are increased eating, increased drinking, increased urine and decreased body weight. There are mainly two types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is the form of diabetes that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas [[1]]. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency [[2]].
The development of T2DM is caused by a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors. The former includes body weight, diet, exercise, stress and urbanization. The genetic factors include age, female gender, and some genes involved in beta cell functions [2]. After we eat carbohydrate food, such as rice, wheat, corn, and starchy vegetables (like potatoes and beans), the carbohydrate will be digested into single sugar molecules (glucose is one of them) to supply energy and to involve in the metabolisms of amino acid, proteins and fatty acids. The beta cells of pancreas secrete insulin into the blood streams in response to the high blood sugar. Insulin helps to burn the glucose inside the cells to produce energy (ATP) for the cells (Fig.1, [[3],[4]]). Normally, the blood glucose peak drops 2 hours after a meal since the glucose goes into the cells. However, the cells under the condition of T2DM can’t take in the glucose from the blood, leading the blood glucose high. The high blood glucose makes blood viscous and lowers blood fluidity [[5]], leading oxygen and nutrient deficiency, toxic accumulation, and finally causing pathological changes in a local tissue—symptoms appear in many organs (Fig.2, [[6]]).
Fig.1. Metabolism of glucose. Carbohydrates are digested into single sugar molecules (glucose) in the gut. Glucose enters into the blood stream. Pancreas secretes insulin into blood after sensing the high blood glucose. Cells (especially muscle and fat cells) take in the glucose from the blood and produce energies in the presence of insulin—lowering the blood glucose.
High blood glucose requests more insulin secretion and increases the burden of beta cells and decrease its lifetime. Food toxins, such as bad foods and preservatives in the foods, damage all cells in the body, including beta cells [[7]]. High fat intake contributes to insulin resistance. Virus infections [[8]], non-infectious inflammation and stress [[9]] are all the factors of damaging beta cell of pancreas islet. Finally, as all other cells of our body, the beta cells will be function-declined along with aging [[10]]. Therefore, no matter what, we all will have diabetes as we are getting old.
We can’t change the nature procedure of getting diabetes eventually, but we can slow down its pace and progress by modifying our lifestyle, including the diet (correct nutrients, toxin free foods and drinks, and eating more often but less foods each time to avoid the high peak of blood glucose), exercises (consume the glucose in muscle cells, metabolise toxins through skin and stimulate stem cells to replace the dead beta cells), relaxing your body and mind to avoid cell damages including beta cells, and supplements (including herbs) for better metabolisms of the whole body.
Cinnamon (Gui Zhi or Rou Gui), an herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is found to have the functions that reduces postprandial blood glucose and delays gastric emptying without affecting satiety by modern science [[11]]. It is now used as a supplement for diabetes or preventing diabetes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gui Zhi has the actions of inducing sweating to expel the exogenous evils from the body surface; activating Yang by warming meridians (and blood). It is used for common cold of wind-cold type; for palpitation, precordial pain and irregular, slow and intermittent pulse due to deficiency of heart-energy; for cough due to the retention of phlegm, dizziness and palpitation caused by deficiency of heart-Yang and spleen-Yang; for arthralgia due to wind-cold-dampness; for amenorrhea and menorrhalgia due to stagnation of cold; for dysuria and edema due to hypofunction of urinary bladder [[12]].
It can be seen from its TCM uses that Gui Zhi is not only acting on the pancreas or blood glucose but also acting on circulating, urinary, respiratory systems plus the skin mechanisms of detoxification. The modern pharmacological experiments also discover that Gui Zhi has the functions of calm, pain release, antipyretic, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antiviral, diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects [[13]]. In addition, in TCM, Gui Zhi is always used with other herbs as a formula to balance and boost functions of the whole body (see the table below). That is the charm of the TCM for diseases including diabetes.
Fig.2. Feedback of blood glucose and insulin. High blood glucose promotes insulin release. Insulin drives glucose into tissue cells—lowering blood glucose. Low blood glucose triggers the hungery sensor for more foods and dialysis of glycogen into glucose.
Table: Common modifications of Gui Zhi Tang
It can be used when the indications are aversion to wind, sweating, and a floating pulse. If there is excessive sweating, with aversion to cold and pain in the joints, Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata) must be added (unfortunately, Fu Zi still needs to be scheduled in Australia). If the patient suffers from body pain and has a sunken and slow pulse after sweating, then Ren Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng) must be added. If Qi surges up into the heart from the lower abdomen, then double Gui Zhi. If there is pain in the abdomen, Shao Yao (Paeonia Lactiflora Radix or Bai Shao) should be added [[14], [15],[16],[17]].
