Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture at Yangming meridian combined with modified Buyang Huanwu Decoction on hemiplegia, hemorheology and neurotrophic factors in patients with cerebral infarction differentiated as type of Qi deficiency and blood stasis.

Methods A total of 84 hospitalized patients with cerebral infarction differentiated as type of Qi deficiency and blood stasis from March 2018 to June 2023 were selected as research objects, and they were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 42 cases in each group. The control group was conducted with acupuncture and routine treatment, while the observation group was conducted with modified Buyang Huanwu Decoction on the basis of the control group. Clinical efficacy after 2 weeks of treatment as well as the scores of main symptoms, neurological function, limb function, hemorheological indicators and levels of neurotrophic factors before and after treatment were compared between two groups.

Results After 2 weeks of treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05); after treatment, the scores of symptoms such as hemiplegia, deviated mouth and awkward speech in both groups decreased significantly when compared to those before treatment, and these scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the score of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) in both groups decreased significantly when compared to that before treatment, and the score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05); the score of the Motor Function Assessment Scale (Fugl-Meyer) after treatment in both groups was significantly higher than that before treatment, and the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the plasma viscosity, red blood cell aggregation index, whole blood high shear viscosity and whole blood low shear viscosity in both groups decreased significantly when compared to those before treatment, and these indexes in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in both groups increased significantly when compared to those before treatment, and the levels of these indexes in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Acupuncture at Yangming meridian combined with modified Buyang Huanwu Decoction can enhance the therapeutic effect for patients with cerebral infarction differentiated as type of Qi deficiency and blood stasis, improve clinical symptoms, repair nerve damage, and promote the recovery of limb function.