The Importance Of Classical Chinese Medical Texts In The Treatment Of Brain Disorders

In order to appraise the validity of existing clinical research into the acupuncture of brain disorders, it is important to
refer to the classical source texts of traditional Chinese medicine. Professor Jianbin Zhang and the staff at the Nanjing
University of Chinese Medicine have accumulated significant clinical experience in the acupuncture treatment of
disorders that in biomedical terms are thought to relate primarily to the brain, such as depression, insomnia, manic
disorders and epilepsy. This article highlights key aspects relating to the clinical treatment of brain disorders as
described in Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic), and includes a summary of clinical research showing
the close relationship between tender points along the Governing vessel and brain dysfunction. Two short case
studies are also included to illustrate how such classical theory can be applied in the clinic.