RESUMO
Mental disorders are characterized by disturbances in behavior,volition,emotion,and cognition and are considered emotional diseases in traditional Chinese medicine.Acupuncture is one of the most widely used complementary alternative therapies for the treatment of mental disorders.Recently,there has been growing interest in the use of the Tong Du Tiao Shen(Dredging Du meridian to regulate the spirit)as a primary treatment.However,a comprehensive summary of the establishment and related acupuncture methods of Tong Du Tiao Shen is lacking.This paper aims to address this gap by exploring the origin and development of Tong Du Tiao Shen,its application in treating mental disorders,and the modern biological mechanisms involved.Ultimately,this paper seeks to expand the clinical application of Tong Du Tiao Shen acupuncture and provide a scientific basis for future research in this field.