Neurological Disorders and Acupuncture
by Dr. Ranvir Pahwa

Neurology is a branch of science that deals with the study of the nervous system. It involves anatomical, physiological, and disease aspects. With regards to disease aspects, it deals with diagnosis and treatments of all conditions associated with the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Conventional medicine uses medicines, surgery, and physiotherapy for the treatment of neurological disorders. There are several neurological disorders that are listed in the medical literature. The common ones are Parkinson’s disease, essential tremors, chorea, paralysis, multiple sclerosis, trigeminal neuralgia, Bell’s palsy, Alzheimer’s disease, seizures, neuropathy, radiculopathy, dementia, epilepsy, myasthenia gravis, neuromuscular diseases, sleep disorders, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cerebral ataxia, quadriplegia, aphasia (speech disorders), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), coma, chronic fatigue syndrome, hearing loss, vision loss, tinnitus, Meniere’s syndrome, and headaches. Brain tumours and infections are also part of neurological disorders.

In addition to conventional medicine, there are alternative treatments for neurological disorders. In some cases, conventional and alternative medicine can be combined, with the permission of your practitioner. Alternative medicine involves nutritional medicine, herbal medicine, ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, acupressure, and more. In addition to the common treatments such as drugs, herbs, and supplements, one can utilize non-chemical methods for neurological problems. In this category the recognized facilitators in the community are acupuncturists, physiotherapists, massage therapists, etc.

Neurological acupuncture is done either on the scalp or on the body, or on the scalp and body together. Scalp acupuncture is gaining more popularity across the globe to treat and heal these disorders. Acupuncture needles are applied to the specific area of the scalp by using a unique needling technique to deal with various diseases. Scalp acupuncture has been in use for the last 2,000 years in China. Early practitioners were using scalp acupuncture to treat only mental, facial, head, and sensory organ diseases, but not the whole body. More recent practitioners found that the specific scalp areas have a correlation with different parts of the body. Therefore, scalp acupuncture was developed to treat neurological and psychosomatic disorders.

After long clinical practices and repeated verifications in the 1970s and 1980s, Jiao Shun Fa, Fang Yunpeng, Zhu Longyu (Zhu), Tang Song Nian, Lin Xue-Jian, and Yamamoto developed various scalp acupuncture systems. In 1984, the World Health Organization (WHO) standardized scalp acupuncture lines and they became an official micro-acupuncture system for ear acupuncture. Among the above acupuncturists, the Jiao Shun Fa-, Lin Xue Jian-, and Yamamoto-style of scalp acupuncture became popular, and Jiao Shun Fa’s method is used in treating neurological disorders. Furthermore, Lin Xue-Jian developed new scalp lines for treating neurological and psycho-emotional disorders.

Scalp acupuncture is a very specific treatment method. It serves the purpose of bringing mobility and other neurological issues of a patient back to normal. How does it work? It is a very complex phenomenon, however, the following is a simple explanation. Needles inserted on the scalp activate the sutures (imperfect bone joints of the scalp) and other scalp areas. This stimulates the nerve endings underneath the skin of the head. As a result, messages go to the various areas of the brain. Within the brain lies all the information necessary to function normally, both emotionally and physically. Each and every area of the brain represents specific or general functions.

Before scalp acupuncture became well known, practitioners were using body points and some head points for neurological disorders. New scalp acupuncture methods differ from the common head acupuncture. One can treat some of the neurological and psychosomatic disorders through needling different body parts. However, it may take longer to heal the disorder.

Certified in scalp acupuncture for treating neurological disorders, along with using body acupuncture, Dr. Pahwa has been helping patients with neurological disorders for the last five years. He has helped patients who were suffering from essential tremors, cerebral ataxia, stroke paralysis, dizziness, sleeplessness, sinus problems, and various kinds of headaches. He is dedicated to helping patients who are suffering from these and other neurological and psychosomatic disorders, through scalp and body acupuncture.

He also offers auricular (ear) acupuncture, laser acupuncture, motor point acupuncture, trigger point acupuncture, orthopedic acupuncture, and Master Tong’s acupuncture to heal ailing patients with quicker results. He is also certified in facial acupuncture methods where treatments are done to reduce signs of aging and enhance the complexion through improving Qi and blood flow. He recommends herbs, vitamins, minerals, bio-chemicals, antiaging supplements, and homeopathic remedies for various acute and chronic ailments, and dispenses high-quality vitamins, minerals, herbs, and homeopathic products.

Dr. Ranvir Pahwa can be contacted at (306) 280-0997 or email ranvirp@gmail.com. His clinic address is 1130 8th Street E., Saskatoon, SK. Websites: www.rpsalthealthcentre.com, www.drranvirpahwa.com.