Course E > Ch 1 > Scalp Acupuncture
           

There are 15 stimulation areas in scalp acupuncture. Although they are called "areas", they are in fact extremely narrow bands of varying length, and it is along these lines that the needles are inserted.

To perform scalp acupuncture ( head needle therapy) effectively, the acupuncturist should locate the treatment areas with a great deal of accuracy.


For this purpose there are four important lines of reference which must first be outlined on the surface of the scalp. These are:-


1) The Antero-Posterior Midline which is a line drawn in the sagittal plane, from the nasion ( midpoint between the two eyebrows) to the lower edge of the external occipital protuberance.

2) The Supercilio-Occipital Line ( Eyebrow-Occiput Line) which is a line drawn obliquely downwards from the upper border of the midpoint of the eyebrow to the tip of the external occipital protuberance, on the lateral side of the head. There are therefore two of these lines, one on each side of the head.

3) The Horizontal line on the back of the head at the level of the external occipital protuberance.

4) The Anterior Hair Line which is 3 cm above the eyebrows.


The location of the 15 stimulation areas of scalp acupuncture and their therapeutic indications are as follows:-

Area
Location
Indication
Motor Area
A line connecting 2 points called the upper and lower points of the Motor Area. The upper point is situated on the antero-posterior midline, 0.5 cm behind its midpoint. The lower point of the Motor Area is the point in the temporal region where the supercilio-occipital line intersects the anterior hairline.
Motor paralysis of the contralateral side
(a) Lower limb and trunk area
Upper fifth of Motor Area
Paralysis of contralateral lower limb
(b) Upper limb area
Second and third fifths of Motor Area
Paralysis of contralateral upper limb
(c) Facial area (also called 1st Speech Area)
Lower two fifths of Motor area
Paralysis of face (opposite side), motor aphasia, dribbling saliva, impaired speech
Sensory Area
A line parallel to and 1.5 cm posterior to the Motor area
Sensory disorders of the contralateral side
(a) Lower limb, head and trunk area
Upper fifth of Sensory Area
Low back pain (opposite side), numbness or paraesthesia in that area, occipital headache, stiff neck, vertigo
(b) Upper limb area
Second and third fifths of sensory area.
Pain, numbers or other paraesthesia of contralateral upper limb.
(c) Facial area
Lower two fifths of Sensory Area
Migraine headache, trigeminal neuralgia, toothache (opposite side), arthritis of the temperomandibular joint
Choreo-Tremor Control Area
Parallel to and 1.5 cm anterior to Motor Area
Syndenham's chorea, parkinsonism, athetosis, tremors, palsy and related syndromes
Vasomotor Area ( also called Vasoconstriction and Vasodilatation Area)
Parallel to and 1.5 cm anterior to Choreo-Tremor Control Area
Superficial oedema, hypertension
Foot-Motor Sensory Area
A line 3 cm long and parallel to the antero-posterior midline, its midpoint 1 cm away from midpoint of antero-posterior midline
Paralysis, pain or numbness of contralateral lower limb, acute lower back sprain, nocturnal enuresis, prolapsed uterus
Auditory Area (also called Vertigo-Auditory Area)
A horizontal line 4 cm long, its midpoint 1.5 cm above the apex of the ear
Deafness, tinnitus, vertigo, meniere's syndrome
2nd Speech Area
A vertical line 3 cm long, parallel to the anterior-posterior midline, its upper end 2 cm postero-inferior to the parietal tubercle
Nominal aphasia
3rd Speech area
A horizontal line 4 cm long drawn posteriorly from the midpoint of the Auditory Area
Sensory (receptive) aphasia
Area of Application (Usage Area)
At the parietal tubercle three needles are inserted inferiorly, anteriorly and posteriorly to a length of 3 cm with 40 degree angles between them
Apraxia
Visual Area
A line 4 cm long drawn upwards and parallel to the antero-posterior midline from a point 1 cm lateral to the external occipital protuberance
Cortical (central) Blindness
Balance Area
(Equilibrium Area)
A line 4 cm long drawn downwards and parallel to the antero-posterior midline from a point at the level of the external occipital protuberance 3.5 cm lateral to the midline
Loss of balance due to cerebellar disorders
Stomach Area (Gastric Area)
A line 2 cm long drawn directly backwards and parallel to the antero-posterior midline from a point on the anterior hairline vertically above the pupil of the eye
Disorders of the upper abdomen and general malaise
Thoracic Cavity Area
A line 4 cm long, parallel to the antero-posterior midline, with its midpoint at the anterior hairline, midway between the stomach area and the midline
Chest pain, palpitation, shortness of breath, bronchial asthma
Reproduction Area
(Genital Area)
A line 4 cm long, parallel to the antero-posterior midline, drawn directly backwards from the anterior extremity of the Stomach Area at the same distance which separates the Stomach area from the Thoracic Cavity Area
Impotence, ejaculation praecox, functional uterine haemorrhage also used for surgery for prolapsed uterus combined with Foot-Motor Sensory Area
Hepatocystic Area (Liver and Gall Bladder Area)
A line 2 cm long extending anteriorly from the Stomach area
Pain or discomfort in the epigastrium and right hypochondrium, diseases of the liver and biliary system