Acupuncture & Suggestion for Hysteria from Psychological Trauma

Hysteria is a common clinical condition characterized by temporary dysfunction of the cerebral cortex induced by mental stimulation.

Various psychological traumas are the main cause of the disease. The onset in patients often depends on long-term personality characteristics, manifested as emotional instability, high suggestibility, a tendency toward rich fantasies, and since childhood, a tendency to prioritize emotion over reason, lacking rational control, being egocentric, and inclined to self-aggrandizement. If these traits are not corrected through timely education, they develop into the pathological basis of the disease. Due to the long-term behavioral changes described above, the normal regulation between the cerebral cortex and the subcortical first and second signal systems is disrupted, leading to a wide variety of symptoms in patients.

【Diagnostic Criteria】

The clinical symptoms of this disease are diverse and often present as paroxysmal manifestations involving motor, sensory, autonomic nervous system, and psychiatric disturbances.

I. Movement Disorders

Symptoms include enhanced, diminished, or absent motor function, such as epileptiform convulsions (resembling seizure‑like episodes), tremors, limb paralysis (monoplegia, paraplegia, hemiplegia), and unusual gait (e.g., scissor gait). Detailed physical examination reveals no clinically relevant pathological findings; for instance, a paralyzed patient may exhibit no loss of tendon reflexes and no pathological reflexes.

II. Sensory Disturbance

Skin sensation may present as hypersensitivity, hypoesthesia, or anesthesia, distributed in a glove-and-stocking pattern. The characteristics of the sensory disturbance include a mismatch between the affected area and the normal distribution of nerve endings, with an unusually clear and distinct boundary between the normal and pathological areas. When the hypersensitive region is touched, the patient displays an expression of unbearable pain. Patients with “globus hystericus” (Plum-stone Qi, Meiheqi) may perceive a balloon-like object in the lower abdomen that gradually ascends, obstructing the stomach and throat, thereby causing hiccups, a sensation of blockage, and a feeling of suffocation. Furthermore, patients may also present with deafness, blindness (hysterical amaurosis), or aphonia. Such deaf patients can be awakened by sound during sleep. Blindness often occurs suddenly, with no ophthalmological findings; there is a clear psychological trigger preceding the onset, and the visual field shows bilateral, symmetrical constriction forming a tubular visual field. Aphonic patients are still able to produce sound when coughing.

3. Autonomic Symptoms

Common symptoms include psychogenic vomiting, anorexia, frequent urination, and pseudocyesis.

4. Mental Symptoms

Common symptoms during an episode include uncontrollable laughing or crying, shouting, speaking or singing incoherently, and waving the arms and legs wildly, often accompanied by histrionic or theatrical gestures. Through exaggerated movements and vivid facial expressions, the patient may sing or speak out their inner unhappiness. These episodes tend to be more pronounced in crowded settings. In some cases, when emotionally agitated, the patient may suddenly fall to the ground, be unresponsive to calls, with whole-body rigidity and limb tremors. Breathing may either be held or become excessively rapid, resembling a grand mal-like seizure, but without frothing at the mouth, without signs of tongue or cheek biting, and without disturbance of consciousness. The episodes may last from several minutes to several hours.

【Treatment】

Acupoints for the Onset Period (发病期穴位)

**I. Acupoints and Needling Techniques**

1. LI4 (Hegu) (bilateral): Located on the dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones, near the midpoint of the radial side of the 2nd metacarpal bone. Use two 30-gauge, 2-cun filiform needles. After routine local disinfection, insert approximately 1.8 cun in the direction of SI3 (Houxi). Needling sensation: local distension and pain.

**2. ST36 (Zusanli) (bilateral):** Located 3 cun below ST35 (Dubi) on the knee, one finger-breadth (middle finger) lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia. Use two 30-gauge, 2-cun filiform needles. Perform routine local disinfection, then insert perpendicularly to a depth of approximately 1.8 cun. Needling sensation: local distension and pain, or radiation toward the dorsum of the foot.

