michael , a 6-year - old with cerebral palsy , came from amarillo , texas , with his parents to our clinic in albuquerque , new mexico , on march 10 , 2011 .
his mother reported that he had never spoken an understandable english sentence and had almost no coordination in his upper or lower extremities .
for example , his hands were so weak that he could not make an observable mark on paper with a pencil .
his low functional level had resulted in his being diagnosed with mental retardation and learned helplessness .
multiple medical doctors , including neurologists and ear , nose , and throat specialists , evaluated michael , and the diagnosis was stroke in utero .
michael had been receiving speech therapy and physical therapy for several years with no noticeable improvement and had been a passive participant in kindergarten for 2 years because of his inability to write , speak , or take part in physical activities .
the examination at our clinic showed no abnormal findings of his physical development or hearing .
it was hard to understand him when he said his name , age , and birthday or when he counted aloud
he could not point to his nose , touch his index fingers together , or kick his legs .
his tongue was red with a thin white coating , and his pulses were wiry and slippery .
the secondary scalp locations were foot motor and sensory area , motor area , and balance area ( figures 24 ) .
the needles were rotated at least 200 times per minute with thumb and index finger for several minutes .
foot motor and sensory area , motor area , or balance area was selected according to michael 's symptoms .
 shenmen  was selected for the first needle in order to help michael relax and reduce his sensitivity to scalp acupuncture .
the needles were kept in place for 15 to 30 minutes . although michael was afraid of needles before beginning the treatment , he was quiet and cooperative and did not cry while the needles were inserted .
he did not notice that there was a needle inserted in his ear and showed no negative reaction at all .
next , 4 needles were put on the speech i area and the foot motor and sensory area of his scalp .
michael showed improvement in his speech during and at the end of his first treatment .
it was easier to understand him when he said his name and age , and when he counted , most of the numbers were clearer after the treatment than they were before the treatment . during the second session , michael was not afraid .
the new toy his mother showed him as the last needle was inserted diminished any tension he may have experienced .
he tried very hard to make clear sounds in order to get the new toy .
michael attempted to repeat the words and sentences the doctor and his parents were saying and continued to say many clear words that could be understood .
he seemed very happy when he found he was able to kick his legs and stand on one leg without difficulty .
prior to the third session , his mother reported that michael had started to talk in clearer sentences , some of which she could understand .
she had found him already dressed when she went to wake him up to come to the acupuncture clinic .
the fourth treatment was similar to the third , and 4 needles were inserted without any pain . during this treatment , michael was able to speak like a normal child , sing a song clearly , and laugh . by the fifth session ,
michael was playing with other children and based on his teacher 's report , had made some improvement in his schoolwork .
examination showed that he could speak more clearly and could write or paint like a normal child .
his physical activities , such as jumping , kicking , running , and standing on one leg , showed no restriction at all .
after the 10th session , michael 's speech and grades in school , as well as speech and physical activities at home , had significantly improved .
he still had trouble saying some words , primarily those beginning with s or r. he improved so quickly that his treatments were extended from twice a month to once a month . after his 15th session , michael had become a happy , communicative , and physically active boy who could say whatever he wanted , express his feelings with clear words , and move his body and limbs as he wished .
his parents were happy to report that his math and reading scores had progressed by a grade level and he was moved to first grade .
our final examination at the clinic showed that his tongue was a little red with a thin white coating and his pulses were soft .
michael showed improvement in his speech during and at the end of his first treatment .
it was easier to understand him when he said his name and age , and when he counted , most of the numbers were clearer after the treatment than they were before the treatment . during the second session , michael was not afraid .
the new toy his mother showed him as the last needle was inserted diminished any tension he may have experienced .
he tried very hard to make clear sounds in order to get the new toy .
michael attempted to repeat the words and sentences the doctor and his parents were saying and continued to say many clear words that could be understood .
he seemed very happy when he found he was able to kick his legs and stand on one leg without difficulty .
prior to the third session , his mother reported that michael had started to talk in clearer sentences , some of which she could understand .
she had found him already dressed when she went to wake him up to come to the acupuncture clinic .
the fourth treatment was similar to the third , and 4 needles were inserted without any pain . during this treatment ,
michael was able to speak like a normal child , sing a song clearly , and laugh . by the fifth session
, his parents said he was more physically active and had less trouble speaking . his fear and anxiety both at school and at home had diminished .
michael was playing with other children and based on his teacher 's report , had made some improvement in his schoolwork .
examination showed that he could speak more clearly and could write or paint like a normal child .
his physical activities , such as jumping , kicking , running , and standing on one leg , showed no restriction at all .
after the 10th session , michael 's speech and grades in school , as well as speech and physical activities at home , had significantly improved .
he still had trouble saying some words , primarily those beginning with s or r. he improved so quickly that his treatments were extended from twice a month to once a month . after his 15th session , michael had become a happy , communicative , and physically active boy who could say whatever he wanted , express his feelings with clear words , and move his body and limbs as he wished .
his parents were happy to report that his math and reading scores had progressed by a grade level and he was moved to first grade .
our final examination at the clinic showed that his tongue was a little red with a thin white coating and his pulses were soft .
chinese scalp acupuncture has been found to have good results in children with cerebral palsy including paralysis , ataxia , hypotonia or hypertonia , apraxia , dysarthria ( trouble speaking ) , dysphasia , and mental retardation . with advanced brain research and imaging technology , scientists continue to understand better how the brain can adapt after damage and even regain its ability to function .
