Bill Clinton, Complementary Medicine, Acupuncture and Stroke

What does the average South Floridian think about alternative medicine, complementary health and holistic living?
While waiting to get her copy of "Giving" written by Former President Bill Clinton, signed by "Bubba" himself, immigration attorney Rhonda Gelfman, gets interviewed by altmd's field reporting staff.

Here, Gelfman reveals how her father is receiving acupuncture after having had a stroke, as complementary medicine, even though it is not covered by his insurance.

Acupuncture therapy for stroke-related conditions like paralysis, has been used in other countries such as China, Japan and Europe for years.

Acupuncture Today reported that the Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental conducted a study on the therapeutic benefits of stroke that showed acupuncture helped in the "physical functioning and recovery" of stroke victims, when used in conjunction to conventional medicine rehabilitation techniques.

Part of the reason, researchers said, acupuncture was effective, is because it stimulates the circulatory system, facilitating blood flow to the brain and encouraging the production of "growth factors that help neurons survive."

Gelfman acknowledged that though there was an out-of-pocket cost, the benefits from acupuncture therapy were worth it.