Yamamoto Acupuncture, YNSA

Professor Jan M. Keppel Hesselink, MD, PhD is president of the Foundation IOCOB. In these 2 video’s he explains the indication and the basics of the new form of acupuncture, developed by the Japanese anesthesiologist Yamamoto.

Yamamoto new scalp acupuncture (YNSA), used since 1973, is a complete acupuncture microsystem. YNSA is most frequently used for neuromusculoskeletal diseases, dysfunctions, and pain that may be either acute or chronic.1 To date, there has not been a large-scale study of the use, acupoint frequency, or location of YNSA in the treatment of various diagnoses of back pain. YNSA is composed of 2 categories: Basic points and Ypsilon points.

The Basic points are scalp acupuncture points used to treat pain/dysfunction of anatomical body parts that are directly related to the disease/dysfunctional process. Basic points are associated with small elevations or firmness in the subcutaneous tissue of the scalp at prescribed locations. YNSA divides the scalp into YIN and YANG wherein YIN is the anterior/frontal (Figure 1) and YANG is the posterior/dorsal part of the scalp (Figure 2). YIN is further divided into Yin of YIN and Yang of YIN. YANG is also further divided into Yin of YANG and Yang of YANG.

YNSA acupuncture also uses Ypsilon points, which relate to the 12 acupuncture meridians. To identify which acupuncture point needs treatment, Yamamoto developed a special palpatory neck diagnosis technique. 

Furthermore:

The Basic points are scalp acupuncture points used to treat pain/dysfunction of anatomical body parts that are directly related to the disease/dysfunctional process. Basic points are associated with small elevations or firmness in the subcutaneous tissue of the scalp at prescribed locations. YNSA divides the scalp into YIN and YANG wherein YIN is the anterior/frontal (Figure 1) and YANG is the posterior/dorsal part of the scalp (Figure 2).

YIN is further divided into Yin of YIN and Yang of YIN. YANG is also further divided into Yin of YANG and Yang of YANG. YNSA acupuncture also uses Ypsilon points, which relate to the 12 acupuncture meridians. To identify which acupuncture point needs treatment, Yamamoto developed a palpatory neck diagnosis technique.

YNSA neck diagnosis is a palpatory procedure to determine which Ypsilon quadrant needs to be treated (Yin of YIN, Yang of YIN, Yin of YANG, Yang of YANG) and which Ypsilon point needs treatment. Ypsilon points represent all the acupuncture meridians except CV and GV. The 12 acupuncture meridians, LU, LI, KI, BL, HT, SI, LR, GB, PC, TB, SP, and ST, are identified by palpatory neck tenderness in specific areas (Figure 4). The YNSA neck diagnostic palpatory tenderness findings indicate which Ypsilon point to treat and which side of the scalp. The hardness or softness of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) is used to indicate in which Ypsilon quadrant (YIN or YANG) to place the needle in the respective Ypsilon point 

Abstract 

Dr. Toshikatsu Yamamoto of Nishinan, Japan, founded and developed a new form of acupuncture in 1970 while working in a small hospital in South Japan (Nishinan). It was first reported at the 25th annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Ryodoraku in Osaka, Japan, in 1973. To distinguish his method from the earlier Chinese Scalp acupuncture, he added the word NEW after his name.This micro acupuncture system is different from traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese scalp acupuncture. It is both a diagnostic and interactive treatment system in relieving both somatic and visceral pain problems, as well as balancing Qi. 

Sources

Yamamoto T, Yamamoto H. Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture. Tokyo, Japan: Axel Springer Japan Publishing Inc; 1998. 

YAMAMOTO, TOSHIKATSU & WALBURG MARIC-OEHLER Yamamoto neue Schädelakupunktur. YNSA.Freiburg {Breisgau]. Chun-Jo Verlag. 1991. Org. cloth hardback, gilt title spine, pictorial dustjacket, 8vo; 240pp. 92 photographs, 102 graphs, bibliography. Very fine copy. ISBN: 3-927536-03-2. 

