Stroke, Mind Body Medicine for stroke, meditation, yoga, prayer and spiritual healing, biofeedback, social support, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for Stroke, Holisticonline.com

Stroke

Alternative and Complementary Medicine for Stroke

Mind/Body Medicine for Stroke

Techniques that teach the body to relax and the mind to focus on healing can help recovering stroke victims. These techniques can increase tolerance to pain and also alleviate the depression or anger that is common in the wake of a stroke.

Close relationships help reduce risk of stroke. In a study conducted at London, England, researchers found that couples were significantly more successful at reducing their blood pressures and cholesterol levels and at quitting smoking than singles.

Social Support

Social support is also important in reducing the risk for stroke. Duke University researchers, after studying 46 people who had been hospitalized for strokes, found that those with the most social and emotional support recovered much more quickly and fully from stroke as compared to those that had little or no emotional support. Prayer and Spiritual healing had also been beneficial.

Relaxation Therapies

Be calm and relax. Manage your anger. Research at the University of Michigan School of Public Health showed that angry outbursts double the risk for stroke. Identify your anger triggers. Learn to stay calm so that you don't lose your temper and increase your blood pressure. Deep breathing is a good way to control anger and to relax. Experts suggest counting to 10, and walking away from potentially anger-provoking situations.

Hypnotherapy, guided imagery/visualization, meditation, and yoga all can be useful for stroke. Some stroke victims working to restore lost muscle control and motor function benefit from biofeedback.