How to pick the acupuncture doctor for stroke recovery

How can one tell a good doctor?

The difference between a top rate acupuncture doctor and a mediocre one is like day and night. Picking the right acupuncture doctor is crucial to stroke recovery.

You would follow the same process to choose any trusted professional. The focus is primarily on two credentials:

1.      a solid theoretical foundation. This is obtained through 4 years of rigorous college level training, ideally in Mainland China or Taiwan with a degree in herbal medicine or acupuncture.

2.      long time practice under an accomplished master. Knowing where the meridian points are does not make a qualified acupuncture doctor. One has to know how deep the needles should go, what meridian points work together, how to handle different symptoms etc. Such knowledge is only passed on through apprenticeship. Apprenticeship to acupuncture is like residency to Western Medicine.

Most practicing acupuncturists did not come with the college training mentioned above. Some went through a trade school like training program just to get a license. If you look for someone to give you a relief for back pain for 2 weeks, this might be okay. However, if you look for someone to help with stroke recovery, then the screening process has to be far more selective.

Many research programs trying to find out the effectiveness of acupuncture do not have a rigorous screening process over the acupuncturists. This is like doing an analysis on restaurant industry assuming Morton Steak and McDonald's are equals. The sample data became very biased to start with. Of course, no one should be surprised to learn that they always conclude acupuncture ineffective in healing stroke.

Logistics is as important

Logistics is as important. Do not expect a magic session where the survivor is totally relieved of all the symptoms. It takes persistence. Usually, a few months are required at least before dramatic improvements could be seen. But baby steps do add up. 

Because of this, finding a clinic in the driving distance is key. There is no question that LA probably has the highest concentration of North America's best acupuncture doctors. the plan includes a stay for at least 2 months. And plan on visiting the right acupuncturist 4 times a week. Each session will be 1.5 hours. 

Get it early

The earlier one receives the acupuncture treatment, the better off it will be. In the acupuncture world, people say that one session in the first 6 months, is equal to many sessions after 18 months. Starting early lays a solid foundation.

What are the things that acupuncture is effective for

Acupuncture can be very helpful in treating cardiovascular disorders, hormonal imbalance and neurological injuries like stroke. It is not for everything. It may not be the right treatment for tumor and infection.

Acupuncture can help reduce the muscle spasm and pain. Combined with physical therapy accelerating the recovery, it can greatly accelerate the recovery.

The following is a video record on how this could work. (Dr Zhu in this video is a top acupuncturist who practices in San Jose)

Another area acupuncture could help a lot is vocal cord recovery. Vocal cord paralysis is one of the most common and painful symptoms stroke survivors have to deal with. The paralysis keeps the survivor from swallowing normally, and makes it hard for the survivor to talk because the voice is so low. Moreover, it causes constant overflow of phlegm, making it hard for the survivor to sleep well during the night. Stopping the phlegm and restoring the basic vocal cord function is where acupuncture could really shine beyond any other treatment methods.