The Nature Of Scalp Acupuncture
Scalp acupuncture is one of several specialized acupuncture techniques with a specific body location, taking its place alongside ear, nose, hand, foot, and wrist/ankle acupuncture.The more general acupuncture therapy is often called body acupuncture.
Although the scalp has numerous traditionally-identified acupuncture points along several of the major meridians (notably the stomach, bladder, gallbladder, triple burner, and governing vessel), modern scalp acupuncture differs from traditional acupuncture therapy.There are three basic features of scalp acupuncture that differentiate it from body acupuncture:
1.Treatment zones have been mapped onto the scalp that are associated with body functions and broad body regions. The zones include a few standard acupuncture points, but the treatment principle for point selection is usually not based on the traditional indication for the point or associated meridian.In general, within a defined zone, the forward part of the zone (nearer the face) is used to treat the upper body, while the rear portion of the zone is used to treat the lower body.Functional zones, such as sensory, memory, and motor, are usually located at the back and sides of the scalp.
2.In scalp acupuncture, the needles are to be inserted within a thin layer of loose tissue beneath the scalp surface, at a low angle of about 150 degrees, involving an insertion distance of about 1 cun [the cun is a variable unit of measure based on body size; about one inch for an adult].Standard acupuncture of scalp points normally involves subcutaneous insertion up to a depth 1/2 cun or less (about 0.3.5 inches for an adult) at a high angle of 600 degrees.
3.For scalp acupuncture, the needles are to be subjected to rapid stimulation, which may be carried out in a variety of ways, including pulling/thrusting, twirling, and electro-stimulation.Standard acupuncture applied to scalp points usually involves less rapid stimulation or moxibustion as the main stimulation technique. When using manual manipulation in modern scalp acupuncture, it is common to stimulate the needles for 2 minutes at a time, with a rest period of 50 minutes between stimulations.
The fundamentals of scalp acupuncture therapy were reviewed by Lu Shoukang, of the Beijing College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Orthopedics, and Traumatology, in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1).According to this review, the technique is predominantly a small-needle therapy in which shu points in the scalp are treated.Shu points refer to “stream” points where the qi of the internal organs is infused.In the system of body acupuncture, there are 5 shu points (one for each element) on each of the 12 meridians (below the elbow or below the knee) plus the back shu points, which are each located in the vicinity of one of the internal organs.According to the theory of channels and collaterals, shu points in the head can be used to treat diseases of the whole body.
Lu claims that more than 80 diseases are currently treated by this therapeutic method, which is particularly effective in treating disorders of the central nervous system and various acute and chronic pain syndromes.He mentions specific examples: neurasthenia, anxiety neurosis, and other psychological and psychosomatic disorders, periarthritis of the shoulders, ischialgia, pain in the back and loin, painful heels, and other pain syndromes, hemiplegia, aphasia, senile dementia, and other brain disorders.
During the 1970’s, scalp acupuncture was developed as a complete acupuncture system.Three major contributors to the development of this system, Jiao Shunfa, Fang Yunpeng, and Tang Songyan, each proposed different diagrams and groupings of scalp acupuncture points.For example, Jiao divided the scalp points into motor and sensory areas, Fang into writing (speech) and reading (memory) centers, and Tang into upper, middle, and lower burner areas.Several different methods of needling were proposed.Jiao advocated rapid twirling with penetrating and transverse needling; Fang favored the slight twirling method and oblique needling; while Tang recommended long-duration needle retention with superficial stimulation of the needles, using the lifting and thrusting method.
Thus, scalp acupuncture is not really a single system, but a multiplicity of systems still in development, with a 30-year history of practical experience.A standard of nomenclature for acupuncture points has been developed (adopted in 1984 and reconfirmed in 1989), indicating 14 therapeutic lines or zones based on a combination of the thoughts of the different schools of scalp acupuncture.However, it is often necessary to carefully review the zones relied upon by an individual practitioner, as few have adopted the unified pattern.
As Lu states in his article, Professor Zhu Mingqing (who had been associate professor at Lu’s department in Beijing before emigrating to the U.S.) has developed a popular version of scalp acupuncture.“In recent years, Zhu’s scalp acupuncture has been a craze in Japan, America, and China.As a school of scalp acupuncture therapy, Zhu’s method is actually derived from the standard scheme [adopted in China] and based on the clinical experience of Zhu Mingqing.In Zhu’s scalp acupuncture, 8 therapeutic zones are used [actually, 9 zones], and the manipulation is characterized by forceful, small-amplitude lifting and thrusting of the needle, associated with massage [of the body part to be affected] and physical and breathing exercises.In fact, the therapeutic zones in Zhu’s scalp acupuncture are determined on the basis of the standard scheme.”
Dr. Zhu’s father was an acupuncturist who worked on scalp acupuncture, and Zhu has been working as an acupuncturist since graduating from the College of Chinese Medicine in Shanghai in 1964.He served as assistant director of the Scalp Points Research Group of the Chinese Acupuncture Association from 1987 to 1989.Since coming to the U.S., he has worked closely with Dr. Eva Munwu Chau, former president of the California Acupuncture Association.In 1991, Zhu established the Chinese Scalp Acupuncture Center of the U.S.A. in San Francisco, and, in 1992, he published an English-language book on his methods: Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture (2), now out of print.He currently provides treatments for several neurological disorders at Zhu's Acupuncture Medical & Neurology Center, in San Jose, California (see Appendix 2 for more on Zhu’s experiences in the U.S.).
Dr. Zhu traces the origins of modern scalp acupuncture to the work of Huang Xuelong, who in 1935 introduced the concept that there is a relationship between the scalp and the cerebral cortex.Several acupuncturists pursued this line, seeking points and zones on the scalp that would treat diseases of the brain.Initial results of clinical work indicated that acupuncture applied to the scalp had good effect on diseases that were associated with cerebral damage, such as stroke.Its applications were then extended to virtually all other diseases, but a focus on nervous system disorders is still dominant.Other physicians in China trace the acceptance of scalp acupuncture as a new system to the development of ear acupuncture, which is also thought to be especially useful for neurological disorders due to the location of needling at the head.
Zhe’s Scalp Acupuncture
According to Dr. Zhu, Baihui (GV-20) is the basis for all of the scalp points.Quoting from the Ling Shu: “The brain is the sea of marrow.Its upper part lies beneath the scalp, at the vertex, at point Baihui.” The point’s Chinese name indicates that it is the great meeting place (literally: hundred meetings). Traditionally, this point is treated to stabilize the ascending yang; it is also needled in order to clear the senses and calm the spirit.
The Governing Vessel enters the brain at point Fengfu (GV-16).The external pathway of the Governing Vessel is used to divide the left and right sides of the scalp. The left side governs qi and the right side governs blood.Needling of the left side has a greater impact on disorders of the left side of the head and neck, but of the right side of the body below the neck, and conversely.
In Zhu’s system of acupuncture, there are three main zones (designated the Eding zone, Dingzhen zone and Dingnie zone) subdivided into a total of 11 portions, and three secondary zones, each divided into two portions (designated Epang 1, Epang 2, front zone of Dingjie, back zone of Dingjie, Niehou and Nieqian). The zone names are simply based on anatomical descriptions.Following is a review of the primary scalp acupuncture zones (See Appendix 1 for a picture of the zones).
