Stroke
Article contributed by:
Ms Zhang Jiqiu, TCM
Physician
Ma Kuang Healthcare
Group
A stroke may occur
suddenly without any
warning and with great
intensity, causing the
patient’s condition to
deteriorate quickly,
just like the wind which
is ever-changing and
unpredictable. Hence,
ancient physicians refer
to this type of ailment
as “zhong feng” or
stroke.
Stroke, or “zhong feng”
in Chinese, is an acute
cerebrovascular disease
in which blood supply to
a part of the brain is
interrupted. This leads
to a sudden fainting,
loss of consciousness,
drooping of eyelid and
mouth, slurring of
speech, paralysis, or
inability to move the
body without losing
consciousness.
Stroke is a kind of
cerebrovascular disease,
which can be
classified into two
major categories
according to causes,
pathology and
manifestation.
The reason why strokes
have been categorised as
a common ailment that
threatens the health of
humans is because not
only does it affect
children, teenagers,
middle-aged persons and
seniors, this ailment is
known for its high
occurrence rate, death
rate, paralysed rate,
recurrence rate and
complications.
Who are Prone to Stroke?
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If age is taken into
account, strokes are
more common among
middle-aged and seniors;
about 90% of stroke
patients are above 40
years old.
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Those with high blood
pressure and
atherosclerosis are more
prone to strokes.
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Those with diabetes are
susceptible to strokes.
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Those with various
cardiac ailments are likely to suffer from
strokes.
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Those with high blood
fat, obesity, and frequently feel giddy due to
cervical ailments are prone to strokes.
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Undergo Hemorheology
checks; if blood
displays high viscosity
or if blood platelets
increase exponentially,
the chances of a stroke
are high.
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Smoking, alcoholism,
eating oily and fatty foods, unwilling to
exercise, and impatient individuals are prone to
strokes.
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Those with a family
history of having stroke are more likely to
suffer from this ailment as it contains
hereditary traits.
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What Factors Can Trigger
a Stroke?
The occurrence of a
stroke may be acute and
sudden, but its
pathology is usually
slow. In the process of
pathological changes,
factors that induce
stroke may cause one’s
condition to deteriorate
suddenly and leading to
a stroke.
Strokes may be induced
by:
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Emotionally unstable
(excitement, anger, misery, high anxiety).
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Improper diet
(overeating and overdrinking, improper hunger or
thirst).
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Over-exhaustion,
over-exertion of brain.
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Overuse of force, dried
stools, over-exercise.
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Suddenly sitting up,
getting out of bed or other abrupt change in
posture.
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What are the Early Signs
of a Stroke?
There are early signs or
signals that may point
to the likelihood of a
stroke. Understanding
these signs will be of
significant help in the
early discovery,
diagnosis, treatment and
prevention of stroke.
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Sudden
intensive headaches, which change from
intermittent to persistent severe headaches.
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Numbness of the limbs; numbness of half the
face, numbness of the tongue; or numbness of
each upper and lower limb.
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Sudden
intermittent inflexibility or weakness in body
movement.
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Temporary or sudden slurring of speech,
inability to speak normally.
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Falling down or fainting suddenly without
reason.
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Emotional changes: such as suddenly becoming
silent in character, indifferent expression or
becoming impatient and talkative, fidgety and
uncomfortable, or temporary impediment in
judgment or intellect.
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Exhibit sleepiness; feeling drowsy and wanting
to sleep.
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Sudden
occurrence of unclear vision, blackout or loss
of sight.
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Nauseous and vomiting; fluctuation of blood
pressure leading to giddiness and tinnitus.
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Nose
bleed. If one experiences frequent nose
bleeds, it could be a sign of brain hemorrhage
due to high blood pressure.
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Causes and Diagnosis
Strokes were recorded in
the ancient medical
journal “Nei Jing” more
than 2,000 years ago. Through the years,
physicians had written
much on the cause,
onset, process and
treatment of stroke. They had come to realise
that strokes are the
result of the imbalance
of yin and yang,
resistance of energy and
blood, causing the brain
to be assaulted by
internal wind, fire,
phlegm, and stagnation,
causing blockage of
brain arteries or
hemorrhage.
The fundamental causes
of stroke are inadequacy
of the liver and
kidneys, and vacuity of
energy and blood.
However, not everyone
who experiences
inadequacy of the liver
and kidneys will develop
a stroke, for it is
under unique
circumstances or
induction will strokes
occur. These continued
factors are mainly
caused by wind and fire,
turgid phlegm and blood
stagnation.
