Analysis on Acupuncture in the Treatment of Post-stroke Dysphagia Based on the Theory of

Hongtao LI; Yaqi HUANG; Lulu YAO; Bing GAO; Yu YE; Nenggui XU; Lin WANG

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Analysis on Acupuncture in the Treatment of Post-stroke Dysphagia Based on the Theory of "Latent Pathogen in Cerebral Collaterals"

VernacularTitle:从“脑络伏邪”探析针刺辨治中风后吞咽障碍思路
Author: Hongtao LI ¹ ; Yaqi HUANG ¹ ; Lulu YAO ¹ ; Bing GAO ² ; Yu YE ³ ; Nenggui XU ¹ ; Lin WANG ¹
Author Information

1. Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Rehabilitation，Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine，Guangzhou，510006
2. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Anhui University of Chinese Medicine
3. Graduate School of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: post-stroke dysphagia; stroke; cerebral collaterals; latent pathogen; acupuncture therapy
From: Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(9):901-905
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Dysphagia is a common complication of stroke. Combining the principles of traditional Chinese medicine with modern research findings， it is proposed that "latent pathogen in the cerebral collaterals" constitutes the core pathogenesis of post-stroke dysphagia （PSD）. In clinical practice， treatment is tailored according to the location of PSD. During the oral stage， when the pathogen invades the face and mouth， resulting in excessive salivation， acupoints are primarily selected from the foot shaoyin （少阴） kidney channel， in combination with ren mai （任脉）， du mai （督脉）， chong mai （冲脉） and the spleen channel， to replenish essence and fill the marrow， dispel dampness and unblock the channels. In the pharyngeal stage， as the pathogen obstructs the throat， disrupting normal swallowing， the therapy emphasizes dredging the shaoyang （少阳） channel and warming and tonifying the jueyin （厥阴） channel， by taking acupoints mainly from the hand and foot shaoyang channels， along with the jueyin channels， so as to soothe the liver and promote bile secretion， regulate and harmonize qi and blood. During the esophageal stage， where the pathogen damages the esophagus， impeding food passage， the treatment emphasizes activating the yangming （阳明） channels and regulating taiyin （太阴） channels； acupoints are mainly selected from the foot yangming stomach channel， along with the taiyin channels， aiming to warm yang， unblock the channels and dispel stasis.