Recovering from a Stroke?

[Guest guest]

Recovering from a Stroke? JoAnn Guest Sep 04, 2005 08:42 PDT

 

 

My 73-year-old grandmother went in for knee surgery and had a major

stroke in the process. The stroke affected the left side of her brain

and her motor skills. Are there any alternative therapies or exercises

that could help her?

 

-- Starlight

 

 

Besides conventional treatment through physical, speech, and

occupational therapy, I can suggest two approaches that can be quite

helpful for stroke victims. The first is scalp acupuncture, introduced

in China in 1971 to treat stroke victims as well as people with severe

head injuries. Scalp acupuncture isn’t appropriate in the immediate

aftermath of a stroke – it is best to wait at least a week afterward

since the stimulation it causes could increase the risk of bleeding.

However, this method can be effective if begun even up to two years

after a stroke. The recommended course of treatment involves about eight

daily (or every other day) sessions. Individual patients may need more

than one course of treatment (waiting at least one week between courses

is recommended). It is worthwhile continuing with scalp acupuncture for

as long as the patient advertisement

 

continues to improve.

 

The only problem with scalp acupuncture is the scarcity of

practitioners. Usually they are Chinese, trained in China. For help,

contact The American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

(www.aaaom.org) or the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture

(www.medicalacupuncture.org).

 

The other approach is the Feldenkrais Method, which uses gentle movement

and directed attention to increase ease and range of motion, and improve

flexibility and coordination. The Feldenkrais approach has demonstrated

success in helping to rehabilitate stroke victims by training the

nervous system to find new pathways around areas of damage. To find a

qualified Feldenkrais practitioner experienced in working with stroke

patients, contact the Feldenkrais Guild of North America at

www.feldenkrais.com or by telephone toll free at (866) 333-6248 or (800)

775-2118.

 

In my experience, both of the methods I’ve described are safe and

effective.

 

Andrew Weil, M.D.

www.drweil.com

_________________

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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