Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background:
Little data exist about the treatment of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) with acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine.
Objective:
To describe a single-case experience with acupuncture and herbal medicine for TIA.
Design and Patient:
A 36-year-old Australian woman with a recent history of headaches and numbness presented for treatment. Of note, she had been receiving chiropractic treatment for neck and upper back pain once a week for the last 2 months.
Intervention:
Scalp acupoint was MS 7 line (the scalp sense response line). Two needles were inserted toward GB 7 (Qu Bin). An electroacupuncture stimulator was used at about 20 Hz with intermittent waves. Treatment was 20 minutes per session, 2 sessions per week. In addition, Notoginseng Plus (panax notoginseng plus salvia miltiorrhiza) was prescribed at a standard dosage (two 500-mg tablets, 3 times daily) from the second week onward, invigorating Qi and Blood circulation.
Main Outcome Measure:
Change in numbness and dermal sense.
Results:
After 6 sessions, the numb sensation disappeared and a physical examination of dermal sense in these areas returned to normal.
Conclusions:
This patient benefited from scalp acupuncture plus herbal therapy post-TIA. Further studies are needed to determine the role of electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine therapy.
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