WHO scalp acupuncture (WSA) in the treatment of depression and anxiety: three case reports (part II)
摘要
Depression and anxiety are prevalent mental health disorders that often manifest themselves in psychosomatic symptoms, posing challenges for effective treatment. In TCM, these conditions are commonly categorized under yu syndrome, a stagnation-related disorder characterized by psychosomatic syndromes and multi-system imbalances. WHO Standard Scalp Acupuncture (WSA), established in 1991, integrates TCM channel theory with modern neuroanatomy, offering a promising approach for managing mental and emotional disorders. WSA points, particularly MS1, MS2, MS3, MS4, and MS5, are among the most effective for treatment. This report presents three clinical cases of anxiety and depression treated with Group 1 points, primarily MS1 and MS3, which are associated with prefrontal cortex function and emotional regulation. Group 2 body acupuncture points, including GB41 (zulinqi), SJ5 (waiguan), SP6 (sanyinjiao), and ST25 (tianshu), were incorporated to address qi stagnation, Shaoyang Minister Fire (yuhuo), and digestive imbalances. Treatment resulted in significant improvements in emotional stability, cognitive clarity, sleep quality, and somatic symptoms. These cases confirm the therapeutic potential of WSA as a primary point-selection strategy in the treatment of mental-health disorders within an integrative TCM framework. While these findings are promising, further large-scale, controlled studies are necessary to validate clinical efficacy and explore the underlying mechanisms of WSA in the treatment of yu syndrome and related conditions.