ABSTRACT
The experience of Professor LI Zhidao is introduced in the treatment of mental disorders by "regulating the heart and smoothing the liver". In his experience, the basic prescription includes: penetrating needling technique from Neiguan (PC 6) to Jianshi (PC 5), Ximen (PC 4), penetrating needling technique from Qiuxu (GB 40) to Zhaohai (KI 6) and penetrating needling technique at four groups of acupoints on the gallbladder meridian [Hanyan (GB 4) to Xuanlu (GB 5) and Xuanli (GB 6), Qubin (GB 7) to Shuaigu (GB 8), Shuaigu (GB 8) to Tianchong (GB 9), Tianchong (GB 9) to Fubai (GB 10) and Touqiaoyin (GB 11)]. The manipulation with respiration involved is combined with interactive needling technique so that the patients can feel the weak needling sensation at the local acupoint regions during the treatment. In the paper, the concrete clinical cases are introduced to explain this application and the satisfactory efficacy achieved. The therapeutic method provides a new approach to the clinical treatment of mental disorders.