Gui Zhi formulas
Composition or comments
Gui Zhi Tang
Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao.
Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang
Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Zhi Mu, Fang Feng, Bai Zhu, Sehng Jiang, Fu Zi, Ma Huang, Gan Cao.
Gui Zhi Sheng Jiang Zhi Shi Tang
Gui Zhi, Sheng Jiang, Zhi Shi.
Gui Ling Wu Wei Gan Cao Tang
Gui Zhi, Fu Ling, Zhi Gan Cao, Wu Wei Zi.
Gui Zhi jia Ge Gen Tang
Gui Zhi, Sheng Jiang, Ge Gen, Da Zao, Bai Shao, Zhi Gan Cao.
Gui Zhi jia Huang Qi Tang
Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Zhi Gan Cao, Huang Qi.
Gui Zhi Xin jia Tang
Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Ren Shen.
Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang
Gui Zhi, Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Gan Cao, Gan Jiang.
Gui Zhi jia Ling Zhu Fu Tang
Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Zhi Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Cang Zhu, Fu Ling, Pao Fu Zi.
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang
Gui Zhi, Fu Ling, Gan Cao, Mu Dan Pi, Bai Shao, Tao Ren.
Gui Zhi Fu Zhi Tang
Gui Zhi, Fu Zi, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Zhi Gan Cao.
Gui Zhi Gan Cao Long Gu Mu Li Tang
Gui Zhi, Zhi Gan Cao, Long Gu, Mu Li.
Gui Zhi Qu Shao Yao Tang
Gui Zhi, Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao.
Gui Zhi Jia Hou Po Xing Ren Tang
Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Sheng Jiang, Gan Cao, Da Zao, Hou Po, Xing Ren.
Gui Zhi Qu Shao Yao Jia Fu Zi Tang
Gui Zhi, Sheng Jiang, Gan Cao, Da Zao, Fu Zi.
Gui Zhi Qu Shao Yao jia Ma Huang Xi Xin Tang
Gui Zhi, Sheng Jiang, Gan Cao, Da Zao, Ma Huang, Xi Xin.
Gui Zhi jia Da Huang Tang
Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Da Huang.
Gui Zhi jia Gui Tang
Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao.
Herbal indications are strict. Herbs can only be used when the appropriate indications exist. If there are no such indications, the corresponding herbs should not be used. The modification of herbs should change according to the changing clinical indications, but not randomly. Applying this principle is the key to modify herbs, regardless of how the disease changes. The strict guidelines for prescribing formulas account for the variations in these clinical classical prescriptions [15].
[7] Rob M. van Dam et al: Dietary Fat and Meat Intake in Relation to Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Men. Diabetes Care March 2002 vol. 25 no. .
[8] J W Yoon, T Onodera, and A L Notkins: Virus-induced diabetes mellitus. XV. Beta cell damage and insulin-dependent hyperglycemia in mice infected with coxsackie virus B4. THE JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE, VOLUME 148:1068, 1978
[9] Kathryn E. Wellen and Gökhan S. Hotamisligil: Inflammation, stress, and diabetes. J Clin Invest. 2005;115(5): 1111–1119.
[10] E P Reaven, G Gold, and G M Reaven: Effect of age on glucose-stimulated insulin release by the beta-cell of the rat. J Clin Invest. 1979 August; 64(2): 591–599.
[11] Joanna Hlebowicz et al: Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr, Jun 2007; 85: 1552 – 1556.
[12] Chinese-English Manual of Common-Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ming Ou et al. Guangdong Science and Technology Publishing House Co., Ltd, June,1992:417-8.
[14] Chinese-English Manual of Common-Used Prescriptions in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ming Ou et al. Guangdong Science and Technology Publishing House Co., Ltd, December, 1991:410-2
The skin is considered as the largest organ of human beings, with a total area of about 20 square feet (1.86 m2). It contains two layers, each with its own important parts (Fig.1):
Epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, provides a waterproof barrier, prevents pathogens, regulates body temperature and creates our skin tone.
Dermis, beneath the epidermis, contains sensory nerve endings, hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands, lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. The latter provides nourishment and waste removal from its own cells as well as for the epidermis.
Beneath the dermis lies the hypodermis or subcutaneous tissue. It supports skin with nutrients, attaches skin to the underlying muscle and acts as a cushion for skin [[1],[2],[3]].
