Acupuncture and Addictions

This article comes from a series of articles I am writing about acupuncture
and addictions (alcohol addiction, heroin addiction, meth addiction, substance

abuse, alcohol abuse, opiate addiction). Despite the doubts over the
effectiveness of acupuncture on them – that I share! - There are already
defined TCM treatments to address these problems such as alcohol addiction
treatment, addictions treatments or drug addiction treatment.
As for nicotine dependence article, this text was written based on the work of
Ganglin Yin and Zhenghua Liu, Advanced Modern Chinese Acupuncture
Therapy. Specifically addresses three different treatments that can be done
with acupuncture in the treatment of alcoholism (treatment for alcohol
abuse).
The first alcohol addiction treatment is the use of an acupuncture protocol

something complex. The authors do not explain the reason for this
acupuncture protocol. They indicate that it should only be used in alcoholic
patients, wishing to stop drinking, for alcoholism treatment. They also
indicate the type of manipulation to make to the needles (reduction) and the
number of diary treatments.
10 daily treatments make a course and the total treatment usually required
three courses. But they do not indicate more about the selection of
acupuncture points for this alcoholism acupuncture treatment. The
acupuncture alcoholism protocol presented by the authors consists of the
following acupuncture points:
SP6 (Sanyinjiao), ST40 (Fenglong), ST44 (Neiting), LV3 (Taichong) PC6

(Neiguan) SP9 (Yinlingquan) CV12 (Zhongwan) and HT7 (Shenmen).
The authors present then, separately, a governor vessel acupuncture point.

Point GV25 (Suliao) is advised in treating patients under the influence of
alcohol (drunk patients). It is advised that the insertion point at a depth of
0.2 cun and handling for 30-10 minutes.
Pay attention that this acupuncture point is used in patients under the effects
of alcohol abuse. Point GV25 (Suliao) is on the tip of the nose and has
different functions such as treating mental disorders such as hysteria, loss of
consciousness or nasal problems. In this case can be used for patients under
the influence of alcohol abuse (drunk patients).
Finally, the authors advise a dataSet of auricular acupuncture points

(auricular acupuncture). Again these acupuncture points are recommended
for alcoholic patients who want to quit and recognize they need treatment for
alcohol abuse.
The auricular acupuncture points chosen are: mouth, stomach, sanjiao,

endocrine, Shenmen, occipital subcortex, apex of the ear.
The symptoms we want to relieve can be treated in many ways. We can use
only the symptomatic acupuncture points or we can try to adapt the entire
acupuncture protocol to points dealing with the symptom when framed in a
clinical pattern.
One of the symptoms referred was sweating. To treat sweating you can
resort to acupuncture points HT6 (Yinxi), SI3 (Houxi), LI4 (hegu), KD7 (fuliu)
for example. The most often used acupuncture points to treat sweating are
SI3 (Houxi) and HT6 (Yinxi). However I can adjust these points to particular
features of the symptoms.
So if we are in summer and there is sweating with heat intolerance we can

give more attention to the point LI4 (Hegu). In winter, with cold, or if the
patient mention cold sweat I can give attention to the acupuncture point SI3
(Houxi) – opening point of the du may meridian. Point LI4 (hegu) may also
be used with moxibustion in order to help warm the body.
In this case I associate the points with specific features of the symptom
sweating to heat or cool the body. So along with point LI4 (hegu) for sweats
associated with heat I can join the 2º shu points. In the case of cold I can
associate SI3 (houxi) with moxibustion on LI4 (hegu) and GV14 as well as
use other acupuncture points such as ST36 (Zusanli).
However sweating can also be due to yin deficiency where I counsels

acupuncture point KD7 (Fuliu) or HT6 (Yinxi). Acupuncture point HT6 (Yinxi)
should be more used when there is great mental agitation or insomnia
associated while point KD7 (Fuliu) is more important when there are urinary
symptoms such as agitation with urgency to urinate.
Undoubtedly one of the major therapeutic principles in patients abstention is

to “calm the mind”. Symptoms such as irritability, insomnia or agitation are
psychological symptoms that fit into the mental sphere. The acupuncture
points will be very similar.
Combinations as GB13 (benshen) and GV24 (Shenting) are important. Distal

points as PC6 (Neiguan), HT7 (Shenmen), KD9 (zhubin) are relevant to the
extent that help calm the mind. Again an understanding of these symptoms
in a clinical pattern helps to define the most important acupuncture point in
each patient.
For example, using the underlying acupuncture protocol GV24 (Shenting),

