Herbal remedies and alternative treatments for stroke

Compared to taking drugs and undergoing stroke treatment recommended by doctors, not a few people prefer to take herbal medicine to treat this one disease. Even so, treatment using herbal medicines must be consulted first with a doctor. Likewise with alternative medicine. Then, what herbal medicines can be used to treat stroke? Check out the following explanation.

Herbal medicine which is considered to be able to treat stroke

Unlike the stroke treatment that doctors usually recommend, herbal medicine is usually used as an adjunct treatment to treat post-stroke conditions. These herbal remedies for stroke usually include natural ingredients that you usually encounter. Among others are:

1. Garlic

Research published in the journal entitled Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry states that garlic supplements can have a significant effect in lowering blood pressure in people who have a history of high blood pressure. In fact, the effectiveness of using garlic extract is the same as the blood-lowering drug, namely atenolol.

Therefore, this natural ingredient can be consumed as herbal or traditional medicine to help deal with strokes, especially ischemic strokes. The reason is, high blood pressure or hypertension is one of the factors causing stroke.

Not only that, garlic is also known to prevent narrowing and clogging of blood vessels. In fact, garlic can destroy plaque that is in the blood vessels. Therefore, the use of garlic not only serves to treat, but also prevents strokes.

Garlic does not have to be consumed in supplement form if you want to use it to treat stroke. You can also include garlic in your daily diet menu. After all, garlic is suitable for use as a spice in various foods.

Meanwhile, if you want to take garlic in supplement form, make sure that this has been discussed with your doctor. You also need to ask your doctor the correct dosage for taking this supplement.

2. Ginseng

Apart from garlic, you can use ginseng as an herbal remedy for stroke. Yes, ginseng is a natural ingredient that has many health benefits, one of which is to be consumed by patients during stroke recovery.

A study published in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience states that ginseng is considered effective enough to treat various types of brain and nerve health problems, one of which is stroke and various degenerative diseases of the brain and nerves.

The use of ginseng can provide a protective effect on the brain and nerves that focus on maintaining its functions. However, as with the use of garlic supplements, it's better to ask first before starting to use ginseng to help post-stroke recovery.

Ginseng itself consists of various variants, but the ginseng that is usually used to treat this disease is peeled and dried, called Panax Ginseng.

3. Turmeric

The following herbal remedies for stroke can also be easily found anywhere. This natural ingredient is usually used as a cooking spice. Who would have thought that turmeric was thought to be able to help treat stroke?

One of the substances contained in turmeric, namely curcumin, is actually a natural polyphenol that has been used for hundreds of years in traditional medicine to control inflammation.

Usually, turmeric is used for stroke patients who cannot undergo clot breakdown therapy, but have inflammation of the brain.

In fact, curcumin, which was once only an alternative treatment, has now become a common treatment for cancer and various other diseases related to inflammation, including diabetes and wound healing.

Not only that, turmeric can also help lower high cholesterol levels. Therefore, plaque buildup in blood vessels that has the potential to cause blockages can be prevented.

Alternative treatment for stroke

Apart from using herbal medicines, you can also undergo alternative treatments to treat stroke. Some of them are:

1. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that originated in China and is done by inserting a fine thin needle into your skin. Apart from the use of herbal medicines, this kind of treatment is also believed to help the stroke recovery process.

This alternative medicine is believed to treat pain, weakened physical function, decreased quality of life, and cognitive function of patients who have recently had a stroke. In fact, this alternative medicine has been frequently used as part of the stroke rehabilitation process in China for thousands of years.

Not only that, this treatment can also help improve the function of the nervous system directly. In addition, this method is also considered very effective in the treatment of ischemic stroke because it helps the growth and formation of tissues in the core of the nervous system, helps regulate blood flow in the ischemic area and improves memory in post-stroke patients.

2. Yoga

Apart from herbal remedies for stroke, this type of exercise is also considered as an alternative method of treatment for stroke. If a stroke patient has balance and coordination problems, doing yoga regularly can increase these problems.

A study published in the American Journal of Recreation Therapy states that after undergoing yoga after 8 weeks, patients experience improvement in managing emotions, are more stable, and can move the body with a wider range of motion.

Not only that, yoga can also help stroke patients to be more independent in carrying out their usual daily activities while reducing the risk of falling in the future.

3. Massage therapy

Massage therapy can also be an alternative treatment for stroke. This therapy helps body tissues improve the health and fitness of stroke patients.

Thai massage or one type of Thai massage therapy and the use of herbal medicine can improve patient function, mood and sleep patterns. In fact, this therapy can also help reduce the pain felt by stroke sufferers.

4. Tai chi

Tai chi is also believed to be able to help the recovery process of stroke patients. Tai chi can be done by doing various movements slowly, then stretching the muscles while taking a deep breath.

According to an article published in the Mayo Clinic, when doing so, the body and mind work together to make coordinated movements with a focus on body posture every time a movement changes. Tai chi can also help patients to train stroke patients' ability to maintain balance.

In fact, not only that, tai chi is believed to reduce the risk of falling in stroke patients to Parkinson's disease. So, there is nothing wrong if you or someone closest to you who has had a stroke, try to do relaxation activities that can help the recovery process from the disease.