Any metabolic problems of above parts may result in a skin disease. The plenty of blood and nerve distribution causes the symptoms of redness, swollen, itching, flaking, etc.
Acne (acne vulgaris, common acne) is a disease due to blockages in the follicles and sebaceous glands of skin, sometimes with infections. The excessive formation of keratin (a structural protein of skin) and sebum (skin oil), occurred with increased androgen (a sex hormone), may block the ducts of the follicular glands. If bacteria involve under this condition, it will result in inflammatory lesions (papules, infected pustules, or nodules) in the dermis around the acne. The imbalance of sex hormones during menstrual cycles, puberty and later ages contributes an important role in acne formation [[4]]. Stress and diets also affect the sex hormone, insulin, and lipid metabolisms [[5],[6],[7]], leading to the acne worsening [[8],[9]]. The interesting thing is the teenager of a few primitive isolated tribes living in Neolithic societies have no acne [[10]]. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that acne was mostly related with heat, dampness, phlegm, blood stasis and imbalance of Chong channel and Ren channel from the perspective of TCM. The accumulation of phlegm and dampness was the major syndrome type [[11]].
Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that produces small, red, pus-filled bumps or pustules. The exact cause of acne rosacea is unclear, a variety of factors are likely to induce or aggravate the disease, including local vasomotor disorders, hair follicle insects and local recurrent infections, the use of spicy food, alcohol, hot and cold stimulation, mental stress, emotional excitement, endocrine dysfunction. In recent years, Helicobacter pylori infection and immune factors is concerned to the causes of rosacea [[12]]. From the TCM perspective, the blood stasis develops from pre-existing accumulated heat in the lungs and stomach or the disharmony of the Chong & Ren channels. If cold or wind-cold invades the face (from exposure to cold air or cold water), the skin’s exterior defenses become blocked and the cold settles in the skin preventing the ventilation of accumulated heat on the face. This combo causes local stasis of the blood and Qi. The patient’s tongue will be dull red or purple and may even have ecchymosis (dark purple spots) with a sticky yellow coating. The pulse will likely be choppy or wiry [[13]].
Psoriasis is a non-contagious, common, chronic and incurable skin disease that occurs when faulty signals in the immune system cause skin cells (keratinocytes) to regenerate too quickly – every three to four days instead of the usual 28-30 day cycle. These extra skin cells build up on the skin’s surface, forming red, flaky, scaly and inflamed lesions that can itch, crack, bleed and be extremely painful. These lesions can be very disfiguring, causes others to stare and discriminate against people with psoriasis. The disease generally affects joints, limbs, genitalia and scalp, but it can appear anywhere and even cover the whole body [[14],[15]]. In TMC, psoriasis is considered by the invasion of pathogenic wind which incubates in the yin and blood, or accumulation and stagnation of qi and blood caused by emotional upset. They were transformed into heat, and wind and heat struggle in the skin. Psoriasis may also be caused by impairment of the Liver and Kidneys, or by disharmony between the Chong and Ren channels, between the yin and the blood or between the yin and yang in the Zangfu [[16]].
Eczema (from Greek, meaning “to boil over”; often referred to as atopic dermatitis but the latter has its own defination) is a term for many different types of skin inflammation that is characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin edema (swelling), itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. The cause of eczema is unknown and may be complicated, involving environmental or genetic factors or their combination (Fig.5, [[17],[18],[19],[20]]).
Causes of eczema:
1. Allergen
2. Mechanical stimulation
3. Chemical stimulation
4. Microorganism infection
5. Skin dryness
6. Functional disorders of skin barrier
7. Immune reactions
8. Neuropsychiatric factors
9. Systemic reaction abnormality
10. Circulation disorders
11. Metabolic and genetic factors
According to Chinese medicine, eczema is caused by improper diet, emotional trauma and external evil invasion [[21]]. Damp and heat appear mostly in acute eczema. Blood deficiency and wind dryness appear mostly in chronic eczema [[22]].
Treatments on skin diseases
Due to the complicated pathological mechanisms on above skin diseases, there is no cure for them in Western medicine. Managements of them are usually the treatments available. Corticosteroids, such as triamcinolone (Kenacort),methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone) and dexamethasone(Decadron), can effectively reduce inflammation, itching and pain through a wide range of physiological processes, including stress response, immune response, and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels and behavior [[23],[24]]. However, they are not curative and attempt to increase more adverse effects if with long time oral or injection use, including Cushing’s syndrome, hypertension, osteoporosis, cataract, colitis, ulcer, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, amenorrhoea, and retinopathy [24], which can mean that the “treatment” could be worse than the “disease” itself.
