ABSTRACT
Complementary Therapies in Neurology: An Evidence-Based Approach Edited by Barry S.Oken ISBN 1-84214-200-3 Copyright © 2004 by The Parthenon Publishing Group, London
INTRODUCTION
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain either is blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or ruptures (hemorrhagic stroke). The brain downstream from this vessel is damaged, owing to a lack of oxygen and the effects of increased free radicals and other toxic substances. Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in the USA with over 700000 cases annually. The only definitively proven therapy for stroke, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), is only effective in the first 3 h after a stroke and is therefore given to less than 5% of stroke patients. Therefore, for the majority of stroke patients, traditional medicine has little to offer other than physical and occupational rehabilitation. In this chapter we will first review the potential benefits of complementary therapies, including acupuncture and hyperbaric oxygen, which may improve stroke symptoms and recovery. We then discuss selected supplements and vitamins that may reduce brain injury during a stroke and improve recovery.
