Objective: Observing the clinical effect of the "three needles therapy of the scalp, face, tongue and body acupuncture to treat cerebral vascular diseases.

Methods: (1) Scalp treatment with scalp three needles: Motor Area (MS 6), Sensory Area (MS 7), Tremor Area or Speech Area (MS 9) were needled; in addition, Sishencong (Ex-HN1) was used with Baihui (GV20) as its center. The acupuncture treatment was performed once every other day, one time on 2 points on the front and back sides of the head and the other time on 2 points on the left and right sides. The needles were preferably inserted deep to the cranial periosteum under the galea aponeurotica. Repeated rotating needling manipulation was applied, and the needles were retained 12 to 18 hours. During the needles' retention, further needle manipulation should be made a few times (with even needling manipulation). The treatment was conducted once a day and 10 sessions were one course; (2) Treatment of facial paralysis, needling facial three points, in group one: Dicang (ST4), Jiache (ST6), Xiaguan (ST7); in group two: Yangbai (GB14), Sibai (ST2), Yifeng (TE17); in group three: Shuigou (GV26), Chengjiang (CV24), and Sizhukong (TE21). One group of points was punctured shallowly each day, and even needling manipulation was applied, and needles were retained 20 minutes; (3) Treatment of aphasia: point 0.5cun below Lianquan (CV23) was needled posteriorly and upward with the needle tip reaching the root of the tongue, the usual depth of needling was 3 to 4cun; or the needling was performed on the tongue from the region between Jinjin (Ex-HN12) and Yuye (Ex-HN13) deep to the root of the tongue; the result was better especially when the needling was conducted transversely (in penetration) from the left and right borders of the tongue to the root of the tongue; the sides of the tongue were punctured obliquely with a 10 to 15 degree angle between the needle and the tongue body and deep to the root of the tongue (all of which mentioned above were called as tongue three needles). When the above method was used, repeated needle rotation was applied and no needle retention was required, the patient might have a sore, numb or distending sensation in the tongue. Combination of points: Shenmen (HT7), Taixi (KI3), Dazhong (KI4), needles were retained 20 minutes on these points, and even needling manipulation was performed; (4) Body acupuncture treatment, a) Shoulder three points: Jianyu (LI15), Jianzhen (TE 9),and Jianqian (EXtra); b) Wrist three points: Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4) and Houxi (SI 3); c) Hip and knee three points: Huantiao (GB30), Zhibian (BL54),and Yanglingquan (GB34); d) Ankle three points: Xuanzhong (GB39), Zhaohai(KI6) and Taixi (KI3). Usually, according to the disease condition and duration the treatment performed on the upper and lower extremities should be carried out alternatively, mediums strength of stimulation was applied, needles were retained 20 minutes each time, 15 days of treatment was considered as one course. The interval between two courses of treatment was 5 days.

Results: 304 cases were treated, among whom 301 had improvement and 3 no improvement. The effective rate reached 98.3%.

By Tian Chengwen.