The present invention provides compositions and methods of treating a patient having a condition selected from the group of cerebral stroke, heart stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, brain or nervous system trauma, or neuroplasticity wherein the composition comprises: (i) at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 of: Radix Astragali (milkvetch root or Huang Qi) Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae root (red sage or Dan Shen) Radix Paeoniae Rubra (red peony or chi shao) Ligusticum Chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong) Rhizoma Notoginseng (Sanqi) Odoriferous Rosewood (Jiang Xiang) Scorpion (Quan Xie) Radix Polygalae (Yuan Zhi) Grassleaf sweetflag (Shi Changpu) Leech (Hirudo or Shuizhi) Ground beetle (Tu Bie Chong) Cow bezoar (calculus Bovis artifactus or Rengong Niuhuang) Gambirplant (ramulus uncariae cum uncis or Gou teng) and (ii) an agent used in Western medicine.
