Scalp Acupuncture

needle size for scalp acu

26-28 gauge

2.5-3cm in length

angle of insertion

horizontally to the bone (do not touch the bone)

needle technique for scalp acu

slowly rotate until the needle is inserted

once inserted do not lift or thrust further

needle manipulation for scalp acu

rapidly twirl 200 times per minute with wide amplitude (2-3 forward, 2-3 backwards) until Qi obtained

twirling may be continued for 3-4 minutes and left in place for 5-10 minutes then twirled again

can be repeated 2-3 times then needle taken out

how to prevent fainting in scalp acu

needle patient lying down

common reaction to scalp acu

hot sensation usually on the limbs opposite the needling site, felt over entire body, or at single joint or muscle

numbness and tightening sensation, cold and pain which disappears as needling continues

which side of the head do you needle for left side body issues?

right

(always contralateral)

what are the 4 lines that go across the head from hairline to hairline?

Blood Vessel Dilation and Constriction Area

Chorea Tremor Control Area

Motor Area Line

Sensory Area Line

anterior to posterior (VT, MS...Vermont, Mississippi)

how is scalp acupuncture measured

in centimeters not cun

What is the location of the Blood Vessel Dilation and Constriction Area?

1.5 cm anterior to Chorea Tremor Control line

What does the Blood Vessel Dilation and Constriction Area tx?

superficial edema, hypertension

where would you needle to treat superficial edema and hypertension?

line 1.5 cm anterior to Chorea Tremor Control line

what is the location of the Chorea Tremor Control Area line?

1.5 cm anterior to Motor Line

what does the Chorea Tremor Control Area line tx?

Syndenham's chorea, tremors, palsy and related syndromes

where would you needle to tx Syndenham's chorea, tremors, or palsy?

1.5 cm anterior to Motor Area line

what is the location of the Motor Area line?

.5 cm posterior to Midline

what do the different areas of the Motor Area line correspond to?

Upper 1/5: lower limb and trunk

Middle 2/5: upper limb area

Lower 1/5: facial area (includes Speech 1)

what does the Motor area line treat?

Lower Limb & Trunk area: paralysis of lower limb

Upper limb area: paralysis of upper limb

Facial Area: upper motor neuron paralysis of face

Speech 1 area: motor aphasia, dribbling saliva, impaired speech

what does Speech 1 area treat?

motor aphasia, dribbling saliva, impaired speech

where would you needle for upper limb paralysis?

middle 2/5 of Motor Area line

where would you needle for lower limb or trunk paralysis?

upper 1/5 Motor Area line

where would you needle for motor aphasia or dribbling saliva?

Speech 1 area in Lower 2/5 of Motor Area line

where would you needle for upper motor neuron paralysis of face?

Lower 2/5 of Motor Area line

where is the Sensory Area line located?

1.5 cm posterior to Motor Area line

what do the different areas of the Sensory Motor line correspond to?

Upper 1/5: lower limb, head, and trunk area

Middle 2/5: upper limb area

Lower 2/5: facial area

What does the Sensory Area line treat?

Upper 1/5: low back px, numbness/paresthesia in low back, occipital HA, stiff neck, vertigo

Middle 2/5: px, numbness, other paresthesia of upper limb

Lower 2/5: migraine HA, trigeminal neuralgia, toothache, arthritis of TMJ

where would you needle to tx low back pain?

upper 1/5 Sensory Area line

where would you needle to tx stiff neck or vertigo?

upper 1/5 Sensory Motor line

where would you needle to tx paresthesia of upper limbs?

Middle 2/5 of Sensory Motor line

Where would you needle to tx occipital HA?

Upper 1/5 Sensory Area line

Where would you needle to tx migraine HA?

lower 2/5 Sensory Area line

where would you needle to tx trigeminal neuralgia or toothache?

lower 2/5 Sensory Area line

where would you needle to tx arthritis of the TMJ?

lower 2/5 Sensory Area line

where is the Vertigo and Hearing area located?

4 cm horizontal line centered over the ear apex, 1.5 superior to apex

what does the Vertigo and Hearing area tx?

tinnitus, vertigo, diminished hearing, Meniere's syndrome

where would you needle to tx tinnitus and vertigo?

Vertigo and Hearing line; 4 cm horizontal line centered over the ear apex, 1.5 superior to apex

where is the Speech 3 area located?

