Observation on the short-term efficacy of inverse moxibustion at the Baihui point and Dazhui point in preventing post-stroke depression.

After a stroke, many survivors develop depression — a condition known as post-stroke depression (PSD) — which can slow recovery and reduce quality of life. Researchers wanted to know whether a traditional Chinese medicine technique called moxibustion could help prevent this from happening.

In this study, 80 patients recovering from an acute ischemic stroke (the most common type, caused by a blocked blood vessel) were divided into two groups. Both groups received standard stroke care, but one group also received moxibustion treatments at two specific acupuncture points: Baihui (located at the top of the head) and Dazhui (at the back of the neck). The treatment continued for four weeks.

Researchers measured three things before and after treatment: depression levels using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, neurological function using the NIH Stroke Scale, and the ability to perform daily activities using the modified Barthel Index.

The results were encouraging. Patients who received moxibustion showed lower depression scores, better neurological recovery, and improved ability to carry out daily tasks compared to those who only received standard care. Most importantly, significantly fewer patients in the moxibustion group developed post-stroke depression at all.

What does this mean for stroke survivors? Adding moxibustion to standard rehabilitation may offer a safe, non-drug approach to protecting mental health during stroke recovery. It may also support the brain's healing process and help patients regain independence faster.

While this is a short-term study and more research is needed, the findings suggest moxibustion is a promising complementary therapy worth discussing with your care team. If you're interested in exploring moxibustion after a stroke, seek out a licensed acupuncturist or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner with experience in stroke rehabilitation.

This randomized controlled trial (n=80) evaluated the short-term efficacy of inverse moxibustion at GV20 (Baihui) and GV14 (Dazhui) as an adjunct to standard care in acute ischemic stroke patients. Participants were allocated equally to a treatment group (routine care plus moxibustion) or control group (routine care only) over a four-week course. Outcomes were assessed via the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17), NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and modified Barthel Index (MBI) at baseline and week four. The moxibustion group demonstrated statistically significant improvements across all three measures: reduced HAMD-17 and NIHSS scores alongside elevated MBI scores compared to controls. Critically, the incidence of post-stroke depression was significantly lower in the treatment group. These findings suggest that GV20/GV14 moxibustion may support neurological recovery, improve functional independence, and exert a prophylactic effect on PSD. Clinicians should consider integrating this protocol into early post-stroke rehabilitation pathways.