Western medicine sees each organ of the human body independently for their functions, while TCM believes the body as a whole, where each organ is related to each other. For example, lung can disperse and transport the wei-qi (defensive qi) and body fluid to the skin to warm, nourish and moisten the skin so as to maintain the normal functions of the skin [[25]]. In TCM, external pathological factors such as Wind, Dampness, Dryness, or Heat can invade the body and cause skin disorders. Internal imbalances are differentiated into patterns such as Blood Stasis, Disharmony of Liver and Kidney, or Blood Deficiency, and are often reflected on the skin. When skin problems are generated by internal imbalance, in addition to the topical skin care, the individual underlying problems must be addressed, in order to clear up the surface manifestation [[26]]. Therefore, the patients with skin diseases are usually prescribed with conventional formulas, such as Long Dan Xie Gan Tang for eczema, see Table below, with some modifications by syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese Medicine.
Treatments of skin conditions with Chinese herbal medicines
Table: Chinese herbs on skin diseases
Skin condition
Common Clinical patterns
Composition
Acne
Heat accumulation in stomach and lungs
Heat accumulation in stomach
Blood-heat
Qi & blood stagnation
Blood stasis with phlegm
Pi Pa Qing Fei Yin Jia Jian
Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang He Liang Xue Wu Hua Tang Jia Jian
Liang Xue Qing Fei Yin Jia Jian
Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang Jia Jian
Eczema
Acute eczema
Sub acute eczema
Chronic eczema
There are many different patterns and manifestations of eczema. It’s important to talk to your practitioner about the history and onset of eczema.
Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis
Guttate psoriasis
Flexural psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis
Erythrodermic psoriasis
Psoriatic arthritis
There are many different patterns and manifestations of psoriasis. It’s important to talk to your practitioner about the history and onset of psoriasis.
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, is the rapid loss of brain function (electrical/chemical communications between neurons and target cells) due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain [[1]]. This can be due to ischemia (lack of blood flow) caused by blockage (thrombosis, arterial embolism), or a hemorrhage (broken blood vessel due to high pressure or a tumor) (Fig. 1 [[2]]). Brain cells (neurons) can stay alive for 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen. After that cells begin to die. One will lose consciousness in 10 seconds after the loss of blood supply to the brain [[3]]. As a result, the affected area of the brain cannot function, which might result in an inability to move one or more limbs on one side of the body, inability to understand or formulate speech, or an inability to see one side of the visual field. A stroke is a medical emergency and can cause permanent neurological damage and death [1]. It is the second leading cause of death in Australia after coronary heart disease. One stroke was happened in every 10 minutes in 2012 and 1 in 6 people will have a stroke in their lifetime in Australia [[4]].
Brain is the most important and complicated organ in the body in terms of control and sense of the body and social activities. Brain is about 2% of body in weight while it uses around 20% oxygen/blood of the body [3]. The brains of all species are composed primarily of two broad classes of cells: neurons (for communication) and glial cells (for support and wound healing [[5]]). A human brain contains 15–33 billion neurons, each connected by axons (nerve fiber) and synapses (nerve connection structure where neurotransmitter molecules are released) to several thousand other neurons to form the neural network for the complicated functions of the brain (Fig.2, [[6]]). In general, neurons in most part of the brain do not reproduce after birth (except for the areas of hippocampus and olfactory bulb, which relate to the memory and smell functions respectively). If they are damaged, they cannot be regenerated. Glial cells are different: they can be regenerated after wound throughout the lifespan [6]. However, glial cells don’t transmit nerve signals. Although glial cells have the potential to differentiate into neurons [[7],[8]] and set up new neural networks for the brain functions along with the reconstruction of the other unwound neural network [[9],[10]], these regeneration and reconstruction may or may not successful and take a long time and need a proper molecular environment [[11],[12]] and stimulations [[13]]. Therefore, the functional recovery after stroke is difficult.
Due to the complicated functions of the human brain (motor, sensory, orientation, language, memory, thought, etc.) and the functional regions in the brain, stoke occurred in the different area will cause different symptoms and signs (Table-1, Fig. 3[[14]]).
Table-1: Symptoms and signs after stroke in some important area of the brain [6].
Regions of the brain
Symptoms and signs after stroke in the area
Cerebrum, or cortex, is the largest part of the human brain, divided into four lobes: frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe.
Affect functions depending on the section involved: Frontal Lobe- associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving.