II. Methods

After placing the patient on the treatment table in a supine position, conduct a thorough and comprehensive physical examination (even if hysteria is confirmed, do not reveal the diagnosis, and complete the entire examination). The examination includes: auscultation of heart and lungs, percussion of the chest and abdomen, testing of the patellar reflex, plantar reflex (stroking the sole), and measuring blood pressure. Once the examination confirms the diagnosis of hysteria without any doubt, the practitioner begins verbal therapy (suggestive therapy). First, ask the patient’s family members about the patient’s age (never ask about the cause of the condition) and the duration of the episode. Then instruct everyone nearby to remain silent and maintain a quiet environment, allowing the patient to rest well (showing care). Ask the family that only one person should answer when the doctor asks questions, and tell the patient that they should answer for themselves without letting others speak on their behalf whenever they are able. Then inform the patient that acupuncture will begin. Explain that the first needle will be inserted at LI4 (Hegu) – for males, insert the left side first; for females, the right side first – and after insertion, the patient should feel able to speak or speak more clearly. After the second needle (the other LI4), the patient will feel relief in the head and face and be able to open their eyes. After the third and fourth needles (ST36, Zusanli on both sides), the patient will feel overall body relaxation and a significant improvement in their condition. After all points are needled, tell the patient that the needles need to be retained for 20 minutes before removal, and even if they feel completely better, they must persist until the treatment is finished. When removing the needles, patiently inform the patient that five more sessions are needed to complete one course of treatment, and that after the full course, any feelings of vexation, distress, or fear will be completely eliminated, leaving them with a cheerful and open state of mind. By the time this explanation is finished, it will be time to remove the needles. During removal, tell the patient that it will not be painful and that after the needles are withdrawn, they will be able to walk normally. Then remove the needles and conclude the first treatment session. For the subsequent five treatments, use intermittent acupoints (point selection on alternate days or between sessions).

Remission Stage Acupoints

1. Acupoints and Needling Techniques

1. Taiyang (EX-HN5) (bilateral): Located in the depression about 1 cun posterior to the midpoint between the lateral end of the eyebrow and the outer canthus. Use two filiform needles, gauge 30, 2 cun in length. After routine local disinfection, insert obliquely toward GB8 (Shuaigu) to a depth of approximately 1.8 cun. Needling sensation: local distension and soreness.

2. PC6 (Neiguan) (bilateral): Located 2 cun proximal to the palmar wrist crease, between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. Use two 30-gauge, 2-cun filiform needles. After routine local disinfection, insert perpendicularly toward the contralateral TE5 (Waiguan) to a depth of approximately 1.2 cun. Needle sensation: local distension and pain, or radiation to the dorsum of the hand and the middle finger.

3. CV15 (Jiuwei): Located on the anterior midline, 0.5 cun below the xiphoid process and 7 cun above the umbilicus. Use a gauge 30, 4 cun filiform needle. After routine local disinfection, insert the needle downward at a 25-degree angle to the skin to a depth of approximately 3.8 cun. Needling sensation: local distension and pain.

4. LR2 (Xingjian) (bilateral): Located on the dorsum of the foot, in the web space between the 1st and 2nd toes, at the junction of the red and white flesh. Use two 30-gauge, 2-cun filiform needles. Routine local disinfection. Insert obliquely upward approximately 1.8 cun. Needling sensation: Local distension and pain.

2. Methods

The patient is placed in a quiet room, lying in a supine position. The designated acupoints are needled as per the method described, retained for one hour without manipulation (no twisting of the needles). During needle retention, the patient is instructed to fall asleep if possible. After one hour, when removing the needles, the patient is gently awakened first, and then the needles are withdrawn. This treatment is performed once daily. After five sessions, needling is suspended, and thereafter one course of needling may be administered monthly.