Appendix From the internet:

Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA)

Acupoint Frequency In The TreatmentOf Herniated Lumbar Disk, Lumbar Radiculopathy,And Mechanical Low Back PainRichard A. Feely, DO

ABSTRACT

Background

Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) is an acupuncture microsystem used for treating pain and dysfunction. To date, there has not been a large-scale study of the use, acupoint frequency, or location of YNSA in the treatment of various diagnoses of back pain.Objective To determine the location frequency of YNSA Basic and Ypsilon points.Design, Setting, and Patients A retrospective 2-year study of 115 successive patients seen at a private practice who received YNSA: 22 lumbar herniated nucleus propulsus (HNP) cases, 38 lumbar radiculopathy (LR) cases, and 55 somatic dysfunction/low back pain (LBP) cases.Intervention All patients received osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for identified somatic dysfunction and if pain persisted, YNSAwas used.Main Outcome Measure Location and frequency of YNSA acupoints to achieve pain relief.Results A total of 115 patients with back pain had a mean average of 3.17 visits. Ypsilon points most commonly used were Yin of YIN, 86.4%, and the least common were Yang/YANG, 1.6%. The most common Basic points were YIN D1-6, 11.14%, and most common Ypsilon points were left Yin of YIN GB, 3.65%. This treatment approach resulted in mean visits per patient of HNP: 5.27, LR: 2.42, and LBP: 1.82.Conclusions The use of YNSA and OMT for low back pain resulted in immediate pain relief with a minimum of needles. YNSA should be further studied for this application. KEY WORDSAcupuncture, Yamamoto, YNSA, Scalp, Low Back Pain, Lumbar Radiculopathy, Herniated Lumbar Disk, Ypsilon Points, Osteopathic Manipulation 

Q and A list YNSA

 Q. What training is required for YNSA?

A. YNSA’s founder, Dr. Toshikatsu Yamamoto of Miyazaki, Japan, teaches a one-week course to MDs and osteopaths in Japan, and conducts YNSA seminars in the United States. A physician needs to have been trained in acupuncture before studying YNSA.

Dr. Yamamoto has also lectured to licensed acupuncturists at the New England School of Acupuncture. 

Q. How effective is YNSA?

A. YNSA is very effective in treating pain conditions, and can be used to modify most other medical conditions that are treatable by acupuncture. 

Q. How is YNSA different from traditional acupuncture?

A. YNSA is a microsystem of acupuncture located in the head and scalp, containing the 12 main acupuncture meridians. The 12 main acupuncture meridians are represented by ypsilon points located on the side of the head. This microsystem is further divided into 40 basic anatomical points on the forehead and 40 points on the back of the skull that relate to all the body parts—head, shoulders, arms, spine, etc. By treating these acupoints on the head, the physician can relieve pain or dysfunction in the corresponding part of the body.

Q. How are the acupoints in YNSA organized?

A. YNSA is divided into the left and right side of the head. The left side of the head is further divided into the yin side, or front of the head; and the yang side, which is the posterior, or back of the head. The dividing line between the front and back of the head comes where the top of the ear attaches to the skull. The yin side and the yang side are each further divided into an upper and lower half. This yields 12 acupoints representing the 12 meridians on the lower half of the yin, or left side of the head, and 12 acupoints on the upper half of the yin side of the head. Thus there are 24 points in front of the ear in the yin area; the same is true for the yang, or right side.

Q. How painful is YNSA

A. YNSA is less painful than drawing blood. However, there is some pain involved because there is not a lot of fat where YNSA needles are inserted. The head has a lot of nerve endings and is thus a sensitive area.

Q. How often is YNSA administered?

A. In Japan, YNSA is often administered daily, or two to three times a week. In the US, it is normally administered once or twice weekly on an outpatient basis.

Q. How fast does YNSA produce pain relief?

A. Relief can occur within five to 10 seconds of placing the needle at the correct acupuncture point.

Q. How long-lasting is the pain relief?

A. Relief can initially last from a few hours to a couple of days. Most commonly, the pain returns after a few hours. The pain relief lasts longer and longer with each successive treatment.

Q. Is there a needle-less form of YNSA?

A. Yes, there have been lasers used to treat these acupuncture points in Japan. However, these laser treatments are not approved for use in the US.