EFFECTIVENESS OF FOLK MEDICINE METHODS IN RESTORING COGNITIVE AND SPEECH FUNCTIONS AFTER ISCHEMIC STROKE

Abstract

The decline in cognitive and speech functions following ischemic stroke significantly affects patients’ quality of life, daily activities, and social adaptation. In addition to conventional medical rehabilitation methods, folk medicine approaches—particularly acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and herbal therapy—have recently been widely used as supplementary options for restoring post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and speech disorders. These methods stimulate the neuroplasticity of the central nervous system, improve cerebral blood circulation, and assist in the recovery of cognitive functions.

Conclusion:Research indicates that acupuncture and other Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) methods, when combined with a proper rehabilitation program, significantly improve patients’ cognitive function, memory, attention, speech fluency, and overall functional status. Additionally, these methods activate neuroplastic processes and accelerate psychoneurological recovery. These findings suggest that, for patients with PSCI, such approaches can serve as effective adjuncts to conventional rehabilitation and demonstrate the potential for integrating acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and TCM-based strategies into clinical practice.