Acupuncture Practice Building - Debunking the Five Year Myth

In a recent conversation with a newly graduated acupuncturist, I learned that in acupuncture schools they say it takes about five years to build an acupuncture practice.

This has to be one of the biggest myths in the acupuncture field. Unfortunately, too many practitioners believe this to be true and cheat themselves out of growing their acupuncture practice in just one third of the time. If you pace yourself to see results in five years that's exactly what you'll get.

I'm going to share with you a simple but powerful approach that can sky rocket your acupuncture practice in just 12 to 18 months. I'm also going to tell you exactly what to focus on so you don't waste your time implementing tactics that don't work, or that work but take too long to produce results.

The secret to growing your acupuncture practice in record time is in the marketing. Yes, I know you're thinking to yourself... "duh Frank," but stick with me here for a moment because I'm going to show you exactly what tactic works best, but first you need to think outside the box.

Too many practitioners are confused about how to market themselves. One of the biggest obstacle they face is they see themselves as healers and not business people. The fact that acupuncture works so well, ironically contributes to this thinking. They feel people should be knocking down their door to get acupuncture treatments because acupuncture works so well.

From a logical standpoint, you might think this makes sense. "Why advertise" you might say. Maybe you feel advertising is for products you have to shove down people's throat. Maybe you feel doing marketing is selling yourself and you feel selling is sleazy or unethical. Why should you have to sell people on an alternative form of health care that's been around for more than 3,500 years, that is natural, safe, effective, drug free and doesn't produce side effects.

The logic might make sense, but the problem is you're not the only game in town. Acupuncture schools are cranking out more practitioners than ever before. Many of today's acupuncturists were regular people who experienced the benefits of acupuncture and where so impressed with the results they enrolled in acupuncture school. Maybe you're one of them.

This is all good, but when it comes to making money practicing acupuncture, you've got to understand this very important principle; "You're not in the acupuncture business, you're in the business of marketing your acupuncture practice." Until you take this to heart, you won't see dramatic results.

So which are the marketing strategies that yield the best and fastest results? Well if you apply the 80/20 rule to your marketing you'll discover that you will acquire 80% of new patients from your website. Why? Because more than 80% of the people that search for products and services do so online. The yellow pages are almost extinct, so you need to have an online presence so those 80% of new patients searching online can find you.

Acupuncture practice building is like fishing-If you're going to catch fish, you have to go where the fish are biting. Now please don't make the mistake of thinking that just slapping up a website is going to solve your marketing problems. Your website first must be easily found by prospective patient's searching for an acupuncturist in YOUR area. If they can't find you it's like you don't exist. Invest in a website, but most importantly invest in learning about search engine optimization so prospective patients can find your website. This is how you grow an acupuncture practice in record time. The five year rule is just a myth.

Frank Prieto

To get the free report on acupuncture practice building by Frank Prieto, with killer acupuncture marketing strategies to explode your practice go to http://www.newacupuncturepatients.com/blog/

The Uses Of Acupuncture

Acupuncture has a history of over 2500 years and comes from China. It has now become very popular throughout Europe and Asia too.

Today people are moving more away from western medicine and moving more towards acupuncture, mainly when western medicine has no answer to their medical ailment or they do not like the other options given them, be it surgery or drugs or even when they have been told that nothing else can be done. They turn to acupuncture for pain relief, for chronic illness, for acute injuries, for various side effects brought on by other medications, for incurable conditions, during cancer treatments etc.

The major use of acupuncture today is in the relief of pain. For example severe tension headaches, migraine, acute backaches, shoulder and neck aches, leg pains, trapped nerves, muscle related injuries, after surgery, carpal tunnel syndrome, after sports injuries, menstrual pains, tennis elbow, tooth aches, abdominal pains, arthritic pains, rheumatic pains, sciatica and frozen shoulder.

Other than for pain relief acupuncture can be used for many other ailments as well. These include:

Menopausal symptoms and problems, hot flushes, endometriosis, infertility, premenstrual tension.

Bladder or bowel problems such as irritable bowel and irritable bladder syndrome and incontinence. Difficulty in urination or painful urination, urinary infections and cystitis.

Digestive disorders, which include nausea, indigestion, heartburn and diarrhea.

