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I won't discount the method recommended. Strokes are caused by (a) a clot in one of the arteries leading to the brain, (b) a spasm in a blood vessel in the brain (called TIA), and (c) a hemorrhagic phenomenon. Let us take each one at a time.

(a) if a clot forms, it obstructs the flow of blood supply to the brain cells. It needs to be treated with a clot buster drug in a hospital setting.
(b). TIA caused by a spasm in a blood vessel can be temporary and will restore to a normal state pretty soon. In any case when visiting a hospital that can be taken care of.
(c) hemorrhagic stroke needs a hospital treatment.

Having said all that, the pinprick method suggested can work so long as one uses sterile syringe or needle and sanguination (blood letting) is done to the extent suggested it cannot harm and to a large extent restore normalcy. The vascular system is a closed loop and when there is a path of least resistance such as a cut in a blood vessel, the flow might resume thereby relieving the symptoms. This is a mechanistic process. Remember we are not bleeding the patient to death. A pea-sized drop from 10 fingers is not the end of the world. The earlobe pricking may be more effective since it is closer to the brain in the vascular system. As a first-aid it can be done without serious consequences. By doing this you will delay complications before you take the patient to the hospital. You are buying time by doing this while waiting for the ambulance. The least you could do is this.

Chinese medicine, once discounted, is gaining popularity in the US medical system. Lots of doctors swear by the effectiveness of acupuncture (for stroke we are not talking acupuncture but just pinpricks at fingertips) for all kinds of maladies. Several doctors from the US go to China to get certified training.

Now you could take some preventive measures to avoid a stroke in the first place. First take a daily dose of aspirin (100 mg per day) to thin the blood. Second take a Magnesium tablet (400 mg Magnesium) in a chelated form (this will prevent what are known as platelets in the blood stream from agglomerating and be a precursor for clot formation). Thirdly drink lots of water everyday especially before going to bed (most strokes occur in early morning) since dehydration is a major cause of stroke (a protein in the blood called fibrinogen gets concentrated when you get dehydrated and an enzyme called thrombin goes to work to break the fibrinogen into another protein called fibrin which forms a stitch around the aggregated platelets and form a clot). Follow this simple regimen every day and you will not regret it.

There is disagreement even among doctors (cardilogists) as to how to handle the situation. Most of the time they like to "treat" the disease after you become a victim. Myself and a colleague have done research in this area and a book was written by my colleague Dr. James Crawford. The book is titled, "A stroke was my teacher". Go to Amazon.com and you can order the book there. It is a small investment that could save your life.