Acupuncture Therapy for Delirium with Diffuse Axonal Injury. A Case Report / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

We used acupuncture therapy to treat a Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) patient who had developed delirium that persisted for many months after the traffic accident. The patient was diagnosed with mania-depressive syndrome from an oriental medical perspective, and was treated for blood stagnation and depression of qi and qiblood energy deficiency. The selected meridian points were Baihui, Dazhui, Geshu, Dazhu, Qimen, Taichong, and Zusanli, to Promote improvement of cyclical flow of qi to the brain through the Bladder Meridian and Gorvenor Vessel Meridian. As the early results of acupuncture therapy headache disappeared and the Sleep-Wake Schedule Disorder improved to normal. After 40 sessions of acupuncture therapy, that consciousness level improved and the Japan Coma Scale (JCS) score indicated “alert”. From these results, it was suggested that the cyclical flow of qi to the brain was improved and blood stagnation had disappeared, therefore the symptoms improved. Based on the result of this treatment for a DAI patient, we understood the importance of considering the brain as a meridian, individual from the body.