Respiratory problems, which include asthma, bronchitis, colds and coughs which persist, sinus problems, catarrh and tonsillitis.

Allergies and skin problems such as rhinitis, hay fever, prickly heat, rashes and ulcers, eczema, some types of dermatitis and psoriasis.

Conditions which include the eyes and mouth such as simple cataract, dry eyes, conjunctivitis, retinitis and toothache, pharyngitis, dry mouth condition known as xerostomia and post extraction pain.

Heart problems such as poor circulation, stroke recovery, hypertension.

It also helps in conditions like hiccough, gastritis, gastric ulcers, colitis, constipation, lack of energy and chronic fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, mood swings, post traumatic shock, dizziness, in post operative treatment, in complaints that cannot be diagnosed, Achilles tendonitis and golfer's elbow.

It can also help in addictions mainly to stop smoking.

In short, acupuncture can be used for almost anything and everything - it can control pain, it helps in addictions and addiction withdrawal symptoms, it helps in enhancement of health, it can help in recoveries after injuries like sports injuries, it can prevent diseases, strengthen the body and it can also be used and show results when all other types of medicines have failed.

Sometimes the acupuncture treatment, which is inserting needles into the body, is done in conjunction with other complimentary techniques such as herbs, massaging, cupping, moxibusion also known as warming, electro-stimulation and with laser devices.

Generally, most people react very well to acupuncture with a sense of well-being and being relaxed and also being able to sleep well and overall increase in energy levels and better digestion. Because acupuncture is a treatment using natural techniques, people rarely suffer from any side effects. It can also be recommended for people of all ages, that is from children to even the elderly.

Michael Russell

Acupuncture Therapies Today

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese health procedure dating back 5,000 years. It traditionally had a preventative focus. The highest form of acupuncture treatment was given to enable the patient to live a long, healthy life. These days in the Western world the emphasis seems to be more towards relieving pain.

Acupuncture literally means 'needle piercing', which describes the practice of inserting very fine needles into the skin in order to stimulate specific points. The stimulation of these 'acupoints' balances the movement of energy (Chi) within the body. Chi flows around the body in invisible channels known as meridians which form a network of energy channels around the body. Each meridian is related to a body organ or function (eg. lung, kidney, stomach). There are 365 acupoints situated along the 12 main meridians.

When Chi flows freely through the meridians, a healthy and balanced body results. However when the energy flow is blocked or weakened it can result in physical, emotional or mental ill health. External factors like heat, cold, dampness or dryness as well as emotions like anger, grief and fear or incorrect diet, overwork or too much sex, can all upset the balance of Chi.

The acupuncturist stimulates the acupuncture points that will counteract that imbalance. For example, if the Chi is stagnant, or the flow is blocked, the acupuncturist will choose specific points to stimulate it. So acupuncture can be used to re-balance the body's energy system thereby restoring health or preventing the development of disease. It is important to realise that the acupuncture points stimulated are not necessarily in the same location as the symptoms. The acupuncturist will determine the organ causing the problem and then stimulate the appropriate acupuncture point located anywhere along the corresponding meridian. So a needle could be inserted in the foot of a patient with a headache, if this is best acupoint to use in that situation.

Korean hand acupuncture is a variation on typical Chinese acupuncture. Although the needles are only placed in the hands and fingers, the entire body can be treated since all the meridians can be accessed from here.

Auricular therapy is a specific branch of acupuncture which focuses on the ear. Once again there are specific points on the ear associated with different parts of the body. Either very small needles, tiny magnetically charged ball bearings or electrical and light stimulation therapies can be used. In some cases patients are able to self administer by pressing on the point when they feel the need. It is an effective form of pain control with an immediate calming effect. Auricular therapy has been found to be particularly beneficial in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs.

Shiatsu (or acupressure) is related to acupuncture but instead of using needles, pressure is applied by fingers, palms, elbows etc during a massage by the Shiatsu practitioner. Basically the same acupoints and meridians are stimulated by this method but it also incorporates the benefits of massage.

Whether for pain relief, treatment of illness or just to get your Chi flowing evenly and promote a long, healthy life you can't go past acupuncture.

