12. Li Jie

12. Li Jie

Q: My mother has familial hypertension. Recently, a hospital examination revealed a mild stroke, and now her right leg is somewhat stiff, with slight difficulty in speaking. After a two-week IV treatment, she’s still taking Western medicine. Her speech has improved, but she still feels very tired in her right leg, walks awkwardly, and seems to have reduced sensitivity in her nerves. She also feels generally weak. What’s going on?

A: The stiffness in her right leg indicates that the stroke occurred in the left basal ganglia, which is close to the language center, hence the slurred speech. This condition requires slow, gradual treatment—not something that can be fixed in a few days of IV therapy. It’s best to seek treatment based on TCM differentiation, using methods like activating blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and calming the liver to subdue wind. With a treatment course lasting more than six months, most patients can achieve varying degrees of recovery.

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