Microsystems: Hand and scalp

The hand, according to whom

Some hand systems project the whole body; others organize their points by symptom or by meridian. They are not variants of one map, and they do not even agree on which hand is used.

Whole-body projection

The entire body ordered over the hand

Symptom organization

Points grouped by what is sought, with no projection

Meridian organization

Built on the channels, not on a somatotopy

Laterality

Changes from system to system: never assumed

Lines between landmarks

头针 Tóu Zhēn

Modern scalp acupuncture took shape in China during the twentieth century and gathers several systems. All of them draw lines between cranial landmarks and functional projections, but each draws them its own way.

Cranial landmark

A palpable bony reference to draw from

Functional projection

The line is tied to a function, not to an organ under the bone

Several schools

Jiao, Zhu, Lin and standardized lines, among others

Abundant vascularity

Why invasive technique here is professional

Common mistake: Reading a scalp line as if it pointed at the region of brain directly beneath it.

When a point on the hand is pressed, the person flinches with pain. What does that confirm?

1. Nothing on its own: a painful response to pressure does not confirm a disease
2. That there is a condition in the corresponding body area
3. That the map being used is the right one
4. That the point should be worked hard during the session

Defensible claim or unwarranted jump?

• “I am using the Chinese nomenclature, not the European one”DefensibleUnwarranted jump
• “This red area indicates the liver is affected”DefensibleUnwarranted jump
• “This line runs between these two landmarks in this system”DefensibleUnwarranted jump
• “If it hurts here, there is knee pathology”DefensibleUnwarranted jump
• “The three maps say the same thing in different words”DefensibleUnwarranted jump
• “The evidence varies by indication and protocol”DefensibleUnwarranted jump

Which region does each trait belong to?

• Su Jok and the Korean systemsHandScalp
• The Jiao, Zhu and Lin linesHandScalp
• Systems that group by symptom instead of projectingHandScalp
• Abundant vascularity demanding asepsis and bleeding controlHandScalp
• Laterality changes from one system to anotherHandScalp
• It is drawn between palpable bony landmarksHandScalp

“This line falls over the motor area, so it treats paralysis.” What is wrong?

1. The motor area is in the other hemisphere
2. You would need two lines, not one
3. Nothing: that is exactly how lines are chosen
4. The line carries a functional association; it does not point at the brain beneath it