Acupuncture combined with Buyang Huanwu decoction in treatment of patients with ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the effect of acupuncture combined with Buyang Huanwu decoction in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: In total, 115 patients with ischemic stroke were recruited and divided into 3 groups. The control group received normal treatment, the acupuncture group received additional acupuncture treatment, and the combined group received additional acupuncture combined with Buyang Huanwu decoction treatment. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Chinese Stroke Scale (CSS) were used to evaluate the stroke condition, and the Barthel index (BI) was used to measure life quality. Blood lipids and recurrence were also analyzed. RESULTS: The CSS and NIHSS scores were significantly lower in the acupuncture group and combined group than in the control group; however, the BI score was significantly higher in the acupuncture group and combined group. Similarly, the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein were all significantly increased, while the level of high-density lipoprotein showed no significant difference in all groups. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the combined group than in the other two groups. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with Buyang Huanwu decoction could improve the clinical outcomes and reduce the recurrence rates in patients with ischemic stroke.