Case Study: Chronic Post-Traumatic Headache Treated with Acupuncture

• Age: 24
• Occupation: Physics student
• General Health: Otherwise healthy

Six months before his first visit, the patient had a head injury during a boxing match. When he got home after the fight, he noticed flashing lights in his vision.

Since the injury, he has had a constant headache along the coronal suture, which is where the frontal and parietal bones meet.

Post-Traumatic Headache

• Alcohol consumption
• Intense periods of academic study

Diagnostic Assessment: I used palm diagnosis and the Vascular Autonomic Signal (VAS) to assess the patient. The results were:

• Left Palm: Spleen
• Right Palm: Lungs

Acupuncture & Moxibustion Protocol: Every point chosen for this treatment showed a positive VAS reading before needling.

• Left Side: 77.05-07 (San Zhong), 77.01 (Zheng Jin), 77.02 (Zheng Zong), and Liu Xi (66)
• Right Side: 88.17-19 (Si Ma), 22.04 (Da Bai), 22.05 (Ling Gu)
• Local Treatment: Scalp acupuncture applied directly along the affected arc of the head.

I chose the points based on the palm diagnosis to address both the root cause and local symptoms. I confirmed each point as active with a positive VAS result.

• Root Treatment (Same-Side Needling): I selected points on the same side as the VAS findings in the palm.
  • Left Side (Spleen): I needled 77.05-07 (San Zhong) on the left to treat the Spleen root. These points also strongly affect the brain, so they were very helpful for the patient’s neurological symptoms.
  • Right Side (Lungs): I needled 88.17-19 (Si Ma) on the right. These are the main points I use for Lung-related diagnoses.
• Brain & Symptomatic Focus (Left Side):
  • 77.01 (Zheng Jin) and 77.02 (Zheng Zong): I chose these mainly for their strong effect on the brain and their ability to help with symptoms.
  • Liu Xi (66): I needled this point on the left because it is important for treating brain disorders and post-traumatic head symptoms.
• Resolving Stagnation (Right Side):
  • 22.04 (Da Bai) and 22.05 (Ling Gu): These points are related to the Lung system. I chose them because they felt very active to the touch. They are very effective at moving Qi and resolving stagnation.

He came back for a second treatment after two and a half weeks. He said he felt very tired right after the first treatment, but then noticed a big improvement overall. The headache was still there, but the pain was much less.
For the second treatment, I used the same points.
He didn’t return for further treatment. I contacted him after 3 weeks, and he said that the headache completely disappeared. He also tried drinking alcohol, and no headache developed.