bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Zoey Zhang

A hospital in China has launched a unique IQ-boosting clinic, claiming that head acupuncture can awaken the mind, improve memory, and even make people smarter.
In May, the newly established Acupuncture IQ Boost Clinic at Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine in eastern China went viral online.
The clinic performs head acupuncture on patients to promote oxygen supply to the brain and improve memory, according to Zhejiang News.
Experts say that head acupuncture is not a silver bullet for an IQ boost but serves as an auxiliary treatment to help improve the functioning of the brain.
Acupuncture was mentioned in an ancient Chinese medical text known as Huangdi Neijing, which dates back to about 100 BC.
It is one of the most common treatments in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

The treatment involves inserting fine needles into special points on the skin, mainly to relieve pain but also to prevent and treat other diseases.
When receiving acupuncture, patients may experience sensations such as soreness, numbness and swelling. Some may also feel slight pain.
Zhou Haijiang, an acupuncturist at the IQ Boost Clinic, introduced several commonly used head acupuncture points.
The Baihui Point, located on the highest point of the head, can be used to awaken the brain and refresh the mind.
Si shen cong, literally means “Four Intelligence Points” and consists of four points around Baihui Point. They can treat headaches, insomnia and forgetfulness.
The Fengchi Point, located at the top of the back of the neck, can improve oxygen supply to the head and face, which helps enhance memory.
“Acupuncture works by stimulating the head, which activates cells and boosts their activity. Simply put, this is how acupuncture helps enhance intelligence,” said acupuncturist, Hong Shouhai.
Xu Fu, the director of the Acupuncture Department at the hospital, added that the process is also helpful for people with poor sleep quality and frequent fatigue. It can also help with anxiety and depression.
A head acupuncture treatment session usually lasts about 30 minutes and patients needs it once or twice a week.
“Between 40 and 50 patients come for head acupuncture every day, mainly in the evening, including students and office workers,” said Xu.
This clinic has sparked an online debate about whether acupuncture can truly boost the IQ.

“Can you become smarter just by getting pricked with needles? This combines traditional Chinese medicine with scam tactics,” said one online observer on Weibo.
“Do not misunderstand the head acupuncture. Experts clearly stated that acupuncture only has an improving role and is not a magic cure,” another said.
Yu Jin, an acupuncture and brain science professor at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in southern China said: “Clinical medical verification has confirmed that acupuncture is indeed effective in improving brain function.
“It can promote brain circulation and blood supply, improving intelligence and mental state, but it requires professional doctors to perform it.
“Acupuncture has achieved success in treating brain diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, intellectual disability in children, and cerebral palsy,” Yu told the Post.


‘Vicious’ man in China jailed for deserting terminal-cancer wife 2 months after wedding

Tourist’s US$8,300 night in hotel, aquarium’s robot whale shark, dog’s graveside vigil: 6 social stories from China

Chinese tourist suffering heart attack saved by German studying TCM since childhood

China woman mistakenly pays US$8,300 for hotel room by confusing yuan and Korean won symbols

Trending in China

IQ boost: China clinic claims to make people smarter with acupuncture that stimulates brain

A clinic in China has claimed that it can boost the IQ of people by performing acupuncture on their heads. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The procedure involves sticking needles into the head at special points. Photo: Shutterstock 

Acupuncture as a form of traditional Chinese medicine dates back to 100 BC. Photo: Shutterstock

Foul smell leads Singapore man to find blood-soaked father, 63, slumped on toilet floor 3 days after death

A Singaporean man who shared a flat with his father was shocked to find the dead, blood-soaked body of the older man three days after he died. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The elderly father had taken to locking himself in his room following the death of his wife. Photo: Shutterstock

Singapore police said an investigation into the death showed no signs of foul play. Photo: Bloomberg

China actress Yang Zi goes global with selection as torch-bearer for 2024 Paris Olympics

Chinese actress Yang Zi has been selected as torch-bearer for the 2024 Paris Olympics, delighting her growing global fanbase. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo


Yang Zi is also an ambassador for Major League Baseball (MLB) China and promotes the sport. Photo: Baidu

Yang enjoys huge popularity thanks to her starring roles on television and in films. Photo: Baidu

Scientists uncover unique ‘zombie grave’ in Germany designed to hold person underground if woke from the dead

Researchers unearthed a distinctive “zombie grave” in Germany specifically intended to bury individuals below the ground in case they were to awaken from death. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Facebook

In ancient times, there existed a belief that the deceased would occasionally attempt to escape their graves. Photo: Facebook/Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle

In a scene from the 1968 film “Night Of The Living Dead,” directed by George Romero, a group of undead beings, often referred to as ‘’zombie‘’, strolls through a dark field at night. Photo: Getty Images

Man gravely injured after saving family from fire awarded US$80,000 by China court despite insurer’s ‘self-inflicted’ claim

Despite the insurer’s claim of “self-inflicted” injuries, a Chinese court awarded a man US$80,000 after he was severely injured while rescuing his family from a fire.  Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Yang heroically saved his family from a burning house but sustained severe burns in various parts of his body during the resuce. Photo: AFP

The court stated that extinguishing a fire to rescue family members is a natural human instinct and a societal duty outlined in the Civil Code and this act should not be equated with self-harm or suicide. Photo: AP

Anger as China couple let daughter urinate near Thai palace, follows case of ‘Chinese tourists, please keep clean’ sign

A couple from China who allowed their daughter to pee near a sacred site in Thailand have sparked anger and a debate over the behaviour of mainland tourists overseas. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/QQ.com

The little girl is watched by her parents as she relieves herself inside the palace compound. Photo: Siambird

The pee controversy follows an earlier “racism” row over a sign urging Chinese tourists to keep things clean. Photo: 8world.com

News

People & Culture

Clinic says needles in special points on head can boost brain function, patients undergo 30-minute acupuncture treatments once or twice a week


A clinic in China has claimed that it can help people boost their IQ by sticking needles into their heads.


Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)