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Our approach

For many patients suffering from devastating life-changing disorders, what’s painfully lacking is a glimmer of hope.

With cautious optimism and hard work, we—the practitioner and the patient as a team—can achieve goals that no one else thought possible.

Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture (ZSA) focuses on particular areas on the scalp to treat specific parts of the body. Moreover, Dr. Zhu integrates Daoyin, a form of physical and/or mental exercises for the patient, as an essential part of ZSA treatments.

What is ZSA?

Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture is one of a number of specialized microsystem acupuncture techniques. The more general acupuncture therapy is often called body acupuncture. In scalp acupuncture, very short, fine needles are placed on the scalp to achieve the desired therapeutic effects on different parts of the body. This technique has yielded outstanding results for thousands of patients, and has become recognized worldwide as one of the most effective methods for the treatment of a wide variety of difficult-to-manage medical conditions.

How does ZSA differ from
traditional acupuncture?

The major differences between Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture and body acupuncture are:

It is more convenient as the patient can receive a treatment in any position and it does not interfere with daily activities.
There is less pain associated with scalp acupuncture than with body acupuncture.
For most conditions results tend to be faster.
The locations of the needling differ. Although the scalp has numerous traditionally identified acupuncture points along several of the major meridians, Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture has its own unique treatment zones.

daoyin

Meaning “guiding” and “pulling,” the phrase—Daoyin—dates back to texts from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). In 1974, a silk painting entitle Daoyin Tu (illustration) found in an archaeological site dated from the same era, illustrates many postures and exercises that ancient people used to promote good health.

Dr. Zhu incorporates the concept of Daoyin into his practice which enhances its scope to include both physical and mental exercises. Physical Daoyin works on the body similar to contemporary physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, yoga, martial arts, massage, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, singing, dancing, etc. Mental Daoyin works on the mind and includes breathing, meditation, memory and cognitive exercises, behavioral therapy, etc. Every treatment involves some kind of Daoyin, whether you have a respiratory disease, a heart problem, a sleep disorder, pain, sports injury, a stroke or any paralysis. The combination of ZSA and Daoyin makes the treatment more effective.

Neurological Disorder

Long before the term “neuroplasticity” became popular, Dr. Zhu already had a strong conviction that neurological functions could be restored with prompt and proper treatment. ZSA is very beneficial for neurological disorders such as stroke. The treatment goal is not only to recover functionality and restore health, but also to accelerate the process, especially during the acute stage of stroke: the earlier the intervention, the better the results. It prevents or reduces edema in the brain, thereby stops further brain tissue damage. Some theorizes acupuncture promotes circulation, thereby restoring blood flow and oxygen to brain cells and dissolves blood clots.
Although the actual mechanism of scalp acupuncture is not fully understood, the above statements are based on our own numerous clinical cases.

Daoyin Rehabilitation

Our well-trained, energetic therapists guide patients in doing active and passive Daoyin exercises such as breathing, stretching, exerting and relaxing while patients retain needles on their head. This combination of acupuncture and Daoyin magnifies the therapeutic effects. An overall vigorous and persistent exercise regimen is usually recommended. Even when active motion is not visible, the intention and mental visualization of the patient is critically important. Neurologically speaking, the brain sends neural signals down the spinal cord, making attempts to find new neuronal pathways to the injury site. Inadequate Daoyin, even if the method is right, is like medicine needs to be administered at the correct dosage in order to produce the desired therapeutic effect.

Pain Management

Scalp and body acupuncture are very effective in relieving pain whether it is caused by tissue damage associated with injuries, inflammation, migraine headaches or neuropathic origins. Research has shown that acupuncture mediates pain by promoting the production of endorphin, the body’s own pain killer. We don’t stop at relieving the pain symptom, we treat the root causes. Therefore our pain relief is often fast-acting and long-lasting, without the adverse effects such as those produced by pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, we offer recommendations on how to prevent the recurrence of pain.