John Cusworth

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture - The Best Form of Preventive Medicine

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are first and foremost a preventive type of medicine. But in our Western culture we don't go to see our doctor until we are sick. I am yet to meet anyone that says to me, "I don't feel well, I am going to see my acupuncturist". What we usually get at our clinic are people that have tried everything else and nothing has helped. And now they are willing to try anything, even Acupuncture. I am not complaining, I get to prove how well Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work when I treat someone with a complicated condition, that even Western medicine has not been able to help. But a common comment I hear from my patients is, " I wish I had known that Acupuncture and Chinese medicine could have helped my condition, before it got so bad...."

It is lack of information that makes people wait until it is to late to prevent disease. We are not in tune with our own bodies, and we pay dearly for it. I believe that the way Chinese medicine looks at health can help give us a better hold on the prevention aspects of Medicine.

In Chinese Medicine health is described as the free, harmonious movement of Qi (pronounced Chee). This system of describing health is one of the first things a Chinese Doctor learns. And it can help you determine if there is a need for medical treatment with acupuncture, herbs, massage or conventional medicine.

For thousands of years, doctors of Chinese medicine have diagnosed health problems without the use of Western medical technology by simply watching and listening for the signs of Qi imbalance. Regardless of what your condition is called, in Chinese Medicine we concentrate in the overall condition your vital energy. We call that energy Qi. The Qi energy in a healthy individual is ample, strong and harmonious. When qi energy is stagnated and/or deficient the individual is more prone to disease. There are of course many symptoms that are not mentioned here, but the purpose of this short list is to make the reader aware of the warning signs. If you respond quickly, you can resolve minor health challenges before they became major illnesses.

Signs of Harmonious Qi

• Little or no pain
• Normal body temperature
• Normal pulse rate and volume
• Pink tongue
• Feeling rested
• Good stamina
• Productive
• Creative
• Energetic
• Humorous
• Happy/peaceful
• Imaginative, curious

If you have six or seven of these qualities you have ample Qi. Ample Qi can help improve the imbalances found on the next list:

Signs of Deficiency or Stagnation of Qi

• Fatigue
• Stress
• Pain----joints, head, neck, back
• Digestive and bowel problems
• Anger, fear, worry, panic
• Sickness and disease
• Frequent colds and flu
• Sexual or menstrual difficulties
• Lung disorders
• Allergies
• Overly emotional states
• Forgetfulness
• Depression, lethargy
• Anxiety, restlessness
• Frustration, violence
• Laziness, procrastination
• Difficulty regulating body temperature
• Sleeplessness
• Red, pale, or coated tongue
• Slow, fast, weak, or erratic pulse

Almost everyone exhibits one or two signs of Qi deficiency and stagnation even relatively healthy people, but in those cases a good nights sleep, a change in ones diet, or an occasional acupuncture treatment is enough to bring balance back into the persons energy.

If you express three or four of these symptoms a minor change is not sufficient any longer, you are a good candidate for Chinese herbal supplements and acupuncture. If you have five or more of the signs on the second list you need to be evaluated by a health care professional, and you definitely need acupuncture and Chinese herbs supplements.

If you have six or seven signs of harmonious Qi and three or four signs of deficiency and stagnation, you are fortunate. Most people with that many signs of deficiency and stagnation don't have many signs of harmonious Qi. The time to improve is now while your vital energy is strong.

The foundation of Chinese medicine is health improvement rather than disease curing. In Chinese culture the concept of utilizing medicine for longevity and personal optimization has held equal weight with the use of medicine for the treatment of disease. Because they enhance inner harmony and balance, such practices as acupuncture and herbal medicine can be used equally for preventive health care as well as for disease treatment. If you are suffering form a disease acupuncture and Chinese herb can help with your condition by strengthening your body. But if you are interested in prevention these are signs are invaluable for keeping yourself healthy and strong.

Roberto G. Guerrero

Acupuncture and Weight Loss

Obesity is a state of being obese, or overweight due to excessive accumulation of fat. The love for junk food and lethargy has played a great part in spreading this disease. Nowadays, not only adults but also children are suffering from the problem of excessive weight.

Some of the effective remedies for weight loss include exercise, yoga, crash diet and acupuncture.

