Adding Acorus tatarinowii volatile oil inhalation to Fengchi acupuncture may enhance cognitive recovery after stroke by improving cerebral blood flow.
This retrospective cohort study compared post-stroke cognitive impairment patients receiving routine rehabilitation and Fengchi electroacupuncture with patients who also received Acorus tatarinowii volatile oil inhalation. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics between groups. Cognitive function, daily living independence, and cerebral arterial blood-flow velocity were assessed before and after treatment, with regression modelling used to examine associations between treatment and outcomes.
Both groups showed improvements in cognitive performance and functional independence after treatment, but the combined treatment group achieved greater gains than the acupuncture-only group. The findings suggest that volatile oil inhalation may strengthen the effects of Fengchi acupuncture on cognitive recovery and daily functioning, potentially through improved cerebral hemodynamics.
