Chinese Medicine
Recovery after a stroke
Weakness, stiffness, numbness or trouble speaking that stays after a stroke. Rehabilitation comes first, and acupuncture and herbs work well alongside it. Dr. Pan also helps lower the risk of another stroke.
Please bring your hospital discharge papers, your rehab notes if you have them, and every medicine you take. A family member is welcome to come along.
How it is treated
- Rehabilitation — physical, occupational and speech therapy. This is the core of recovery.
- Preventing another stroke: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, quitting smoking, and taking your blood thinner as prescribed.
- Acupuncture, alongside rehab: very thin needles. A long-established treatment after a stroke in Chinese medicine, it eases stiffness and numbness and helps movement come back.
- Chinese herbs, prescribed for your pattern, to build strength and get the blood moving. They are checked against the medicines you already take.
- Help with low mood, which is common after a stroke and can be treated.
How many visits
Usually once or twice a week, alongside your rehab. Every few weeks, you and Dr. Pan look at how much better you are: walking, hand use, speech, daily tasks.
Common questions
Is it too late if the stroke was a year ago?
No. Many people keep improving for years after a stroke. It is well worth starting, with clear goals and regular checks.
Can I take herbs with my stroke medicines?
Yes — they work well together, with care. Keep taking your blood thinner and blood pressure medicine as prescribed; never stop them on your own. Herbs are chosen to fit with them.
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Seen in King of Prussia
Patients travel from King of Prussia, Wayne, Bryn Mawr, Villanova, Radnor, Conshohocken, Malvern, Phoenixville, Devon and Berwyn.
