Tests acupuncture and scent therapy for memory problems after stroke
Tests electroacupuncture with smell therapy in stroke patients with cognitive impairment.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Hangzhou Medical College
- Where
- Hangzhou, ChinaSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- the Clinical Effect of TCM Sniffing Therapy Combined With Electroacupuncture in PSCI
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 220 people, planned
- Started
- 1 Apr 2024
- Planned end
- 1 Jun 2025
- Type of study
- Interventional, 6 groupsOne group gets a sham (pretend) treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- control
- Electronuchal acupuncture group treatment
- Smell therapy group treatment
- Electronuchal acupuncture combined with smell and inhalation therapy group treatment
- Sham stimulation
- Record updated
- 20 February 2025
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for people under 70 who have had a stroke within the last 6 months and now have problems with thinking and memory.
- Age
- Under 70 years (up to 70 years).
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Within 6 months after a stroke (cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage), in the recovery period, with cognitive impairment. MMSE score below 17 for no schooling, below 20 for primary school, below 24 for middle school or higher.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Transient ischemic attack or subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Severe liver or kidney disease, mental illness, epilepsy, asthma, or obstructive pulmonary disease
- Cognitive impairment before the stroke
- Severe communication barriers
- Pacemaker or other implanted electronic device
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 2 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- (1) Stroke as per the TCM definition, presenting symptoms include unilateral paresis or paralysis, sensory deficits, speech impairment, and hemianopsia. PSCI diagnosis involves clinically significant deficits in at least one cognitive domain and severe disruption of instrumental ADLs/ADLs.; (2) The scores on the MMSE scale must adhere to the following criteria: Less than 17 points for individuals with illiteracy, less than 20 points for those with primary school education, and less than 24 points for individuals with a middle school education or higher.; (3) Aged under 70 years; (4) No history of mental illness, clear consciousness, stable vital signs, and able to complete the scale assessment; (5) Within 6 months post-stroke, diagnosed as a patient in the recovery period of cerebral infarction (or cerebral hemorrhage) at admission; (6) Signed informed consent by the patient or their family
Who cannot take part
- (1) Transient ischemic attack; (2) Subarachnoid hemorrhage; (3) History of severe liver or kidney diseases, mental illness, epilepsy, asthma, or obstructive pulmonary diseases; (4) Occurrence of cognitive impairment prior to stroke; (5) Severe communication barriers; (6) Substance abuse or heavy alcohol consumption; (7) Implanted cardiac pacemakers or other electronic devices
Where in China
- the Affiliated Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital to Hangzhou Medical College.Hangzhou, ChinaContact: Xinyun Dr LI, DoctorTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The patients with cognitive impairment after stroke were divided into control group, electroacupuncture group, olfactory therapy group, electroacupuncture combined with olfactory therapy group, and sham group with 35 people in each group. After the end of the treatment, the clinical efficacy was evaluated.
The 6 groups in the trial
- controlNo study treatment, for comparison
Donepezil hydrochloride was administered at 5 mg once a day (nightly) for 30 days without adverse reactions and then increased to 10 mg once a day (nightly) for 4 weeks.
- Electronuchal acupuncture group treatmentTreatment being tested
Use the neck needle to take the Fengchi and Gongxue on both sides (1.5cm directly below Fengchi point).
Treatment: control and Electronuchal acupuncture group treatment
- Smell therapy group treatmentTreatment being tested
The volatile oil of Acorus calamus is packed in the sniffer. Smell at the sniffing end, breathe evenly, 5-10 minutes each time, 3-5 times a day, for a total of 4 weeks of treatment.
Treatment: control and Smell therapy group treatment
- The combined treatmentTreatment being tested
The electro-neuchal acupuncture combined with sniffing and suction therapy group is treated with sniffing and suction therapy on the basis of electro-neuchal acupuncture treatment.
Treatment: control and Electronuchal acupuncture combined with smell and inhalation therapy group treatment
- normalOther group
The volatile oil of Acorus calamus is packed in the sniffer. Smell at the sniffing end, breathe evenly, 5-10 minutes each time, 3-5 times a day, for a total of 4 weeks of treatment.
Treatment: Smell therapy group treatment
- Sham groupSham treatment, for comparison
In the sham stimulation group, non-transdermal comfortable acupuncture will be used to make the patients experience a feeling similar to acupuncture.
Treatment: Sham stimulation
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- the Clinical Effect of TCM Sniffing Therapy Combined With Electroacupuncture in the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment After Stroke
- Plain-language title
- Tests acupuncture and scent therapy for memory problems after strokeGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 20 February 2025