MAILBAG: Speed Up Stroke Recovery NATURALLY
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted October 11, 2022
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
“Do you have any recommendations for stroke recovery?”
– Martin from Fayetteville, Arkansas
Hi Martin,
This is an area where I have to give a tip of my hat to mainstream doctors.
Even 20 years ago, someone suffering from a stroke would be told to rest in bed. It was mainstream docs who first realized this was bad advice and would make things much worse.
Nowadays, when you have a stroke, your doctors will quickly take steps to:
- thin your blood
- reduce swelling in your brain, and
- get you up and moving as soon as possible
These three things are vital for a fast and better recovery.
The last one involves physical (PT) and occupational (OT) therapy. I encourage you to do EVERYTHING your therapists ask you to do. Because even if part of your brain is damaged other areas can take over IF you follow the PT and OT routines you’ve been prescribed.
There ARE some additional natural therapies you can add to your plan (with your doc’s permission) to help support your stroke recovery:
- Consider MORE movement therapy: While PT and OT are vital for stroke recovery, research has found that additional movement therapies can also help. Yoga, Tai Chi, massage therapy, and even just walking have all been shown to help people recover from a stroke.
- Supplement for brain support: When recovering from a brain injury such as a stroke, I’ve found EPA/DHA-rich fish oil, B complex vitamins, and ginkgo biloba can all be helpful. Be sure to check with your doctor before adding any new supplements to your routine. And keep in mind both fish oil and ginkgo can thin your blood. So if you’re already on a blood thinner, these supplements could turn out to be too much of a good thing.
- Focus on the underlying issue: If your stroke was triggered by high blood pressure or being overweight, it’s a good idea to work on improving these conditions. (Click here for some advice on reducing blood pressure naturally. And I have some tips for slimming down right here.) Plus, if you had an ischemic stroke where the blood vessel broke, consider taking vitamin C to help “toughen up” your blood vessels.
P.S. One of the hardest things to get back after a stroke is speech. Luckily, University of Helsinki researchers found an EASY… and, honestly, FUN…way to speed up the process. Click here for all the details.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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