it is now apparent that a child 's brain is not fully developed until about the age of 8 years and has the ability to reorganize , adapt , and reroute signals if it is stimulated properly .
brain cells not only can change in function and shape but also can take over the functions of nearby damaged cells . based on these abilities ,
scalp acupuncture is geared toward stimulating and restoring affected brain tissue , as well as retraining unaffected brain tissue to compensate for the lost functions of damaged tissue .
cerebral palsy may occur in children in utero , during childbirth , or after birth up to about the age of 3 years .
the majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it , although it may not be detected until months or years later .
the brain damage often is caused by genetic abnormalities , stroke , maternal infections and fevers , or fetal injury . in this case , the patient appeared to have a stroke in utero .
the united cerebral palsy foundation estimates that nearly 500 000 children and adults in the united states are living with one or more of the symptoms of cerebral palsy . according to the centers for disease control and prevention , about 10 000 babies born in the united states each year will develop cerebral palsy .
conventional western medicine offers no cure for cerebral palsy , holding that the damage is not repairable and the disabilities that result are permanent .
the diagnosis of cerebral palsy has historically relied upon the patient 's history and physical examination .
once a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy , further diagnostic tests are optional . in western medicine ,
treatment for cerebral palsy is a lifelong multidimensional process focused on overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish challenging tasks .
the incidence of dysarthria is estimated to range from 31% to 88% . to treat children with dysarthria ,
point on the ear to help young patients relax and to reduce sensitivity to needle insertion and stimulation of the scalp .
the least number of needles possible should be used in the scalp in the initial treatment , and the needles should be rotated at least 200 times per minute with thumb and index finger for 1 minute .
the needles should be twirled as gently as possible so that the child can tolerate the sensation , and the stimulation should be repeated every 10 minutes .
the practitioner should select foot motor and sensory area and motor area or balance areas accordingly to which symptoms and signs the child has .
verbal communication with children and their parents during treatment helps to reduce their fear and anxiety . at the same time
, it can be important to encourage a child with aphasia to talk , count , or sing in order to exercise the power of speech . during treatment
, some patients may have some or all of the following sensations : hot , cold , tingling , numbness , heaviness , distension , and the sensation of water or electricity moving along their spine , legs , or arms .
the practitioner should tell the parents and child that those sensations are normal and that patients who experience some or all of these sensations usually respond and improve more quickly . however , those who do not have such sensations could still have immediate positive results . to treat motor dysfunction ,
the acupuncturist places the needles in motor areas . generally speaking , weakness of limbs or a paralyzed extremity
for instance , for a patient with weakness in the right leg and foot , the left side of the motor area on the scalp should be needled .
the upper one - fifth region is used to treat contralateral dysfunctional movement of the lower extremity , trunk , spinal cord , and neck .
the middle two - fifths region is used to treat contralateral dysfunctional movement of the upper extremity .
the lower two - fifths region is used to treat bilateral dysfunctional movement of the face and head . to treat patients with coordination and balance problems , the acupuncturist inserts and stimulates needles in the balance area bilaterally .
it is important to have patients move the affected limb actively as well as passively .
initially , the patient should be treated 2 to 3 times a week until major improvements are achieved .
then treatment is once weekly , then every 2 weeks , and then scheduled as indicated by the patient 's condition .
although scalp acupuncture has the best and fastest response , other techniques are necessary for a fuller recovery . according to the individual 's condition , regular body acupuncture , electric acupuncture , and moxibustion , as well as physical therapy and massage ,
electrical stimulation may be helpful if the practitioner has difficulty performing the rotation of the needles more than 200 times per minute .
it is suggested that only 1 to 2 pairs of the scalp needles be stimulated at any one session or the brain can become too confused to respond .
the timeframe for patients with cerebral palsy to be treated by scalp acupuncture is crucial .
parents should have their child receive acupuncture treatment as soon as his or her condition is diagnosed .
western medical science so far has not found a proven explanation for the success of chinese scalp acupuncture in treating central nervous system disorders and specifically with treating cerebral palsy . there is a growing amount of clinical evidence that scalp acupuncture can improve or remove symptoms in patients with cerebral palsy . in china , there are many clinical and research studies showing the excellent results obtained from treating cerebral palsy with scalp acupuncture . therefore , there is an urgent need for chinese scalp acupuncture to be studied and perfected using modern western science and technology .
more case reports , case series , and clinical trials of chinese scalp acupuncture in the treatment of cerebral palsy are needed so that its potential can be fully explored and utilized .
 abstracta 6-year - old patient with cerebral palsy was treated with chinese scalp acupuncture . 
 the speech i , speech ii , motor , foot motor and sensory , and balance areas were stimulated once a week , then every other week for 15 sessions . 
 his dysarthria , ataxia , and weakness of legs , arms , and hands showed significant improvement from each scalp acupuncture treatment , and after 15 sessions , the patient had recovered completely . 
 this case report demonstrates that chinese scalp acupuncture can satisfactorily treat a child with cerebral palsy . more research and clinical trials 
 are needed so that the potential of scalp acupuncture to treat cerebral palsy can be fully explored and utilized . 
MEDICAL HISTORY AND PRESENTING CONDITION
TREATMENT
Outcome and Follow-up Treatments
DISCUSSION