Clinical application of the Bahuang points.

Abstract

The ancient theory of ba gua is prevalent in many fields of Chinese philosophy and culture. The application of ba gua to Chinese medicine is not so widely known. This article explores the concept of ba gua in relation to scalp acupuncture, using the Bahuang points to treat neurological disorders. It is proposed that these points act as the front-mu points of the brain.

Keywords: Ba gua, I Ching, Yijing, Book of Changes, trigram, hexagram, acupuncture, neuropsychological disorders.

Introduction

The concept of Ba gua, [??], is drawn from ancient philosophies detailed within the I Ching (The Book of Changes), and consists of an octagonal diagram with representative trigrams for each of its eight directions. Each trigram is formed from broken and unbroken lines to represent the natural aspects of: Qian (Heaven), Kun (Earth), Kan (water), Li (.re), Sun (wind), Zhen (thunder), Gen (mountain) and Dui (the marsh). This theory is fundamental to Chinese Taoist thought and has a wide-reaching influence within the fields of medicine, feng shui, martial arts and navigation.

The Bahuang points are scalp acupuncture points that reflect the eight directions of the ba gua. These points were favoured by Professor Li in the treatment of a wide range of neurological disorders.

Point location

1. Use Baihui DU-20 (Hundred Meetings) as the centre point (central palace).

2. Draw a circle with a radius that extends from DU-20 to Shenting DU-24 anteriorly (or from Baihui DU-20 to Naohu DU-17 posteriorly), and then divide the circle into eight equal parts. The eight intersecting points on the outer circumference form the acupuncture points known as the outer Bahuang.

3. Draw a second circle with a radius that extends from Baihui DU-20 to Xinhui DU-22 anteriorly (or from Baihui DU-20 to Qianjian DU-18 posteriorly) and divide it into eight equal parts These eight intersecting points form the middle Bahuang.

4. Draw a third circle with a radius that extends from DU-20 to Qianding DU-21 anteriorly and also divide it into eight equal parts. These eight intersecting points form the inner Bahuang.

These three groups of eight points (24 in all) are the complete set of the Bahuang points.

Needling technique

Needle transversely 0.5 to 1.0 cun toward Baihui DU-20 (inward needling) or toward Fengfu DU-16 and Yintang M-HN-3 (outward needling). Inward needling has a strengthening function and outward needling reduces and disperses.

Normally one circle of eight points is suggested for one treatment, but two circles, or indeed all three, can be applied at the same time when necessary, i.e. in severe cases.

Indications

Professor Li used the Bahuang points to treat a wide range of neuropsychological disorders including hemiplegia, headache, migraine, vertigo, insomnia, amnesia, dementia, mania and epilepsy. The Bahuang points have also been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

Discussion

More than two thousand years ago, the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic; Elementary Questions recorded that "the head is the palace of consciousness", summarising the understanding that the essence and qi from the five zang and six fu organs goes up to the head to form spirit and consciousness. Ancient texts also emphasise the importance of the points Baihui DU-20 and Fengfu DU-16 in the treatment of brain disorders, specifically, the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic, Spiritual Pivot states in chapter 33 that "The brain is the sea of marrow, and its points are Baihui DU-20 at the vertex and Fengfu DU-16 at the occiput".

Each of the zangfu organs has its own front-mu point located on the chest or abdomen near to the respective organ. These points may not necessarily belong to the channel pertaining to the zangfu, but they can indicate disorder in the zangfu, for example Zhongwan REN-12, the front-mu point of the Stomach, is located on the Conception vessel (Ren Mai) and is close to the Stomach fu; Tianshu ST-25, the front-mu point of the Large Intestine, lies on the Stomach channel but is close to the Large Intestine fu; Zhangmen LIV-13, the front-mu point of the Spleen, is located on the Liver channel and lies close to the Spleen zang. Therefore, as the brain is the most important extraordinary organ, it should possess special front-mu points. As the Bahuang points are located on the top of the head in the scalp, and have a direct connection to both the brain and all 14 channels, it may be held that these points play the role of front-mu points for the brain and are thus the best model of scalp acupuncture.

Case studies

Case A: Professor Li treating

The patient was a 76 year old male suffering from chronic insomnia; he also experienced tremors in all four extremities, which when severe greatly disturbed his daily activity as he was unable to eat or walk. Western medicine had diagnosed brain atrophy, via a CT scan, and cerebral arteriosclerosis accompanied by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Subsequent treatment with Diazepam, calcium supplements and other Western medicine was ineffective.

