YNSA Craniopuncture (Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture)

Presentation

Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) is a craniopuncture microsystem developed from 1973 by Japanese physician Toshikatsu Yamamoto (born 1929). Unlike Jiao's Chinese scalp acupuncture, YNSA uses point zones (not lines) located primarily on the frontal (Yin base zones) and occipital (Yang base zones) parts of the scalp.

Dr. Yamamoto, trained as a surgical anesthesiologist, developed this system by observing immediate analgesic effects when stimulating specific cranial zones. His system has been enriched over decades with the addition of sensory points, brain points and points corresponding to the 12 cranial nerve pairs.

YNSA is now taught in over 20 countries with numerous clinical studies, particularly in Brazil and Germany.

Creator: Dr. Toshikatsu Yamamoto, Miyazaki, Japan, from 1973.

Core Principles

• Yin base zones (frontal): 5 main zones (A through E) along the frontal hairline, corresponding to major body regions.
• Yang base zones (occipital): 5 mirror zones at the occiput treating the same regions but preferentially posterior aspects.
• Cervical and abdominal diagnosis: YNSA specificity — choice between Yin and Yang zones is based on palpation of cervical and abdominal reflex points.
• Sensory points: specific zones for eyes, ears, nose and mouth around base zones.
• 12 cranial nerve points: advanced development for treating cranial nerve dysfunctions.

Main Indications

• Acute and chronic pain throughout the body (frequent immediate effect)
• Post-stroke rehabilitation: hemiparesis, aphasia, dysphagia
• Facial palsy
• Headaches and migraines
• Balance disorders and vertigo
• Parkinson's: tremors, rigidity
• Tinnitus
• Functional visual disorders

Session Overview

The practitioner begins with diagnostic palpation of cervical reflex points (along the sternocleidomastoid) and abdominal points to determine which cranial zones to treat. Fine needles (0.20 × 15–30 mm) are inserted into selected zones at 3–10 mm depth, tangentially to the scalp. The practitioner immediately verifies the effect by retesting diagnostic points.

The needle is manipulated (gentle rotation) until therapeutic effect is achieved. Retention: 20–30 minutes. Improvement is often immediate and cumulative.

Contraindications

• Scalp wounds or infections
• Open fontanelles in infants
• High-dose anticoagulants (hematoma risk)
• Uncontrolled epilepsy (caution)