Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) Treated With Electroacupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

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.