Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
A Novel Scalp Acupuncture-based Method to Target the Hand Motor Hotspot for Non-invasive Brain Stimulation
Published on: December 19, 2025
[Scalp acupuncture for epileptiform discharges of children with cerebral palsy]
Suyun Li1, Zhenhuan Liu1, Wenjian Zhao1
1Department of Pediatric Neurological Rehabilitation, Nanhai Maternity and Children Hospital, Foshan 528200, Guangdong Province, China.
Insights
Scalp acupuncture did not worsen epilepsy or epileptiform discharges in children with cerebral palsy. However, combining scalp acupuncture with rehabilitation improved epilepsy onset more effectively than rehabilitation alone.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Integrative Medicine
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) often presents with neurological complications, including epilepsy and epileptiform discharges.
- Video-electroencephalogram (VEEG) is crucial for identifying epileptiform abnormalities in children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of scalp acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for children with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibiting epileptiform discharges on VEEG.
- To assess the safety and effectiveness of combining scalp acupuncture with conventional rehabilitation for CP patients with epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 184 children with CP and VEEG-confirmed epileptiform discharges or epilepsy.
- Comparison between a combination group (scalp acupuncture + rehabilitation) and a rehabilitation group, both receiving antiepileptic drugs.
- Standardized scalp acupuncture protocols targeting specific acupoints and motor/sensory areas were administered.
Main Results:
- Scalp acupuncture did not significantly increase the risk of epilepsy onset or epileptiform discharges in the CP population.
- The combination group showed a statistically significant improvement in epilepsy onset compared to the rehabilitation group (P<0.05).
- No significant difference was observed between groups for epileptiform discharges (P>0.05).
Conclusions:
- Scalp acupuncture is a safe adjunctive therapy for children with CP, epilepsy, or epileptiform discharges.
- Combination therapy of scalp acupuncture and rehabilitation offers superior outcomes for CP patients experiencing epilepsy onset compared to rehabilitation alone.
Objective:
To explore the effect of scalp acupuncture for children with cerebral palsy whose video-electroencephalogram(VEEG) showed epileptiform discharges.
Methods:
A total of 184 children with cerebral palsy whose VEEG showed epileptiform discharges or those combined with epilepsy were randomly assigned into a combination group (99 cases) and a rehabilitation group (85 cases). All the cases were treated with the original antiepileptic drugs. The conventional physical training and massage were applied in the rehabilitation group for 3 courses with 20 d at the interval, once a day, 5 times a week and 15 times as one course. Based on the treatment as the rehabilitation group, scalp acupuncture was used in the combination group for 3 courses with 15 d at the interval, once the other day and 10 times as one course. Shenting (GV 24), Benshen (GB 13), Sishencong (EX-HN 1) were selected as the main acupoints, combined with motor zone, foot motor-sensory area, balance zone,and temple-three-needle etc. Clinical onset and VEEG results were observed before and after treatment.
Results:
After treatment in the combination group, 27 cases improved; 47 cases had no effect; 25 cases aggravated. While in the rehabilitation group, 11 cases improved; 46 cases had no effect; 28 cases aggravated. There was no statistically significance between the two groups (P>0.05). As for the cases with epilepsy onset in the combination group, 8 cases improved; 4 cases had no effect; 4 cases aggravated. In the rehabilitation group, 4 cases had no effect; 7 cases aggravated. The result in the combination group was better than that in the rehabilitation group (P<0.05). As for the cases with epileptiform discharges in the combination group, 19 cases improved; 43 cases had no effect; 21 cases aggravated. In the rehabilitation group, 11 cases improved; 42 cases had no effect; 21 cases aggravated. There was no significance between the two groups (P>0.05).
Conclusions:
Scalp acupuncture therapy does not increase the risk of onset or epileptiform discharges in the children with cerebral palsy combined with epilepsy or epileptiform discharges. Scalp acupuncture combined with rehabilitation is better than simple rehabilitation for thosewith cerebral palsy and epilepsy onset.
