Delve into the fascinating science behind acupuncture's impact on stroke recovery! This article, part two of a series, explores how functional MRI (fMRI) technology is revealing the objective brain changes induced by acupuncture treatment for stroke. Research highlights distinct patterns of brain activation immediately and long-term after acupuncture, particularly in regions like the left cuneus, precuneus, middle frontal gyrus, insula, hippocampus, angular gyrus, and superior parietal gyrus, underscoring their role as key regulatory areas.
The article details specific techniques, such as Jin’s three-needle technique combined with mirror therapy, which has been shown to activate more brain function areas and increase blood oxygen perfusion in patients with upper-limb disability following ischemic stroke. It also discusses the use of electroacupuncture for post-stroke depression (PSD), with trials exploring its central mechanisms via brain cortical morphology and local spontaneous activity changes. While neurological mechanisms are still being fully uncovered, the World Health Organization recommends acupuncture as an adjunctive strategy for stroke treatment due to its good clinical efficacy for various post-stroke conditions. This research is crucial for enhancing dialogue with mainstream medicine and increasing patient adherence by providing concrete, objective evidence.