【Commentary】

Acupuncture combined with suggestion has a unique therapeutic effect on this condition, and the outcome depends on three key factors: the doctor’s appropriate use of language, the accuracy of acupuncture point selection, and a quiet treatment environment. These three elements are crucial for success. However, the most important factor is the success or failure of the first acupuncture session. If successful, subsequent treatments will yield twice the result with half the effort, leading to satisfactory outcomes. If it fails, the chances of a full recovery for this patient are slim. After recovery, the patient should be advised to engage in regular physical exercise to strengthen their constitution, and to maintain a cheerful and relaxed state of mind, so as to consolidate and sustain the therapeutic effects.

Understanding Psychological Trauma-Induced Hysteria

Hysteria, a clinical condition marked by transient cerebral dysfunction following intense mental stimulation, has long been recognized as a disorder deeply rooted in psychological trauma induced hysteria. The etiological framework posits that hysteria psychological trauma main cause resides in overwhelming emotional experiences that disrupt cortical regulation. Patients often exhibit pre-morbid personality traits such as emotional lability, heightened suggestibility, vivid fantasizing, and a tendency to prioritize affect over rational judgment—traits that predispose them to dissociative or conversion symptoms. The trauma itself may stem from acute incidents like abuse or loss, or accumulate from chronic stress, overwhelming the individual’s coping mechanisms. In this context, the cerebral cortex’s temporary dysfunction manifests as motor, sensory, or behavioral abnormalities without organic pathology. Understanding this psychogenic basis is crucial for effective intervention, as it underscores the need to address both the precipitating trauma and the patient’s suggestible state. Traditional treatments have included psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, but complementary approaches like acupuncture and suggestion therapy offer promising avenues for modulating the underlying neural and psychological processes.

Acupuncture as a Therapeutic Modality

Acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, has gained empirical support for treating psychological trauma induced hysteria by rebalancing the body’s energy flow (Qi) and regulating the autonomic nervous system. Research indicates that acupuncture can reduce cortical hyperexcitability and enhance parasympathetic tone, thereby stabilizing the emotional dysregulation characteristic of hysteria. Needling specific acupoints, such as GV20 (Baihui) and HT7 (Shenmen), is thought to release endorphins and modulate neurotransmitter activity, alleviating anxiety and dissociative symptoms. When applied as part of a comprehensive hysteria psychological trauma treatment therapy, acupuncture addresses the somatic manifestations of trauma without the side effects of pharmaceuticals. Importantly, acupuncture sessions create a calm, ritualistic environment that reduces suggestibility-related triggers while promoting a sense of safety. This modality also synergizes with suggestion therapy, as the needle insertion itself can serve as a powerful suggestive stimulus, reinforcing the patient’s expectation of relief. By targeting both the neural pathways of trauma and the patient’s suggestible state, acupuncture offers a non-invasive, integrative approach to restoring cortical harmony.

Integrating Suggestion Therapy for Enhanced Outcomes

Given that heightened suggestibility is a core feature of hysteria, suggestion therapy—often involving direct verbal suggestions, hypnosis, or placebo-enhanced interactions—forms a cornerstone of hysteria psychological trauma treatment therapy. When combined with acupuncture, suggestion therapy can potentiate therapeutic effects by leveraging the patient’s innate responsiveness to authoritative cues. For instance, during an acupuncture session, the practitioner can employ calm, positive suggestions that reframe the traumatic experience and empower the patient to regain control over somatic symptoms. This dual approach addresses both the psychological and physiological dimensions of psychological trauma induced hysteria in a unified framework. The acupuncturist’s role extends beyond needle placement to include a suggestive therapeutic alliance, where the patient’s expectation of healing is actively cultivated. Studies have shown that this integrated method reduces recurrence rates and improves emotional regulation more effectively than either intervention alone. By systematically reinforcing the message that the trauma is being resolved, suggestion therapy helps recondition the cortical responses that underlie hysterical episodes, ultimately restoring rational control and diminishing the dominance of emotional reactivity. Thus, combining acupuncture with suggestion therapy offers a holistic, evidence-informed strategy for managing hysteria rooted in psychological trauma.