To a Western observer in a Chinese hospital, one of the first things
that stands out is the huge number of patients who come to Chinese
acupuncture clinics with neurological disorders, including stroke,
various forms of paralysis, epilepsy, migraines, dementia, cerebral
palsy, multiple sclerosis and trauma to the head and spine. It is
not uncommon for Chinese neurologists to refer patients to acupuncture
clinics. Moreover, there is a popular conception amongst the Chinese
patients themselves that acupuncture is an effective treatment for
many neurological disorders. In fact, many patients with mild neurological
disorders such as Bell’s Palsy (a form of facial paralysis)
come into Chinese acupuncture clinics off the streets.
Numerous studies on the use of acupuncture in the treatment of central
nervous system conditions have appeared in Asian medical literature,
much of it on stroke rehabilitation. Unfortunately, only a small
amount of this research has been translated into English or reviewed
by Western medical peers.
See the
following:
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