Acupuncture at Jing-Well Points in Neurological Disorders: Clinical Efficacy, Mechanisms, and Future Directions

Neurological disorders, including stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, migraine, peripheral neuropathies, and disorders of consciousness, represent major causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Despite significant advances in pharmacological and rehabilitative interventions, many patients continue to experience persistent neurological deficits, highlighting the need for complementary therapeutic strategies. Jing-Well points, located at the distal ends of the fingers and toes and representing the initial or terminal points of the 12 primary meridians in traditional Chinese medicine, have historically been employed for the management of acute neurological conditions, restoration of consciousness, and regulation of neurological function. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical efficacy, underlying mechanisms, and future research directions of Jing-Well point acupuncture in neurological disorders. Current evidence suggests that Jing-Well point stimulation exerts neuromodulatory effects through multiple biological pathways, including regulation of neurotransmitters, enhancement of neuroplasticity, suppression of neuroinflammation, improvement of cerebral blood flow, autonomic nervous system modulation, and promotion of neuroprotective signaling. Neuroimaging studies utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, electroencephalography, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy demonstrate that acupuncture influences widespread cortical and subcortical networks involved in motor control, cognition, sensory processing, and consciousness. Clinical studies have reported beneficial outcomes in stroke rehabilitation, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathies, and post-COVID neurological sequelae. Experimental investigations further support these findings by demonstrating improvements in neuronal survival, angiogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and functional recovery. Although the available evidence is encouraging, limitations including methodological heterogeneity, small sample sizes, inconsistent treatment protocols, and insufficient long-term follow-up remain significant challenges. Future research should prioritize standardized multicenter randomized controlled trials, advanced neuroimaging methodologies, biomarker-driven investigations, and precision medicine approaches. Overall, Jing-Well point acupuncture represents a promising, safe, and potentially valuable adjunctive intervention in integrative neurological care, warranting continued scientific exploration and clinical evaluation.