Preventing Cerebrovascular Accidents
Cerebrovascular accident is the modern medical term; it corresponds to TCM's lei-zhongfeng (wind-like-stroke) — stroke from inner-generated wind. Most often arises from kidney-yin insufficiency, heart-fire flaring, liver-yang preponderating, inner-stirring liver-wind; or from qi-and-blood deficiency, damp-phlegm flourishing, transforming to heat and generating wind. In sum, inner injury is principal.
Lei-zhongfeng's basic features: rapid onset, fast change, very high disability and mortality. One of humanity's three killers. So preventing lei-zhongfeng (cerebrovascular accident) is of great concern.
First, know the cause
TCM holds: liver-and-kidney yin deficiency with liver-yang flaring, plus spleen-deficiency with earth not supporting wood — these are clinical causes of hypertension. Spleen-qi weak, phlegm-turbid lodging in the middle, with spleen-and-kidney deficiency causing water-metabolism imbalance — causes hyperlipidemia. So whether Liu Hejian's fire doctrine or Zhu Danxi's phlegm doctrine, both explain that hypertension and hyperlipidemia are important signals of inner dysfunction. With such a signal, regulate promptly with Chinese herbs to prevent lei-zhongfeng. In treating hypertension, TCM doctors often use nourish liver-and-kidney, develop yin and submerge yang combined with supplement heart-and-spleen, support earth and check wood. For hyperlipidemia, use warm and move spleen-kidney yang, benefit qi, transform phlegm, move water.
Second, recognize the warning signs
When lei-zhongfeng warning appears — sudden half-body numbness, half-body weakness, half-body sweating, hand-foot tremor, drool from the mouth corner; or briefly cannot speak or understand speech; transient blurred or lost vision; sudden dizziness, headache, drowsiness — these are major signals; treat in good time.
Third, prevention points
- Do not anger. TCM holds anger injures the liver; liver-qi rises against the flow, qi-and-blood rush to the brain — the main trigger of CVA in the elderly.
- Regulate diet. Excessive hunger, satiety, or irregular eating cause hyperlipidemia and lei-zhongfeng. Keep light and regular diet — root of health.
- Mind sexual life. Sexual excess deepens kidney-yin deficiency, makes liver-qi flare. Take care.
Fourth, emergency notes
When lei-zhongfeng appears, lay the patient flat; do not move him casually; call emergency services. If face flushed and fists clenched — closed type — give Niuhuang Qingxin Wan, Angong Niuhuang Wan, or other heat-clearing, phlegm-transforming, orifice-opening medicines. If hands open and the patient passes urine, with panting and fixed stare — desertion type — give Renshen-Fuzi Tang and the like to warm yang and benefit qi.