The dorsal points on the back, called “huotojiaji” are of particular interest when treating head and neck issues. The myotomal and dermatomal (muscle and skin referral pathways) that correspond with the neural pathways tracks with acupuncture functions.
The upper cervical points (C1 and C2) innervate both the tongue and the muscles underlying the scalp. The lower cervical nerves (C3 through C7) innervate muscles of the neck and arm, as well as the diaphragm (Waxembaum et. al., 2022). These are points I needle with very thin needles and insert very shallowly as any needle in the upper body has a strong impact. These points are useful if there is an imbalance between the muscular areas of the neck and the back, and needling both areas may be required to help correct this.
The spine is visualized as an avenue for transporting the energy generated in the dan tien, or source of core energy located below the umbilicus, and the segments of the spine provide the structural support as this energy travels from lower centers to higher centers, eventually reaching the brain.
Raising energies in the body is an ancient practice, and also anatomically represented by the ascending branches of the nervous system and the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Using acupuncture or moxibustion (warming with herbs) can release areas of stagnancy that occur due to trauma, emotions, stress, or simply structural changes.
There are many choices for points on the face and anterior neck that significantly impact pain and dysfunction. Scalp points address neurological crossing centers of the brain, and can assist when there are associated problems of speech, memory, or thought processing. I often add at least one scalp point to address cognitive function.
Auricular points are another way to address the brain as the ear is the only place on the external anatomy of the body whereby the trigeminal nerve can be accessed. Massaging the ear can provide a type of stimulation that eases the congestion of tissues involved in many jaw and head disorders.
REFERENCES
Magidoff, A. [Acu Vidya]. (2017, Aug 27). Exploring acupuncture points, the Du channel [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFY1_1hkgMA
Robinson, N. (2016) Interactive Medical Acupuncture Anatomy. Teton NewMedia.
Sharav, Y & Benoliel, R. (2008). Orofacial pain & headache. Elsevier.