Chinese physicians will
administer the
appropriate treatment
according to the mental
state of the patient. If
the patient is
unconscious, treatment
will be emphasised on
internal organs; if the
patient is conscious,
treatment will be
focused on channels and
collaterals.
If treatment is focused
on channels and
collaterals, Chinese
physicians will,
according to the
patient’s physique,
combine observation from
coating on the tongue
with pulse condition. This is further
classified into four
categories: wind, phlegm
and blood stagnation,
blockage of arteries;
excessive rise of
liver-yang; vacuity of
energy and blood
stagnation; and
hyperactivity of fire
due to yin deficiency.
Treatment is
administered according
to different categories.
During diagnosis, it is
observed that many
patients rely on folk
remedy. Though it is
based on traditional
prescription and
effective treatment, it
is necessary to take
note of the category in
which it is focused
upon. Moreover, the
different types of
stroke require different
types of medicinal
treatment, so folk
remedy should be
administered prudently.
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Treatment
Currently, the treatment
of stroke adopts
combinational method,
which includes medicinal
treatment, acupuncture,
massotherapy,
physiotherapy, mental
therapy, as well as
passive and active
functional training.
Chinese physicians’
forte is the treatment
of paralysis after
stroke, whereby a
combination of
acupunctural and
medicinal treatment
reaps significant
results. The earlier one
seeks this treatment,
the better the results. Not only can acupuncture
enhance recovery of
physical activity of the
limbs, it also improves
the patient’s physique,
relieve related
symptoms, and speeds up
the recovery process. The best time to recover
paralysed limb function
is six months after the
stroke; hence patients
should grab this
opportunity to seek
adequate treatment.
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Dietotherapy
Dietotherapy refers to
the usage of food to
recuperate and promote
health based on medical
theory.
The dietetic principles
of stroke patients
should be based on
pathology as most of
them have suffered this
ailment due to internal
accumulation of phlegm,
and blood stasis and
vital energy
retardation. This is
accompanied by a state
of unconsciousness,
immobile limbs, slurring
of speech; therefore pay
attention to the taste,
shape and method of
consuming food. Here are
some recommended recipes
for stroke patients:
Double Fungus Soup
Ingredients: 10g of
white fungus, 10g of
black fungus, 30g of
rock sugar.
Preparation: Soak white
and black fungus in warm
water, remove stem and
residue, wash clean and
place them in a bowl;
add rock sugar and
moderate amounts of
water. Then place bowl
containing fungus in the
pot and steam for one
hour till the fungus is
fully cooked. Consume
one bowl per serving,
two times daily.
Functions: Nourishes the
yin, kidneys and
moistens the lungs. Suitable for
treating atherosclerosis
due to yin vacuity of
the kidneys, high blood
pressure, under-eye
bleeding, and
recuperating from
stroke.
Triple Vegetable
Combination (Cold Dish)
Ingredients:
200g of tender celery
stalks, 100g of kelp,
50g of black fungus.
Preparation:
Wash celery stalks and
cut them into 3cm each,
soak them in boiling
water for 3 minutes and
dish them out; soak
black fungus in warm
water for 2 hours. Wash
the fungus and kelp
after it has expanded
and softened, and soak
them in cold water for 1 hour.then cut them into
thin slices and rinse in
boiling water. When
cooled, place the 3
ingredients together,
add seasoning, mix
evenly and it’s ready
for consumption. To be
eaten together with
other food during the
meal.
Functions:
This dish helps to
soothe the liver and
clears phlegm, as well
as reduces pressure and
fats. This can be used
to prevent stroke, and
is beneficial to those
who have high blood
pressure, high blood fat
levels and
atherosclerosis.
Celery Gruel
Ingredients:
60g of celery with
stems, 100g of polished
rice.
Preparation: Wash celery and
cut it into pieces, and
cook it to gruel with
polished rice. Consume
when it’s warm.
Functions: It is
suitable for those with
stroke and high blood
pressure, accompanied by
headaches, giddiness and
red eye.
Carrot & Chicken
Broth Porridge
Ingredients: 1 whole
hen, 200g of carrots,
100g of husked rice.
Preparation: Cut up
chicken and wash clean,
use chicken broth and
boil porridge with diced
carrots and husked rice.
Consume one serving a
day.