Professor Li diagnosed insomnia and tremor, with a Chinese medicine differentiation of deficient Liver and Kidneys leading to malnourishment of Heart spirit. The Bahuang points were needled using a reinforcing technique. One group of the Bahuang points was used per day, with the addition of other points such as the Four Gates (Taichong LIV-3 and Hegu L.I.-4), Neiguan P-6 and Yanglingquan GB-34. After the first treatment, the patient slept 1-2 hours; after three treatments the tremors had noticeably improved. Two weeks later, the patient was able to sleep 2-3 hours per night and his tremors had improved to the point that he was able to perform his normal daily activities.

Case B: Dr. Youping Qin treating

The patient, a 49 year old female, had been suffering from erratic mood swings for over ten years, alternating between outbursts of anger and a depressive state. She had also suffered from hot flushes during the day, for over a year, with insomnia and dream-disturbed sleep during the night. In addition, she also suffered from a low libido, shoulder and back tightness, abdominal bloating with chronic constipation and occasional alternating constipation and diarrhoea, urinary incontinence and carbohydrate addiction. The patient had participated in three sleep studies prior to her initial visit where she had been diagnosed with mild sleep apnoea.

Western medicine had diagnosed bipolar disorder with mild sleep apnoea. The prescribed treatment over the course of several years included Wellbutrin, Thyrolar, Neurontin, lithium and various antidepressants; all having little real effect for the patient.

On examination, the pulse was found to be very weak at the Kidney positions, especially on the right. The tongue was toothmarked with a red tip and had a thick greasy coating. The Chinese medicine differentiation was found to be damp phlegm accumulation blocking the Heart orifice, and Liver qi stagnation with underlying Kidney yin and yang deficiency.

Initially, treatment over twelve sessions utilised various points, mainly Yintang M-HN-3, Taixi KID-3, Shenmen HE-7, Tongli HE-5, Sishencong M-HN-1, Baihui DU-20 and Sanyinjiao SP-6. However, the patient reported only some temporary improvement. The main symptoms persisted, namely fatigue, erratic mood swings, anxiety, mental instability, diarrhoea and constipation, hot flushes and sugar craving.

It was not until the Bahuang points were introduced into the treatment plan, using alternating outer, middle, and inner circle points with other body points, that the patient showed significant improvement in maintaining an overall balanced mood, greater mental stability and clarity, and improved sleep. Over one year after the treatment with the Bahuang points started, the patient felt more mentally stable, had fewer digestive problems and sugar cravings and was capable of maintaining balanced, healthy relationships with others.

Dedication

This paper is written in the cherished memory of one of our great mentors, Professor Zhongyu Li, from whom we learned this special therapy for the treatment of neuropsychopathy. The authors studied under Professor Li as Chief Residents during 1990 at the Teaching Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

References

Asian Spirituality, Taoist Studies Series, Ling Shu or The Spiritual Pivot, (1993). Translated by Wu Jing-Nuan, Taoist Center: Washington, DC.

The Collection of Chinese Medicine Experts at Chengdu University of TCM, (1999). Academic Connections of Famous Chinese Experts of China's High Education in TMC. Chief Editor: Li Mingfu, People's Medical Publishing House: Beijing.

Tianjin Science and Technology Publishing House, (1991). The Four Classics of Chinese Medicine: Pocket Edition. Tianjin: China.

Dr Youping Qin studied acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for 11 years at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine where he earned a doctoral degree in medicine. He has 23 years clinical and teaching experience and specialises in treating sports injuries, skin disorders and neurological diseases. Since 1991, he has taught and practised TCM in Europe. Currently, he serves as a visiting professor for the Classical Chinese Medicine Department at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, where he has been teaching since 2001.

Dr Guangying Zhou studied acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for 11 years at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine where she earned a doctoral degree in medicine. Since 1984, she has engaged in clinical practice, teaching and research in the teaching hospital of Chengdu, West China University of Medical Sciences, and Sichuan Continuing Educational College of Medical Sciences. She specialises in gynaecology and infertility. At present, she serves as a visiting professor for the Classical Chinese Medicine Department at National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) in Portland, Oregon.