In the recent years, acupuncture has gained wide acclaim as an effective therapy to control and lose excess weight. Acupuncture is a healing system that was developed in china some 2,500 years ago. Acupuncture was introduced in America in the late 1800s. Since than it has been used as an alternative medicine to treat a wide range of diseases including depression, insomnia, drug abuse and weight loss. However, it did not come into popularity until President Nixon made his historical visit to China in 1972. That is the event that largely opened the door from East to West and vice-versa.

There are about 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body. Each point is associated with different healing attributes. Acupuncture points within the year are tapped for detoxification and weight loss. The organs treatable by ear acupuncture, for example, include the lung, kidneys, liver and nervous system.

But before deciding to go for acupuncture as a remedy for your weight loss, be sure to make sure you are using a reputable weight loss practitioner. If treated by an expert practitioner, acupuncture can be an easy way out to free you from the shackles of excessive fat accumulated in your body.

Kevin Stith

Quit Smoking With Acupuncture

Many people who cannot quit smoking are now turning to an ancient Chinese practice known as acupuncture. Acupuncture is considered the positioning of many tiny metal needles at certain points in the human body. It is said that each point in the human body is directly related to a specific organ. Therefore, it is believed that the human structure is directly influenced by acupuncture. This ancient practice is becoming more popular as time goes by.

Many people turn to acupuncture to quit smoking because it uses no drugs or medications. Most of the people who consider having acupuncture done are usually people who have tried and failed multiple times with other well-known methods.

Another attraction to acupuncture most smokers have is that it is not considered a medical treatment. It is also void of chemicals, useless home, or herbal remedies that may or may not work. Acupuncture treatments to help a smoker quit is mainly concentrated in the facial area. Many smokers say that it helps to reduce the cravings and nervousness that usually accompanies someone trying to quit smoking.

Like any other treatments for health concerns or habits, acupuncture is not exempt from failures. Just as much people say acupuncture did not help as other treatments. This is why it is important to realize that everyone is different. What works for Peter might not work for Paul.

Before embarking on an acupuncture regimen to quit smoking, consult your doctor. Your doctor might be able to point you in the right direction of finding a good acupuncture specialist. If you do not have a doctor, then looking on the internet is also a good way to find a good specialist.

When looking for an acupuncture specialist on the internet, make sure you call the office before visiting. It is also a good idea to make sure there are testimonials on the website of previous clients.

Finius Flanders

Basic Acupuncture Factors in Treatment

Our bodies are not only electrical in nature, but they have positive and negative poles. There should be balance established between them, if health is also to become established. Acupuncture is a proven system used for thousands of years, by the Orient, to create a continuous smooth flow of energy throughout the body by contacting various points; the acupuncture points. These points are located on pathways related to organs and glands called meridians. Contact of these points is established by insertion of steel needles called acupuncture needles.

An acupuncturist first identifies disturbances in the various body areas and, with the help of needles, aims to change and restore the distorted flow of energy. Once balance is restored, the body can repair itself. Acupuncture may, or may not, require more than one treatment - but usually does need some time and treatment in order to be most effective. The reversal of symptoms and repair can begin to take place immediately but the longer the number of treatments the sooner the return to normality is,

In the approach of oriental medicine, simply meridian point therapy without a consideration for the etiology and constitution which induce symptoms cannot exist. This does not necessarily mean that good results cannot be obtained by using only the appropriate points according to symptoms and/or disease. As a matter of fact, even less experienced practitioners can expect safe therapeutic results as long as certain principles are followed.

Main and secondary points are selected and used by various therapists according to their choices. The stimulation of these points can be used not only for treating specific disorders, but also as a form of preventive and maintenance care. However, in the following cases acupuncture is generally contraindicated: immediately after exercise, one hour before or after bathing, during an infectious disease, hemophilia, tetanus and during pregnancy; stimulation of lower back and abdomen.

Generally, the number of points used in any one session is up to forty. But many more points can be used. During the initial treatment, usually the number of points selected for treatment is considerably less. Fewer points are also selected for treatment when children or infants are treated. Various stimulation techniques can be applied on meridian points such as acupuncture, electrical acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure and magnetic ball pressure patch and the latest addition of auricular acupuncture developed in 1950s by the French scholar Dr. Paul Nogier.

