Objective: Observing the Therapeutic effect of long needle point-through-point insertion in treating 550 cases of epilepsy.

Methods: Principal point: 3 Points on the back Shendao (GV 11), Jinsuo (GV 8), Yaoqi (EX-B9); Secondary point: 3 points of the forehead, i.e. the 2 bilateral points at the frontal hairline directly above CuanZhu (BL 2), another point located on the midline of the head posterior to the 2 hairline points with which an equilateral triangle is formed; Supplementary point: Shenmai (BL 62) for the seizure in daytime and Zhaohai (KI 6) for the seizure at night; Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for the weak patient; Shenmen (HT 7), insomnia point for insomnia; Fenglong (ST 40) penetrated to Zhubin (KI 9) for excessive phlegm; Tanzhong (CV 17), Xuehai (SP 10), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for seizure tending to occur in menses.

Operation: The first needle was inserted obliquely 13 cun to 15 cun in length along the course of Governor Vessel from Shendao (GV 11) down to Yaoyangguan (GV 3). The second needle was inserted coward obliquely 9 cun to 11 cun from Jinsuo (GV 8) to Dazhui (GV 14). The 3rd needle inserted upward obliquely 5 cun to 7 cun from Yaoqi (EX-B9) to Yaoyangguan (GV 3). Then the 2 frontal hairline poillts were inserted respectively towards the back 2-3 cun in length, the point which forms a triangle with the 2 frontal hairline points was obliquely inserted downward 2-3 cun to Yintang (HE-HN3), another needle was inserted 7 cun to 9 cun from Jianshi (PC 5) to Quze (PC3) obliquely, the needles for Shenmai (BL 62), Zhaohai (KJ 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) to Xuanzhong (GB 39), Shenmen (HT 7), Shimian (EXtra), Fenglong (ST 40) to Zhubin (KI 9), Tanzhong (CV 17), Xuehai (SP 10) were the ordinal needles and punctured in conventional depth. Treatment was applied once daily, 15-30 sessions constituted 1 course of treatment. During the treattnent period patients stopped taking anti-epileptic drugs.

Results: 190 cases were cured, amounting to 34.6% of the total, 130 cases remarkably improved, 27.3%, 190 cases effective, 34.6%, 40 cases no effect, 7.2%, the total effective rate being 92.8%. Before the treatment 510 cases were found with abnormality of EEG, however, after the treatment the EEG of 410 cases became normal.

By Zhang Weilong