Functions: Suitable for
recovering stroke
patients who have a weak
spleen and stomach, as
well as those with poor
appetite.
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Food Cooked with
Medicinal Herbs
Combining dietotherapy
with medicinal treatment
reaps significant
results as the two types
of treatment methods
complement each other. The prescription and
consumption of medicine
is to be taken under the
supervision of a Chinese
physician according to
one’s symptoms. Medicinal treatment is
generally used to heal
stroke during the
recuperation stage,
using compatible
medicines to improve
blood circulation and
remove extravasted
blood; dispel wind and
the collateral channels,
as well as supplement
the vital energy and
enhance the body
resistance. These
medicines are also
useful in administering
preventive treatment for
patients with signs of a
stroke.
Macrostem Onion
Porridge with Ginseng
Ingredients:
10g of ginseng, 12g of
macrostem onions, 1 egg
(with yolk removed).
Preparation: Mash the ginseng, add to
water and boil to soup
using a slow fire. Use
millet to cook porridge,
when about to be cooked,
add egg white and macrostem onions; cook
thoroughly. Consume
twice daily in the day
and night.
Functions: This
decoction is suitable
for immobile stroke
patients due to vacuity
of energy and blood, as
well as those who
exhibit weakness of the
limbs.
Shijueming Porridge
Ingredients: 25g of Shijueming powder
(wrapped in cloth), 10g
of Caojueming (fried),
15g of chrysanthemum,
100g of polished rice,
6g of rock sugar.
Preparation: Boil Shijueming and
Caojueming, extract
fluids from
chrysanthemum, add
polished rice and cook
to porridge form, then
add rock sugar and it’s
ready for consumption.
Functions: This decoction is
suitable for stroke
patients with high blood
pressure who experience
headaches, giddiness and
numbness of the limbs.
Dongmazi Porridge
Ingredients: 25g of
winter flaxseed (fried,
grind to powder), 50g of
white corn (rinsed), 10g
of mint leaves, 10g of Jinjie.
Preparation: Boil Jinjie,
mint leaves and extract
fluids; use these fluids
to pestle the flaxseed
kernels, after filtering
add rice and cook to
porridge. Consume with
an empty stomach.
Functions: This
is suitable for those
who are immobile due to
stroke, slurring of
speech, and excrete
dried stools.
Bamboo Drops Porridge
Ingredients: Bland
bamboo drops, corn.
Preparation: Wash corn
and cook with porridge,
add bamboo drops when
done, stir evenly.
Consume 1 bowl during
each serving, twice
daily. Consume for two
weeks to complete one
course of treatment.
Functions: Eliminates the
phlegm and clear heat;
wakes a patient from
unconsciousness. Suitable for
persons with cerebrovascular
accident, stroke, and
phlegm in throat.
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Medicinal Tea
Prescriptions for Stroke
Medicinal tea treatment:
A method of healing
certain ailments by
consuming tea with tea
leaves (or without tea
leaves) with a single or
combination of
medicines. Tea leaves
contain over 300 types
of chemical ingredients
including proteins,
amino acid,
carbohydrates and
various vitamins that
are required by the
human body. In addition,
it has revitalising
effects. When combined
with appropriate
medicines, it is
suitable for the
prevention of stroke and
helps in the
recuperation of stroke
patients.
Prunella Vulgaris Tea
Ingredients: 30g of prunella vulgaris, 2g of
green tea.
Preparation: Boil the prunella vulgaris, add
green tea to porcelain
cup and pour boiling
water with prunella
vulgaris into the
teacup. Place the lid
and allow it to stand
for 5 to 10 minutes. Drink as tea and consume
frequently. Change the
tea leaves twice a day.
Effects: Clears the
liver and improves
eyesight; reduces edema.
Functions: Suitable for
those with high blood
pressure, hyperlipidemia,
signs of stroke or
paralysis after stroke,
giddiness and tinnitus.
Slimming Tea
Ingredients: 60g of
lotus leaf, 10g of raw
hawthorn, 10g of coix
seeds, 5g of tangerine
peel, 2g of red dates.
Preparation: Cut the
above ingredients into
bits and grind to powder
form. Place them in hot
water bottle every
morning, add hot water
for consumption later.
Drink 1 serving a day;
can be consumed
continuously.
Effects: Clears phlegm
and expels dampness;
strengthens the spleen
and reduces fats.
Functions: Suitable for
those who are obese, hyperlipidemia, signs of
stroke or paralysis
after stroke.
