Exploring Phytotherapy as a Preventive Approach for Ischemic Stroke Recurrence

In Russia, stroke is the second leading cause of mortality (21.4%), following coronary heart disease (25.7%). The recurrence rate of strokes remains high, constituting around 25% of the cases of acute cerebral circulatory disturbances. In addition, up to 80% of stroke survivors experience lasting disabilities. Consequently, the development of effective methods for the prevention of recurrent strokes is a vital goal for medical science. This study investigated the potential of phytotherapy in the prevention of recurrent ischemic strokes. The study included 84 patients, aged 54 to 72 years, of both sexes, who were treated with a multi-component herbal collection alongside standard medical treatment. Over 4-6 years, there were no instances of cardiovascular death or acute myocardial infarction. In addition, the incidence of recurrent strokes decreased by more than threefold. A patient survey also showed that 78.6% of participants found the phytotherapy to be very effective. Based on long-term follow-up, it was concluded that phytotherapy is a promising and effective treatment for the prevention of recurrent ischemic strokes.