🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Because stroke pathogenesis is related to constitutional weakness, stroke patients should appropriately supplement their diet.
However, during acute episodes, patients primarily suffer from phlegm turbidity and blood stasis, so indiscriminate supplementation is inappropriate. During hospitalization, individualized nutritional prescriptions are typically determined by hospital dietitians based on patient-specific conditions.
During recovery, phlegm and blood stasis symptoms are largely resolved, but the patient's weakened constitution becomes prominent. At this stage, dietary regulation is crucial. Diet should be light, easy to digest, and rich in vitamins. Avoid fatty, greasy, and sweet foods; abstain from smoking and alcohol; increase intake of coarse fiber vegetables like cabbage and radishes to maintain smooth bowel movements. With reduced dietary fat, protein intake should be moderately increased. Sources include lean meat, skinless poultry, and fish—especially marine fish. Daily consumption of bean products such as tofu and bean curd is beneficial for lowering blood cholesterol and improving blood viscosity. Salt intake should be limited to about 3 grams per day, ideally added after cooking and mixed well. To stimulate appetite, add vinegar, tomato sauce, or sesame paste to dishes. Vinegar not only enhances flavor but also accelerates fat breakdown, promoting digestion and absorption. Sesame paste is high in calcium; regular consumption helps replenish calcium and may help prevent stroke. Additionally, drink plenty of water, especially in the morning and evening, to dilute blood.
Health foods can complement drug therapy, alleviate symptoms, promote functional recovery, and prevent or reduce recurrence. Here are two recommended tonifying recipes:
1. Astragalus Pork Soup
Astragalus 20 g, 6 jujubes, Angelica sinensis 10 g, wolfberry 15 g, 50–100 g lean pork sliced thinly. Add ginger slices and scallion whites. Boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer until meat is tender. Add appropriate salt and a small amount of monosodium glutamate. Optionally, add sesame oil or Sichuan pepper oil according to personal preference. Cool slightly before consuming. Efficacy and usage: Astragalus tonifies qi, wolfberry enriches essence, Angelica nourishes blood and activates circulation, jujube warms and supplements qi, and lean pork provides abundant protein and nourishes yin and moistens dryness. Together, they achieve the effect of replenishing essence and qi, activating blood, and resolving stasis. Divide each dose into two servings, taken twice daily. Suitable for stroke patients with kidney deficiency and essence depletion. Clinical presentation includes hoarseness or loss of speech, palpitations, shortness of breath, soreness in waist and knees, limb paralysis, numbness in hands and feet, hemiplegia, enlarged tongue with tooth marks on the sides, white coating, and deep, fine, weak pulse. Contraindicated for those with headache and sweating, irritability, bitter mouth, easily angered mood, flushed face, red eyes, bloating, and belching. Diabetic patients should use with caution.
2. Vinegar Steamed Pepper Pear
Appropriate amount of aged vinegar, white pepper grains. Two pears. Grind white pepper into fine powder. Halve the pears, insert pepper powder between the halves, place in a dish, add vinegar, steam in a steamer until pears are soft. Consume. Efficacy and usage: White pepper (also known as jade pepper) contains piperine, essential oils, and proteins, capable of reducing fever, dispelling wind, and anticonvulsant effects. Pear (also called "quick fruit" or "jade milk") contains sugars, organic acids, and vitamins, able to generate body fluids and moisten dryness, clear heat, and resolve phlegm. Aged vinegar contains higher alcohols and succinic acid, effective in activating blood circulation, resolving stasis, and killing parasites. Together, they achieve the effect of nourishing yin, clearing heat, activating blood, resolving stasis, dispelling wind, and stopping convulsions. Consume one pear per serving, twice daily. Safe for long-term use. Suitable for stroke patients with hyperactive liver yang and obstructed collaterals. Clinical presentation includes hemiplegia, stiffness and spasm on affected side, headache, dizziness, flushed face, tinnitus, dry mouth and throat, red tongue with thin yellow coating, and wiry, firm pulse. Contraindicated for diabetic patients with cerebrovascular accidents.