Jingfang Classical Chinese Medicine and Scalp Acupuncture in a Humanitarian Setting: A Case Study

The use of acupuncture in humanitarian settings has often been limited to fixed protocols which allow for the treatment of large numbers of people. However, in a protracted humanitarian crisis lasting over ten years, as has been experienced on the Greek island of Lesvos since 2015, the arrival of thousands of displaced persons with complex individual needs may necessitate a different approach. In the case presented here, a 21-year-old Somali male resident of the Mavrovouni refugee camp who had developed severe peripheral neuropathy that rendered him unable to walk while undergoing TB treatment, received individualised jingfang classical Chinese medicine treatment, including dietary therapy, body acupuncture and scalp acupuncture, in combination with physiotherapy. This approach resulted in full recovery of his ability to walk and illustrates the successful use of a greater range of Chinese medicine tools than is typically seen within the humanitarian setting.