Medical doctors of all kinds, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists, acupuncturists and other professional therapists are learning the art of acupuncture for their patients. Over the last 20 years, acupuncture has grown in popularity. And relatively very few complications as a result of the use of acupuncture have ever been reported to the FDA, considering the millions of people that are treated each year. There have been many studies on acupuncture’s usefulness as a treatment. Results have emerged looking promising. Acupuncture is a part of the large body of the Traditional Chinese System or TCM that includes Chinese herbal medicine, nutritional therapy, physical exercises, meditation, acupuncture and remedial massage.

Michael Russell

Acupuncture - What it is and What it Cures

While once toted as experimental and vastly alternative medicine, acupuncture is increasingly making its way into mainstream healing. But what exactly is acupuncture, what does it do and what can it heal?

Acupuncture derives from a 16th century Chinese medicinal practice. Not for the faint of heart, acupuncture involves stainless steel needles being inserted into your fourteen major "energy channels". The basic premise for this practice is that illness derives from an imbalance in one's energy. Stimulating these various channels will restore that balance and consequently your health. There is also a theory that by inserting these needles into "acu-points", it increases the release of pain blocking agents known as endorphins.

The most common question on every prospective patient's mind is almost always "Does it hurt?" One might feel a small prick when the needle is first inserted, but it will not be a large sensation of pain due to the extreme thinness of the needles. (It will hurt far less than an injection, for example.) After the needles have been inserted, one might also feel a sense of mild soreness, numbness or tingling in the muscles. Some forms of acupuncture involve twirling the needles. Another form couples the needles with electric energy. It is common to feel a tingling sensation when this type of acupuncture is utilized. However, as with any procedure, if you ever feel uncomfortable or in pain, inform your practitioner and treatments will be altered or stopped.

Acupuncture has been shown to be effective when dealing with chronic pain. Many people have cited acupuncture as aiding them with headache pain, menstrual related pain such as cramps or generally persistent muscle aches (located anywhere from the neck to the back to the shoulders). There have even been documented cases where acupuncture has assisted in breaking extremely powerful addictions such as seen with nicotine.

As successful as this technique has been found to be, there is a risk in assuming it is a kind of cure-all. Has acupuncture been found to improve the health of some people? Quite frankly, yes, but a patient should never assume it's a miracle. For instance, some people use acupuncture to treat the pain associated with cancer. There has even been some success on this front, but that is when acupuncture is coupled with other more "traditional" methods of cancer treatment such as surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Another common question and concern with acupuncture is the issue of safety. So long as the entirety of the procedure is performed in a sterile location with a licensed practitioner, the incident rate and list of complications are minimal. However, as with any medical procedure, it should never be entered into without some thought and consideration. If you are considering acupuncture, consult your doctor. He/she can further explain the details and can probably even recommend a knowledgeable and competent practitioner.

The major benefit of acupuncture is that it is completely drug-free. Many painkillers that people would normally use are extremely habit-forming, meaning it is easy to become addicted. For this reason, it may be necessary to keep upping the amount of medication needed to get the desired result. None of these issues are present with acupuncture. As it breaks further and further into the medical community's good graces, it is even becoming more commonly covered by major insurance companies and thus more immediately affordable.

Michael Russell

Acupuncture - Traditional Chinese Treatment

Acupuncture forms part of traditional Chinese medicine. Included are Chinese herbalism, tai chi and chi kung. It is believed that traditional Chinese medicine originated around 2500BC and is one of the oldest forms of treatment. Acupuncture did not really become well known in Western countries until the 1950s, except for the few Chinese practitioners treating Chinese patients in those countries such as Britain. Today, even some orthodox physicians are trained in acupuncture and are incorporating it with western medicine and achieving great results.

Acupuncture is centered on Tao philosophy, like the other forms of Chinese medicine. It is based on the philosophy that a vital energy (force) flows along invisible channels in the body with the inseparable opposing forces of yin and yang, which govern each person. 'Yin' is a masculine, active and positive force and 'yang', a female, passive and negative force. When this energy (chi) freely flows through these invisible channels (meridians) and the yin and yang are balanced, the result is health. If the yin and yang are unbalanced and the chi is blocked, the results become noticeable in the form of illness. The purpose therefore of acupuncture is to correct these imbalances and unblock the meridians, allowing the chi to flow freely once again in the body restoring the patient to physical health. Another form of acupuncture called auricular therapy is based solely on the external ear, which contains its own acupuncture points. This type of therapy is very useful for acute conditions.

