3. Why points in the stomach channel are good at treating mental diseases?

It was believed that mania is due to heat in Yangming ever since the ancient times. Mental diseases are closely related to the stomach. It is often seen that those patients with mental illness have over-active digestive power. The mania can be ameliorated if the excess syndrome of the stomach is regulated. Dian (withdrawal, depression) and Kuang (mania) can be treated by needling Fengrong (ST40) or Sihuawai (77.14), and Lidui (ST45). As for neurasthenic, tonifing the stomach to enhance the absorption of the nutrients and improve the mental functions will often cure it. To treat the neurasthenic, needling Lidui (ST45), Sihuashang (77.08) (or ST36), Fenglong (ST40) (or Sihuawai (77.14)) gives good result. Those points can be used to treat continuous nightmares. Also, the source of phlegm is the spleen and stomach, and is also related to many mental disorders. The points in the stomach channel are often used to resolve the phlegm. The same reasons apply to Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang (Pinella Heart-Draining Decoction) which is good at treating dreamy sleep and mental disorders.