Lotus Leaf Tea
Ingredients: Dried lotus
leaf, green tea.
Preparation: Grind both
ingredients into powder
for consumption later.
Add powder to water and
drink as many times as
preferred daily.
Effects: Improves vision
and clears the mind;
expels heatiness and
promotes secretion of
body fluids.
Functions: Suitable for
those with high blood
pressure, hyperlipidemia. This drink is suitable
for consumption before
and after a stroke;
helps to wakes one from
unconsciousness and
refreshes the mind.
Kuding-Mulberry Leaf
Tea
Ingredients: 6g of Kuding tea, 6g of
chrysanthemum, 6g of
mulberry leaf, 6g of
lalang grass rhizome, 6g
of uncaria stem with
hooks.
Preparation: Grind to
coarse powder for later
consumption. Add hot
water and drink as tea.
Effects: Clears heatiness and soothes
the liver.
Functions: Suitable for
those with high blood
pressure, as well as
those suffering from
headaches from stroke.
Wolfberry-Chrysanthemum
Drink
Ingredients: 30g of
wolfberries, 10g of
chrysanthemum.
Preparation: Boil both
ingredients and drink as
tea. Consume 1 serving a
day, drink in portions.
Effects: Nourishes the
yin and kidneys, expels
wind and clears the
liver.
Functions: Suitable for
those with signs of a
stroke, high blood
pressure after a stroke,
and those suffering from
headaches and giddiness.
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Diet Consideration for
Stroke Patients
Regulation of diet among
stroke patients should
be equitable and
scientific. As much as
possible, the diet
should enhance the
patient’s brain
activity, reduce
immobility of the limbs
and speed up the body’s
retrieval of nutrients. Hence, the points
mentioned below should
be adhered to:
1. Moderate intake of
fats and sugar
Besides moderating
intake of animal fats,
refrain or limit intake
of animal innards, eggs
and dairy products.
Vegetable oils such as
soybean and peanut oil
can be consumed freely.
However, stay away from
sugary foods.
2. Eat more fruits and
vegetables
Fresh greens,
particularly green leafy
vegetables and fruits
not only help prevent
constipation, they also
contain rich sources of
vitamin C and K,
magnesium and so on. Vitamin C helps reduce
cholesterol, and
strengthen the
intactness of blood
vessels, which helps to
prevent the occurrence
of ailments affecting
blood vessels of the
brain.
3. Reduce salt intake
Daily intake should be
restricted to 3 or 4 g. This helps to reduce
blood pressure and
lowers the risk of
overburdening the blood
vessels and heart
function.
4.
Have sufficient
protein in diet
These proteins include
egg white, lean pork,
beef, fish, chicken,
duck and vegetable
proteins,Soy-based
products provide
adequate amino acids
that the body needs, and
enhances the speedier
recovery of damaged
tissues and muscles.
5. Food has to be soft,
easily digestible; pay
attention to colour,
fragrance and taste.
6. Avoid overeating
7. Refrain from smoking
and alcohol
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Prevention of Stroke
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High blood pressure is
the most dangerous
factor in the occurrence
of stroke; hence it is
necessary to keep blood
pressure under control,
and to monitor blood
pressure levels over the
long term.
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Control and reduce
temporary blood shortage
from occurring is also
essential in preventing
stroke. When a minor
stroke occurs, seek
treatment immediately to
prevent the occurrence
of a major stroke.
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Treat the early signs
of a stroke seriously,
such as giddiness,
headaches, numbness of
the limbs, drowsiness,
and when one exhibits an
unusual temperament,
seek treatment as soon
as possible to prevent
stroke.
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Eliminate factors that
may induce stroke, such
as emotionally unstable,
over-exhaustion, overuse
of force and so on. Seek
self-control and steer
clear of the earlier
mentioned points.
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Timely treatment may
lead to stroke-related
ailments such as
arteriosclerosis,
diabetes, coronary heart
disease, hyperlipemia
and obesity.
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Article contributed by:
Ms Zhang Jiqiu, TCM
Physician
Ma Kuang Healthcare
Group
Dated: September 2013
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Ma Kuang
Healthcare
Group is
one of the
leading
healthcare
groups in
holistic
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine (TCM)
products and
services in
Singapore.
Founded in
1999, Ma Kuang has
expanded
rapidly from
its first
TCM clinic
in Middle
Road to
today’s
largest
chain of TCM
clinics in
Singapore. |
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