We’re often asked by our patients how long acupuncture has been used, and generally most acupuncture techniques can be traced back thousands of years in ancient China. Scalp acupuncture, however, is a modern technique developed in the past 50 years which can have a profound impact on nervous system and brain-related disorders.

While most of Chinese medicine is governed by the concept of Qi flowing through a network of pathways and points throughout the body, scalp acupuncture takes a more neuroanatomical and physiological approach. It stimulates the scalp in areas which correspond to specific underlying regions and functions of the brain. For example, if one is experiencing numbness, tingling, and decreased mobility in their feet, we would stimulate the areas of the brain associated with sensory activity and motor function. The frontal cortex, located at the front of the head and responsible for executive and cognitive function such as memory, planning, and execution, would be needled for those experiencing symptoms such as foggy thinking, depression, and even dementia.

Scalp acupuncture is beneficial for any disorder affecting or rooted in the brain, and is frequently used to treat neurological symptoms such as dizziness, tremors, spasms, aphasia, paralysis, and nerve pain, as well as mood issues such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It is frequently used in China as part of post-stroke recovery as it can be beneficial for aphasia, balance issues, and loss of motor and sensory function.

At Selby Acupuncture, we typically combine both scalp acupuncture and traditional body acupuncture for optimal results. If you or anyone you know suffers from any of the conditions listed below, please don’t hesitate to ask us how scalp acupuncture can help!

Mental/Emotional Disorders
Depression
Anxiety
Memory Loss
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease

Neurological Conditions
Tremor
Vertigo/Dizziness
Aphasia
Post-Stroke Recovery
Paralysis
Spinal Cord Injury
Traumatic Injury Recovery
Facial Paralysis/Bell’s Palsy
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s Disease
Meniere’s Disease
Epilepsy
Myasthenia Gravis
Tinnitus
Sensory Organ Disorders (loss of smell, neurological vision impairments)