[Tongdu Jieyu acupuncture combined with local surrounding needling for 34 cases of melasma with liver qi stagnation].

Researchers in China studied whether acupuncture could help women with melasma, a common skin condition causing brown patches on the face. The study focused on 34 women whose melasma was linked to emotional stress and a pattern Traditional Chinese Medicine calls "liver qi stagnation," which often involves feeling depressed or anxious.

The treatment combined two acupuncture techniques. First, practitioners used specific points on the head and upper back believed to "unblock the governor vessel and relieve depression" - including points called Baihui, Sishencong, Shenting, Zhiyang, and Lingtai. Second, they used "surrounding needling," placing needles around the edges of the dark patches on the face. Patients received treatment three times per week for 12 weeks.

The results were promising. After treatment, the women showed significant improvements in their skin pigmentation, measured by a standard melasma severity scale. They also reported feeling less depressed and anxious according to validated questionnaires. Overall, 91% of patients showed improvement. When researchers followed up three months after treatment ended, only 18% had experienced a recurrence of their symptoms, suggesting the benefits lasted beyond the treatment period.

This study suggests that acupuncture addressing both emotional and skin symptoms may be helpful for melasma patients who also experience depression or anxiety. The approach treated the condition holistically rather than focusing solely on the skin. If you're considering acupuncture for melasma or related emotional concerns, seek a licensed acupuncturist trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostics.

This prospective case series evaluated Tongdu Jieyu acupuncture combined with local surrounding needling in 34 patients with melasma presenting with liver qi stagnation pattern. The protocol utilized governor vessel and extra points (GV20, EX-HN1, GV24, GV9, GV10) plus surrounding needling of lesion areas, administered three times weekly for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes included MASI (Melasma Area and Severity Index), SDS (Self-Rating Depression Scale), and SAS (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale) scores, along with TCM syndrome differentiation scoring.

Results demonstrated statistically significant improvements (P<0.05) across all outcome measures post-treatment. Clinical effectiveness rate reached 91.2% (31/34 patients). Three-month follow-up revealed a recurrence rate of 17.9% (5/28 patients). The study supports the "simultaneously treating spots and depression" approach for melasma patients with comorbid mood disorders. This integrated protocol combining constitutional treatment via governor vessel points with local surrounding needling appears effective for both dermatological and psychological manifestations, with sustained benefits at three-month follow-up.