3 cm horizontal line that overlaps Vertigo & Hearing line at the midpoint and continues posteriorly (same line so still 1.5 superior to apex)

what does the Speech 3 line tx?

receptive aphasia

what type of aphasia is receptive aphasia and what is the part of the brain associated with it?

Wernicke's Aphasia; inability to understand meaning of words

where would you needle for a patient who cannot understand words d/t an injury to Wernicke's area of the brain?

Speech 3; 3 cm horizontal line that overlaps Vertigo & Hearing line at the midpoint and continues posteriorly (same line so still 1.5 superior to apex)

where is the Voluntary Movement area?

at the tuber parietale origin; 3 needles are inserted inferiorly, anteriorly, and posteriorly 3 cm in length

the 3 lines with form a 40 degree angle

what does the Voluntary Movement area tx?

apraxia (nerve injury, unable to carry out/initiate determined movement despite normal muscle power and coordination)

where would you needle for a patient that has normal muscular and brain function but has difficulty initiating a motor action?

Voluntary Movement line; at the tuber parietale origin; 3 needles are inserted inferiorly, anteriorly, and posteriorly 3 cm in length

the 3 lines with form a 40 degree angle

Where is Speech 2 area?

vertical line that is 2 cm from the tuber parietale on the posterior head; 3 cm in length

what does Speech 2 area tx?

nominal aphasia; mild aphasia w/ word retrieval failures and cannot express words they want to say

where would you needle to tx a patient with nominal aphasia?

Speech 2; vertical line that is 2 cm from the tuber parietale on the posterior head; 3 cm in length

what do the different Speech area tx?

Speech 1: motor aphasia, dribbling saliva

Speech 2: nominal aphasia

Speech 3: receptive aphasia

what are the scalp acu areas that are located along the anterior hairline?

Thoracic Cavity area (midway btwn midline and ST area)

Stomach area (directly above pupil of eye)

LV & GB area (anterior to ST area)

Reproductive area (lateral to ST line, equidistant to ST as Thoracic cavity to ST)

where is the Thoracic Cavity line located?

midway between ST line and midline of head; 2 cm in length

what does the Thoracic Cavity line tx?

asthma, intermittent supraventricular tachycardia, chest px

where would you needle for a patient who has asthma?

Thoracic Cavity line; midway between ST line and midline of head; 2 cm in length

Where is the Stomach area located?

beginning of hairline directly above pupil; 2 cm in length extending posteriorly from ant hairline

What does the Stomach area treat?

discomfort in the upper abdomen

Where would you needle on a patient who has discomfort in the upper abdomen?

Stomach area; beginning of hairline directly above pupil; 2 cm in length extending posteriorly from ant hairline

Where is the Reproductive area?

parallel and lateral to Stomach area at a distance equal to the Stomach area and Thoracic Cavity line; 2 cm in length

What does the Reproductive area tx?

abnormal uterine bleeding, use with Leg Motor and Sensory Area line for a prolapsed uterus

where would you needle to tx a patient with abnormal uterine bleeding?

Reproductive area; parallel and lateral to Stomach area at a distance equal to the Stomach area and Thoracic Cavity line; 2 cm in length

Where is the Liver & Gallbladder area located?

2 cm line extending anteriorly from Stomach area

what does the Liver & Gallbladder area tx?

px in upper right quadrant of the abdomen & or right rib cage, chronic hepatitis

where would you needle for a patient who has pain in the URQ?

Liver & Gallbladder area; 2 cm line extending anteriorly from Stomach area

Where is the Leg Motor & Sensory area?

1 cm lateral to midline (bilateral) 3 cm in length

what does the Leg Motor & Sensory area tx?

paralysis; use with Reproductive area for prolapse of uterus, nocturnal urination, px or numbness of lower limb, or acute LBP

where is Vision area?

1 cm lateral to occipital protuberance, parallel to midline, 4cm in length extending superiorly

what does the Vision area tx?

cortical blindness

where is the Balance area?

3 cm lateral to external protuberance, parallel to midline, 4 cm in length and extending inferiorly

what does the Balance area tx?

losing balance d/t cerebellar disorders

what would you needle for a patient with corticol blindness?

Vision area; 1 cm lateral to occipital protuberance, parallel to midline, 4cm in length extending superiorly

what would you needle for a patient with prolapse of uterus?

Leg Motor & Sensory area w/ Reproductive area

what would you needle for a patient with a cerebellar disorder who is having trouble with balance?

Balance area; 3 cm lateral to external protuberance, parallel to midline, 4 cm in length and extending inferiorly