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.