🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Persistent vegetative state belongs to the categories of “loss of spirit,” “unconsciousness,” and “unawareness” in traditional Chinese medicine, representing a difficult-to-treat clinical condition. Its pathological mechanism lies in obscured spirit and blocked orifices; thus, the therapeutic principle should prioritize awakening the spirit and opening the orifices. The Nanfang Hospital of the First Military Medical University of the People's Liberation Army adopted a combined head and body acupuncture method—“Awakening Consciousness and Opening Orifices Acupuncture”—to stimulate recovery in patients with persistent vegetative state following brain injury, achieving significant results. This technique uses 30-gauge, 1.5-inch needles to puncture points including Shenting, Benshen, Baihui, Lüegu, Naohu, and Naokong. Specifically, Shenting and Benshen are inserted from front to back beneath the galea aponeurotica to a depth of 0.5–1 inch; Baihui is inserted 1 inch from front to back; Lüegu is horizontally inserted 1.2 inches from front to back; Naohu and Naokong are inserted subcutaneously downward 1 inch. The needle manipulation employs a rapid lifting and slow pressing technique (lifting-drawing method), with light insertion and heavy lifting, amplitude of about 0.5 inch, until a sensation of inward suction is felt. Bilateral Benshen, Lüegu, and Naokong points are connected to a G-6805 electroacupuncture device, set at 8–13 Hz continuous wave, stimulating for 30 minutes, with needles retained for 1 hour, during which the lifting-drawing method is applied twice. Body acupuncture selects points Renzhong, Fengfu, Neiguan, Shenmen, Laogong, Shixuan, Sanyinjiao, and Yongquan, using 30-gauge 1-inch or 1.5-inch needles. Renzhong is inserted 0.3 inch toward the nasal septum using the "sparrow pecking" method until the patient’s eyes become moist. Fengfu is inserted 1 inch toward the mandible using a high-frequency, small-amplitude twisting technique for 1 minute, without retention. Shixuan is alternately pricked, each time 1–2 sites, causing bleeding. Neiguan is inserted straight 0.5–1 inch. Shenmen and Laogong are inserted straight 0.3–0.5 inch using a combined lifting-twisting method, with Neiguan and Laogong connected to the G-6805 electrotherapy device, same parameters as above. Sanyinjiao is inserted straight 1–1.5 inches, Yongquan 1 inch, both using a combined lifting-twisting method until lower limb twitching occurs. One session per day, 30 sessions constitute one course, with a 3–5 day rest between courses. Concurrently, treatments include neuroprotective drugs such as Cytidine diphosphate choline, brain tissue injection, brain polypeptide, cerebrovascular dilators like Aivizhi and Claridin, music stimulation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and passive limb movements. The hospital treated 31 cases of post-brain injury vegetative state, with duration ranging from 1 month to 1 year. Twenty-eight cases successfully regained consciousness, some even able to perform simple work. Notably, patients unresponsive to conventional comprehensive therapies showed gradual recovery after adding the "Awakening Consciousness and Opening Orifices" acupuncture, demonstrating its crucial role in promoting recovery from persistent vegetative state. The selected head points are traditional key acupoints for awakening spirit and opening orifices, treating mental disorders. Puncturing these points using the light-insertion-heavy-lifting method, combined with electrical stimulation matching the frequency of brain alpha waves, helps relieve cortical inhibition and effectively opens the orifices and awakens the mind. The selected body points are commonly used for emergency treatment of coma, fainting, stroke closure syndrome, and for conditions like dementia, mania, epilepsy, etc. Strong stimulation of these points activates the reticular activating system in the brainstem, promoting recovery of consciousness in patients with persistent vegetative state after brain injury, collectively achieving the effect of awakening spirit and opening orifices.
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