One handred and nineteen cases of hemiplegia suffering from cerebro- vascular accidents were treated with neeclling at the cervical sympathetic nerve trunk (CSNT). The procedure of treatment was: the patient lay flat in supine-position

both sides of neck were exposed and cleaned with 75% alcohol. The carotid arteries were pushed laterally

an acupu- ncture needle

size 24-26

was inserted at a point between the lateral bor- der of the thyroid cartilage and the carotid artery

one on each side. The needles were inserted perpendicularly about 3-4 cm. in depth

retained for 10-15 minutes and rotated for 2-3 times during needling. If the pro- cedure was correctly done

the patient would feel a sense of soreness and distention radiating along the neck to shoulders and arms. The needling was performed once daily for 10 times as a course of therapy

and 2-5 co- urses migth be needed according to the patient's response. As for compa- rison

two similar but much smaller groups of patients were treated

eitrer with conventional acupuncture for hemiplegia (10 cases)or with traditional Chinese and western medicine (22 cases) on patients requisition at the same period. The result of treatment was as following: of 119cases treated with CSNT needling; 3 showed rapid and complete recovery

10 showed marked improvement

88 cases had substantial improvement and 18 cases failed to response. The total effective rate was 84.9%. CSNTneedling was espe- cially useful for patients treated in acute or early stage of the episode as compared to patiants in late or sequelae stage (P<0.01). For the favourable responders

the myotonia

grasping power

status of walking and aphasia improved rapidly. For severely affected patients

their consciousness and orientation would improved quickly too. The improvement usually occurred within 10-20 days after begining of treatment. No complications were seen. The CSNT treated group showed a much favourable effect than the medi- cinal treated group (P<0.001). Although the CSNT treated group seemed to have better result than the conventional acupuncture group

there was no statistioal signifioance. On follow-up study

77 patients of CSNT needling group were checked up 6 months to 2 years after ceasation of the treatment. 21 patients showed further improvement

45 sustained their good effect

the rest reg- ressed to their pretreatment state This made a follow up effective rate of 85.75% The mechanism of its actiom was still unknowm.