Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture in strengthening the spleen to resolve phlegm and to study its possible mechanism in the treatment of stroke. Methods: 60 stroke(wind-phlegm blocking collateral type)patients were randomly and equally divided into control group and treatment group. Patients in treatment group were treated with principle of strengthening the spleen to resolve phlegm combined with needling methods for dispelling wind and dredging collaterals. Patients in control group were treated with principles of dispelling wind and dredging collaterals only. Main acupoits used were Baihui(GV 20)

Shenting (GV 24)

Fengchi (GB 20)

Fenglong (ST 40)

etc. The treatment was conducted once daily except Saturdays and Sundays

30 times altogether. Serum total cholesterol (TCh)

triglyceride (TG)

high density lipoprotein (HDL-Ch)

apolipoprotein (Apo)-A and -B contents were detected according to the instructions of reagent kits. Results: After treatment

the total effective rates of treatment and control groups were 86.67% and 73.33% respectively

and the therapeutic effect of treatment group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05). The score for wind-phlegm syndrome of treatment group was significantly lowered than that of control group (P<0.05). After treatment

serum TCh and Apo-B of treatment group decreased considerably

which was significantly lower than those of control group(P< 0.05); while HDL-Ch and Apo-A levels increased significantly after treatment which were obviously higher than those of control group(P< 0.05). Conclusion: The acupuncture method of strengthening the spleen to resolve phlegm can significantly raise clinical therapeutic effect in the treatment of wind-phlegm obstructing collateral type stroke

which may be related to its functions in regulating blood lipid metabolism.