GB13 (benshen) and Anmian for patients with major mental agitation,
irritability and insomnia, we can add acupuncture points according to the
relationship of symptoms.
In patients with heart and kidney yin deficiency we could add acupuncture
points KD6 (Zhaohai), KD9 (zhubin) and HT7 (Shenmen). In patients with
heat patterns we could add acupuncture points such as PC8 (Laogong), LI11
(guqi). In patients with patterns of liver Qi stagnation we could add up the
points GB34 (Yanglingquan), LV3 (yaichong) and PC6 (Neiguan). So we
would be with three different acupuncture protocols:
A – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, KD6 (Zhaohai), KD9

(zhubin), HT7 (Shenmen)
B – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, PC8 (Laogong), LI11 (guqi)
C – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, GB34 (Yanglingquan), LV3

(Taichong) PC6 (Neiguan)
It is more likely the patient has insomnia, irritability, and sweating. As such
we associate these protocols with some acupuncture points already
mentioned. The final acupuncture protocols could be:
A – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, KD7 (Fuliu), KD9 (zhubin),

HT6 (Yinxi), HT7 (Shenmen)
B – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, PC8 (Laogong), LI11 (guqi),

LI4 (hegu)
C – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, GB34 (Yanglingquan), LV3

(Taichong), PC6 (Neiguan), HT6 (Yinxi), SI3 (houxi)
Depending on the intensity of symptoms or the number of times a day to do

acupuncture I can switch acupuncture protocols in order to adapt them to the
needs of patients. So during the day, when the psychological agitation is
most intense I can make a protocol more focused on calming the mind. When
night sweats arise, for example, I can join the acupuncture points to calm the
mind with acupuncture points for night sweats.
There is still a symptom – in fact there are many more but I only write about
this one – which is not related to the mind or body fluids (jin ye). I speak of
physical tremors. The tremors, imagined or physically, indicate the existence
of a pattern of wind. The best way to address this clinical pattern is to use a
set of acupuncture points good enough to eliminate wind as GB20 (Fengchi),
BL10 (Tianzhu), GV16 (Fengfu) or GV20 (baihui). The advanced student or
acupuncture professional may notice that these are also the main
acupuncture points to treat dizziness or vertigo. Because for TCM these
symptoms are … wind.

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What are some acupuncture protocols discussed for treating alcoholism?

What are some acupuncture protocols discussed for treating alcoholism?

What symptoms does the passage discuss treating with acupuncture?

What symptoms does the passage discuss treating with acupuncture?

This article comes from a series of articles I am writing about acupuncture

and addictions (alcohol addiction, heroin addiction, meth addiction, substance

The first alcohol addiction treatment is the use of an acupuncture protocol

SP6 (Sanyinjiao), ST40 (Fenglong), ST44 (Neiting), LV3 (Taichong) PC6

The authors present then, separately, a governor vessel acupuncture point.

Finally, the authors advise a dataSet of auricular acupuncture points

The auricular acupuncture points chosen are: mouth, stomach, sanjiao,

So if we are in summer and there is sweating with heat intolerance we can

However sweating can also be due to yin deficiency where I counsels

Undoubtedly one of the major therapeutic principles in patients abstention is

Combinations as GB13 (benshen) and GV24 (Shenting) are important. Distal

For example, using the underlying acupuncture protocol GV24 (Shenting),

A – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, KD6 (Zhaohai), KD9

B – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, PC8 (Laogong), LI11 (guqi)

C – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, GB34 (Yanglingquan), LV3

A – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, KD7 (Fuliu), KD9 (zhubin),

B – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, PC8 (Laogong), LI11 (guqi),

C – GB13 (benshen), GV24 (Shenting), Anmian, GB34 (Yanglingquan), LV3

Depending on the intensity of symptoms or the number of times a day to do

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