Stroke is a common condition among middle-aged and elderly people. It has a sudden onset and is difficult to treat. Scraping therapy, as a commonly used physical therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, is safe and convenient, and can treat a variety of diseases. Can scraping therapy be used for stroke?
Can Scraping Therapy be Used for Stroke?
Yes, scraping therapy can be used for stroke.
In traditional Chinese medicine, stroke is believed to be caused by the disorder of qi and blood, resulting in wind, fire, phlegm, and stasis, which leads to blockage of the brain meridians or blood overflow outside the brain meridians. The main clinical symptoms include sudden collapse, hemiplegia, slurred speech, difficulty in speaking, and numbness on one side of the body. According to the degree of damage to the brain and meridians, it can be classified into meridian stroke and visceral stroke, with different clinical manifestations.
Scraping therapy has a good effect on post-stroke sequelae of meridians and viscera. For acute conditions of visceral stroke, scraping therapy can only be used as an adjuvant therapy, and other emergency methods should be primarily used for treatment.
Areas for Scraping Therapy in Stroke Treatment
1. Acupoint Selection
Du Meridian (Ya Men, Tian Zhu points to Yao Yu), bilateral bladder meridian (Chest 1 to Sacrum 4), Jian Yu, Qu Chi, Hand San Li, Yang Chi, He Gu, Huan Tiao, Yang Ling Quan, Xuan Zhong, Bi Guan, Fu Tu, Zu San Li, Xie Xi, Tai Chong, Shi Xuan, Wei Zhong.
Acupoint selection method:
Jian Yu: Central part of the upper trapezius, between the acromion and the greater tuberosity of the humerus.
Qu Chi: Midpoint on the line connecting the cubital crease and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.
Hand San Li: 2 inches below the cubital crease on the back of the forearm, on the radial side of the Yang Xi and Qu Chi line.
Yang Chi: Depressed area on the back of the wrist, on the ulnar side of the extensor tendon of the finger.
Shi Xuan: Located at the center of the fingertips of all ten fingers, a total of ten points on both hands.
He Gu: Located on the back of the hand, in the depression between the first and second metacarpal bones.
Huan Tiao: When lying on the side with flexed hip, at the intersection of the outer 1/3 and middle 1/3 of the line connecting the most prominent point of the greater trochanter of the femur and the outer opening of the sacral canal.
Yang Ling Quan: Located on the outside of the lower leg, in the depression below the head of the fibula.
Xuan Zhong: 3 inches above the tip of the lateral malleolus, on the anterior edge of the fibula.
Bi Guan: Located on the anterior aspect of the thigh, in the depression on the outside of the iliopubic eminence and the outer edge of the patella when the hip is flexed, at the depression on the outer side of the tensor fasciae latae muscle.
Fu Tu: Located on the anterior aspect of the thigh, on the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine and the outer edge of the patella, 6 inches above the patella.
Zu San Li: 3 inches below the calf's nose, on the side of the anterior edge of the tibia.
Xie Xi: Located at the midpoint of the transverse line at the junction of the lower leg and the dorsum of the foot.
Tai Chong: Located on the lateral side of the dorsum of the foot, in the depression in front of the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones.
Wei Zhong: Located at the midpoint of the popliteal transverse line, between the tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles.
2. Scraping Method
Use a water buffalo horn scraping board and red flower oil as the medium. The scraping method is direct scraping.
Scraping sequence: Scrap the Du Meridian on the back (Ya Men, Tian Zhu points to Yao Yu), bilateral bladder meridian (Chest 1 to Sacrum 4); scrape Jian Yu on the shoulder, Qu Chi, Hand San Li, Yang Chi, and He Gu on the upper limbs; scrape Huan Tiao, Yang Ling Quan, and Xuan Zhong on the lower limbs; scrape Bi Guan, Fu Tu, and Zu San Li on the thigh; massage Xie Xi and Tai Chong on the foot. Apply cupping therapy to the Shi Xuan points (located at the fingertips of both hands), Zu San Li, and Wei Zhong.
Specific operation method:
(1) Apply red flower oil to the treatment area.
(2) Use the scraping tool to make direct contact with the patient's skin and repeatedly scrape the specific area until sha marks appear on the skin.
(3) Use the thumb to massage the Xie Xi point until local soreness and swelling are felt.
(4) Strictly disinfect the Shi Xuan and Wei Zhong points, and then use a sterilized small triangular needle to puncture them and extract 5-7 drops of blood.
(5) Strictly disinfect the Zu San Li point, and use a sterilized medium-sized triangular needle to puncture it without causing bleeding.
3. Effects
Replenish and invigorate qi.
Precautions: Be gentle when treating patients with spasms to avoid skin damage. Scraping should not be performed on areas with bedsores.
4. Indications
Scraping therapy is particularly effective for the rehabilitation treatment of post-stroke sequelae. Post-stroke sequelae refers to the symptoms left after acute cerebrovascular disease. The main manifestations include hemiplegia, facial and speech disorders, slurred speech, drooling, difficulty swallowing, and numbness of the limbs. The symptoms are determined by the location of cerebrovascular lesions. The most common is hemiplegia, which is paralysis or partial paralysis of one side of the body. In the early stage, it manifests as hemiplegia, with weak and flaccid limbs, delayed perception, and limited mobility. With the passage of time, the limbs gradually become spastic and contract, often causing changes and deformities in posture. Therefore, active treatment and exercise should be carried out to maximize the recovery of limb function.
5. Treatment Course
7 sessions constitute one course of treatment. The duration of treatment depends on the length of the disease and the patient's constitution, and long-term adherence to treatment is generally required.
Can You Drink Water After Scraping?
