The mechanisms of acupuncture for stroke are still poorly understood and the effectiveness of acupuncture in stroke is controversial from different countries:

The studies from China, Japan, Korea and even Russia showed that acupuncture treatment has positive effect on stroke recovery, while the studies from Europe and North America showed that acupuncture has little or even negative effect on stroke recovery.

The main reason for this difference is the difference in the treatment practitioners. In China, Japan, Korea, you have to study 5 years of TCM and acupuncture in university before practising acupuncture. The story in Europe and North America are different, most treatment practitioners for those studies are not real acupuncturists. And stroke treatment with acupuncture is more complicated than the treatment of pain relief, it can only be undertaken by experienced acupuncturists. That was why Ruth Lycke has to go to China for her stroke treatment.

A Chinese Stroke Connection - The Ruth Lycke Story: http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3037585

Please contact with Dr. Amanda for your case.