Parietal Lobe- associated with movement, orientation, recognition, perception of stimuli.
Occipital Lobe- associated with visual processing.
Temporal Lobe- associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, memory, and speech [[15]].
Medulla, along with the spinal cord.
Loss of wide variety of sensory and motor functions
Pons, directly above the medulla.
Affect functions of sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder function, equilibrium, eye movement, facial expressions, and posture.
Hypothalamus, a small region at the base of the forebrain.
Affect functions of sleep and wake cycles, eating and drinking, hormone release, and many other critical biological functions
Thalamus, situated between the cerebral cortex and midbrain.
Affect functions of information interactions between the two cerebral hemispheres, motivation, several types of “consummatory” behaviors, including eating, drinking, defecation, and copulation.
Cerebellum, a separate structure attached to the bottom of the brain, behind pons.
Affect motor control, cognitive functions such as attention and language, and fear and pleasure responses.
Optic tectum, also called superior colliculus, a major component of midbrain.
Affect the sensation and movement of the eyes.
Hippocampus, a part of the cerebral cortex, located in the medial temporal lobe.
Affect functions of behavioral control, short/long-term memory and spatial navigation [[16]].
Basal ganglia, at the base of the forebrain, connected with the cerebral cortex and thalamus.
Cause movement disorders and motivation problems, such as loss of action to hunger, reward and punishment.
“Silent” regions of the brain, the regionsthat do not cause a noticeable change in an afflicted person’s motor function, speech, pain, or the sense of touch.
No any outward symptoms noticeable, typically detected via the use of neuroimaging such as MRI. Silent strokes are estimated to occur at five times the rate of symptomatic strokes and place the patient at increased risk for symptomatic strokes in the future [1].
Since stroke is a medical emergency situation, for people at risk, if there is a sudden problem of facial expression, arm lifting and speech/understanding, call for medical aids immediately [4].
The risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, cigarette smoking (active and passive), heavy alcohol consumption and drug use, lack of physical activity, obesity, processed red meat consumption and unhealthy diet [1].
It is very important for people who are having stroke symptoms to get to a hospital as quickly as possible, since the shorter the time, the less the brain tissue damaged, the quicker the functions recovered. The immediate treatments include clot-busting drugs or mechanical clot removal within 4.5 hours for ischemic stroke and a surgery to control the bleeding and reduce the pressure for a hemorrhagic stroke [[17]].
Not like skin wounds, the damage of neurons is very difficult to repair. As introduced above, neurons regeneration and neural network reconstruction takes a long time and needs a proper molecular environment and stimulations. At this point, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including acupuncture and Chinese massage shows an effective and widely used role in the stroke recovery [[18],[19]], especially in China, where it reports more patients with stroke than anywhere else in the world [[20]]. The neuroregeneration needs various cytokines. Recent researches on TCM showed that many herbs and acupuncture regulated cytokines [[21],[22]]. For example, the commonly used herb on stroke, Huang Qi, showed a stimulating effect on stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) on the rat brain ischemic model and decreased the brain damage due to the ischemia [[23]]. In the senescence accelerated mouse model, 10 cytokines (GM-CSF, IFN-γ, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12) in hippocampus were decreased, while Dan Gui Shao Yao San significantly increased IFN-γ and IL-4; Si Jun Zi Tang significantly increased IFN-γ; Liu Wei Di Huang Tang recovered all 10 cytokines to normal levels, indicating the molecular regulation rationales for the uses of those TCM formulas on Alzheimer’s disease [[24]]. Also, acupuncture can regulate TNF-α and IL-6 back to normal for patients with ischemic stroke [[25]].
According to the TCM theory, stroke can be treated by promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis; resolving blood-stasis and unblocking collaterals; extinguishing wind and unblocking collaterals; smoothing Fu organ and purgation; promoting blood and diuresis; heat-clearing and detoxifying method; supplementing Qi and activating blood circulation; warming yang and activating meridian (Table-2, [[26]]).
Table-2. Commonly used Chinese herbs in stroke treatments [26].
Chinese herbs
Functions
Huang Qi (Astragali Radix)
Effects of invigorating Qi and consolidation of superficies, diuresis, detumescence, discharge toxin and pus, regenerating muscle, etc. At present, Astragalus is one of the main herbs for treatment of apoplectic hemiplegia.
Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix)
Effects of nourishing blood to regulate menstruation, promoting blood circulation and relieving pain, discharge toxin and regenerating muscle, relieving cough and asthma. It is widely used in dizziness, arthralgia, numbness, stroke, hemiplegia, palpitation, insomnia and amnesia.
Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma)
Effects of promoting circulations of blood and Qi, dispelling wind and relieving pain. Chuanxiong has an obvious sedating effect on the central nervous system, and excited effects on medullary respiratory center, vasomotor center and spinal reflex center.
Huai Niu Xi (Achyranthes aspera)
Effects of tonifying the liver and kidney, strengthening bones and muscles, resolving blood-stasis and unblocking collaterals, leading blood downwards.
Guang Di Long (Pheretima asperfillm)
Functions of clearing heat and relieving convulsion, calming liver to stop the wind, clearing and activating the channels and collaterals, relieving asthma, diuresis. Treating stroke hemiplegia, liver Yang headache, fever, mania, convulsion, and rheumatic arthralgia.
Ji Xue Teng (Spatholobi Caulis)
Effects of nourishing blood, invigorating the circulation of blood, dredging collaterals. Main treatments include irregular menstruation, blood deficiency and chlorosis, numbness and paralysis from stroke, rheumatic arthralgia. Modern pharmacological confirmed that Spatholobi Caulis has effects of anticoagulant, promoting fibrinolysis, anti-platelet aggregation, vasodilation, and increasing blood cells and hemoglobin.
Hong Hua (Carthami Flos)
Carthami Flos: Effects of promoting blood and clearing the channels, dispersing blood stasis and relieving pain. It is used for treatments of amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, lochia, and lump in the abdomen, trauma and injuries. Modern pharmacological discovered that Carthami Flos can inhibit platelet aggregation, increase fibrinolytic enzyme activity, inhibit thrombosis in vitro, promote collateral circulation expansion, increase blood flow in the cerebral ischemic area, thereby reduce brain edema, and has a protective effect on hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
Tian Ma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma)
Embellish but not dry; nourishing blood and calming endogenous wind. Modern research has found that Gastrodia has sedative, analgesic, and anticonvulsant effect; can increase cerebral blood flow, decrease cerebral vascular resistance; mild contraction of cerebral blood vessels, increase coronary blood flow.
Shi Chang Pu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma)
Effects of removing dampness and appetizing, eliminating phlegm and inducing resuscitation, improving hearing and eyesight, refreshing and improving the mind. Modern research shows that Acorus tatarinowii can protect the brain from hypoxic brain dysfunction, improve the disturbance of consolidation of memory caused by hypoxia. It showed good therapeutic effects on dementia, stroke plus dementia, cerebral concussion sequela, neurasthenia, myocardial infarction, and aphonia.
Tao Ren (Persicae Semen)
Effects of nourishing blood and removing blood stasis, lubricating intestine and relieving constipation, relieving cough and asthma. Pharmacology showed that the semen persicae extract can significantly increase cerebral blood flow, reduce vascular resistance, and improve the hemodynamic status.
Shao Yao (Paeonia lactiflora)
Smoothing the liver to stop pain, nourishing blood and regulating menstruation, astringing Yin and anti-perspiration. Modern research has found that the peony can decrease blood glucose and total cholesterol levels; dilate blood vessels; inhibit thrombosis and platelet aggregation. It has protective effects on brain edema by ischemic, on blood-brain barrier and brain blood flow. It can reduce the degree of cerebral edema, reduce infarct size and improve neurological symptoms.
Yi Mu Cao (Leonuri Herba)
Effects of promoting blood and regulating the channels, diuresis and detumescence. Its mechanism of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis is by improving blood concentration, coagulation and aggregation state through the changes of hemorheology.
In clinics, acupuncture also plays an important role in the recovery treatment of stroke. Since the functions of the nervous system are realized by the neurotransmission of networks, the damage in one point or a small area of the network may be compensated by the signals from the roundabout ways. The stimulations of acupuncture can help to rebuild these roundabout ways. The sooner you get acupuncture after a stroke, the faster your recovery will be. By applying acupuncture to the skin of the scalp above the various regions of the cerebral cortex that have been damaged in an ischemic stroke we can increase blood flow and the metabolic activity of neural cells to help restore normal neural function. This treatment has been used successfully over the last 40 years to help patients suffering from hemiplegic and related neural deficiencies arising from strokes and other cerebral vascular diseases [[27]].
In addition, movement therapies such as Qi Gong (also known as Chi Gung) or Tai Ji (Tai Chi) as well as Chinese massage and nutritional advice can also be recommended to assist the person’s treatment in the recovery of a stroke.