Yes, you can drink water after scraping, and it is recommended to drink a glass of warm water after scraping.
During scraping therapy, sweat pores open and evil qi is expelled, which consumes some of the body's fluids and can cause extreme thirst. Therefore, drinking a glass of warm water after scraping can replenish fluids.
Precautions for Scraping Therapy in Stroke Treatment
1. Precautions Before Scraping
1. Scraping therapy requires exposed skin, and during scraping, sweat pores open. If exposed to cold wind, evil qi can enter the body through the open pores, affecting the effectiveness of scraping therapy and potentially causing new diseases. Therefore, a good treatment environment should be chosen before scraping, with fresh and well-ventilated air, and attention should be paid to keeping warm and avoiding wind. Expose as little skin as possible.
2. Choose a comfortable body position for scraping to facilitate scraping and prevent dizziness from scraping.
3. The scraping tools must be strictly sterilized to prevent cross-infection. Carefully inspect the scraping tools before scraping to avoid skin injuries.
4. The hands of the therapist should also be disinfected.
5. Explain the general knowledge of scraping to the patient before scraping to eliminate their fears and gain their cooperation, in order to prevent dizziness from scraping.
6. Avoid performing scraping therapy on patients who are excessively hungry, full, or excessively anxious.
2. Precautions During Scraping
1. The scraping technique should be applied with even force, within the patient's tolerance, until sha marks appear.
2. Infants, young children, and the elderly should be treated with lighter scraping techniques.
3. Do not blindly pursue the appearance of sha marks by using excessive force or prolonging the scraping time. The amount of sha marks depends on various factors. Generally, blood stasis-related conditions produce more sha marks; excess and heat-related conditions produce more sha marks; deficiency and cold-related conditions produce fewer sha marks; taking too many medications, especially corticosteroids, makes it difficult to produce sha marks; obese individuals and those with well-developed muscles have a lower likelihood of producing sha marks; the yin meridians produce fewer sha marks than yang meridians; sha marks are less likely to appear in low room temperatures.
4. During scraping, frequently ask the patient for feedback. If dizziness occurs, such as fatigue, dizziness, paleness, nausea, cold sweats, palpitations, cold limbs, or a decrease in blood pressure, and the patient becomes unconscious, scraping should be stopped immediately. Comfort the patient and avoid tension, help them lie down, keep them warm, and offer warm water or sugar water to drink. If the symptoms do not improve, use the corner of the scraping board to press the Shui Gou points lightly, avoiding the occurrence of edema after pressure. Use the pricking scraping method on Bai Hui and Yong Quan points. After the patient's condition improves, continue scraping the Nei Guan and Zu San Li points.
3. Precautions After Scraping
1. Scraping treatment opens sweat pores and expels evil qi, which consumes some of the body's fluids. Therefore, it is recommended to drink a glass of warm water and rest for a while after scraping.
2. After scraping treatment, to prevent the invasion of wind and cold evil qi, the skin pores must be closed and return to their original state before bathing, which usually takes about 3 hours.
3. For patients with complicated and critical conditions, in addition to scraping therapy, other treatments should be used under the guidance of a doctor to avoid delaying the condition.
Causes and Pathogenesis of Stroke
1. Accumulation of Damage and Decline of Zheng Qi
Old age and physical decline, liver and kidney yin deficiency, liver yang hyperactivity, combined with emotional stress, excessive fatigue, and other inducing factors, result in deficiency of yin in the lower body, liver yang hyperactivity, wind movement caused by yang transformation, qi and blood moving upwards, clouding the mind and spirit, leading to sudden onset of stroke.
2. Dietary Irregularities
Poor diet and overeating cause internal injury to the spleen and stomach, dysfunction of metabolism, accumulation of dampness, phlegm stagnation and heat, blockage of meridians, and clouding of the mind.
3. Emotional Disturbances
Extreme emotions cause excessive heart fire, which, combined with pre-existing yin deficiency and water inability to nourish wood, leads to liver yang hyperactivity and the arousal of heart fire. This causes the fire and wind to interact, qi and blood move upwards, and the heart and mind become clouded and confused, resulting in sudden collapse and loss of consciousness, eventually leading to stroke.
Precautions for Daily Care in Stroke
1. Create a good living environment to make the patient feel comfortable, which helps stabilize their emotions and promote mental health.
2. Maintain the patient's mental balance. It is important to create a harmonious and warm atmosphere within the family, eliminate the patient's worries and mental burdens, and avoid emotional stimulation.
3. Pay attention to the prevention of complications. Common complications include bedsores, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, limb deformities, and skin burns. Careful nursing should be provided under the guidance of a doctor.
4. Adhere to rehabilitation training. Stroke patients with hemiplegia mainly experience limb paralysis, language and cognitive impairments. Therefore, rehabilitation training should be consistently carried out to prevent disuse atrophy of muscles and joint contractures. The same applies to language and cognitive training.
5. Provide nutritionally rich and easily digestible food, meet the requirements for protein, mineral salts, and total energy, drink plenty of water, and consume semi-liquid foods. Paralyzed patients often fear excessive urination and tend to drink less water, which is incorrect. Sufficient water supply should be provided to paralyzed patients. Drinking 1-2 cups of saline water in the morning can prevent constipation. Food should not be too refined, and attention should be paid to dietary fiber intake to increase gastrointestinal motility and prevent constipation. Avoid drinking strong tea, alcoholic beverages, coffee, and spicy foods.
6. Additionally, as stroke patients need to stay in bed for a long time and have difficulty moving, with a long disease course, many patients feel pessimistic and lose confidence in treatment, and even refuse treatment. Therefore, it is important to help stroke patients build self-confidence.
