Objective: To observe the cured rate and time spent for treating apoplexy-induced aphasia by tongue acupuncture.

Methods: After sterilized conventionally, a 32 gauge filiform needle with 1.5 cun in length was used to prick promptly the tongue points: the Heart, Lung, Spleen, Stomach, upper Burner, Middle Burner, Lower Burner, Liver and Gall Bladder. Then, a sterilized 28 gauge, l.5 cun-long filiform needles or a triangular acupuncture needle for removing stagnation and promoting circulation pricked Haiquan (tongue point), Jinjin (EX-HN12), Yuye (EX-HN13), and Shezhu (BL23) points.

Results: Of 19 cases treated, 15 cases were basically cured, 3 cases obviously improved, 1 case improved after 2 -20 treatments. One patient with encephalorrhagia could speak smoothly after 2 treatments. It was found that for patients with cerebral infarction, the shorter the history, and the better the curative effect.

Conclusion: Tongue acupuncture functions not only to stimulate the meridians connected with the tongue to dredge the channels and collaterals, and regulate Qi and blood, but also to nourish the tongue proper, and enhance the activity of the tongue. It can also expand blood vessels to improve Micro-circulation, enhance cerebral blood now, and improve physiological functions of the brain, so as to change the intrinsic pathological situation of blood stagnation. Therefore, tongue acupuncture can provide rapid therapeutic effect on apoplexy-induced aphasia.

Wang Weihong