People suffering from allergies, asthma, bronchitis and other conditions may benefit by acupuncture. Acupuncture is also helpful in relieving pain. Acupuncture aids the body to release its very own pain-reliever, known as endorphins, which has effects similar to morphine. The success of the acupuncture also depends on the responsiveness of the patient. Some people seem to be more responsive than others especially children that receive treatment.

During the initial consultation the practitioner will ask questions about the patients history, the present complaint, life style, diet and exercise routines and emotional health. Skin colour, the state of the nails, eyes and tongue, body odour and careful examination of the pulse points form part of the diagnosis. The human body contains 59 meridians and about 1000 pressure points. To treat imbalances the acupuncturist will stimulate the pressure points that occur along the meridians. Inserting fine, solid needles into the skin, applying heat and fingertip pressure form part of stimulation. The points involved are usually found on the forearms, hands, feet and lower legs. Sometimes all three methods of stimulation may be used. Treatment may include recommendations on diet and exercise.

Always ensure you choose a fully trained and registered practitioner when seeking acupuncture treatment. Inform the practitioner of any orthodox treatment you may be receiving before diagnosis or treatment in acupuncture. Acupuncture is most often used in conjunction with Chinese herbalism, as it can be contraindicated with some forms of complementary therapy. Parents should always consult an acupuncturist who has had special training in the treatment of children, before embarking on a diagnosis in acupuncture. The treatment for children will consist mainly of fingertip pressure (acupressure) to the relevant acupuncture points, rather than applying the more traditional method of needles.

Michael Russell

Myths About Acupuncture

. Myth: Acupuncture is dangerous and also painful.

There is no pain. The individual may feel a tiny prick upon insertion of the needle. Sometimes the individual does not feel the needle at all. In some very rare instances there can be a little bruising at the point of insertion. There is no tissue damage as a result of insertion generally as the needles used in acupuncture are very hair like and they have a rounded point and are solid. Unlike in the hypodermic needle the acupuncture needle does not have a cutting edge. There is no actual danger as doctors use single use disposable needles.

. Myth: Acupuncture needles can transfer diseases like AIDS and hepatitis from individual to individual.

Generally individuals are given their own set of needles. In the United States the use of disposable single use needles is a standard practice. Therefore there is no risk of these diseases being transmitted.

. Myth: Acupuncture is used on for treatment of pain.

Acupuncture is used in the treatment of pain but not for that sole purpose only. Since many studies showed that acupuncture had the ability to relieve pain it was thought that it only had that purpose. Acupuncture is used in a wide variety of treatments for various ailments.

. Myth: Only Chinese or Asians can practice acupuncture because it is of Chinese origin.

This is not so. The ability to learn and practice anything does not depend upon you racial background. In the United States alone most of the acupuncture practitioners are not Asian.

. Myth: Allopathic physicians (medical doctors whose treatment are counteractive methods for injury and disease) do not endorse acupuncture neither do they believe in it.

This was perhaps true about 25 years ago. Today there are at least 3,000 acupuncture certified physicians. .

Myth: In acupuncture the four-needle technique is used on every patient for sedation.

This technique is used in very rare and extreme instances only. This technique is generally not used more than twice in one year. Sometimes the energy of a patient virtually gets stuck; it is then that the four-needle technique is used as a last resort.

. Myth: It is best if a physician (MD) performs acupuncture.

Physicians have a very limited training in acupuncture. To be a member of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture they only need 200 hours of training. Of these 200 hours clinical training is only about 80 hours, which is the requirement. When you consider licensed acupuncturists they have several years of training. Therefore it is best if you go for treatment to a licensed acupuncturist who has more experience.

. Myth: Acupuncture is not widely used nor is it officially recognized in the United States. It is widely used only in third world countries.

This is not so as over 30 states in America officially recognize or register the practice of acupuncturists. Of these 30 states 22 register, certify or license acupuncturists for their own practice.

. Myth: The need for acupuncture does not exist today.

Acupuncture is widely used today. It often prevents the use of cortisone, painkillers and surgery. Studies have shown that about 61% of patients who were treated with acupuncture after being paralyzed as a result of a stroke showed great improvement.

Michael Russell