Research Progress of Ziwu Liuzhu Acupuncture in the Treatment of Mild Depression in Adolescents

目的：梳理子午流注针法治疗青少年轻度抑郁的临床证据、潜在生物学意义及应用边界，为后续研究提供参考。方法：采用叙述性综述方法，检索子午流注针法、择时针刺、青少年抑郁、昼夜节律及相关针灸干预文献，重点纳入子午流注相关抑郁研究、青少年抑郁针刺研究及机制研究。结果：直接证据主要来自成人抑郁、卒中后抑郁和抑郁伴睡眠障碍，提示择时取穴可能与抑郁症状、睡眠质量、生活质量及部分认知结局改善相关；青少年领域已有普通针刺、电针、皮内针及针药结合研究，但尚缺乏针对青少年轻度抑郁的子午流注针法随机对照研究。钟基因、褪黑素与睡眠–觉醒节律可作为择时针刺的假设性研究框架，但现有理论、动物实验和间接临床证据不能构成已证实的青少年特异机制。结论：子午流注针法具有进一步探索价值；未来应在安全优先和规范精神心理评估基础上，开展多中心、随机、盲法和随访研究，并评价学业功能、社会适应、睡眠节律和生活质量等综合结局。Objective: To review the clinical evidence, potential biological significance, and scope and limitations of the clinical application of Ziwu Liuzhu acupuncture for mild depression in adolescents, thereby providing a reference for future research. Methods: A narrative review was conducted by searching the literature on Ziwu Liuzhu acupuncture, timed acupuncture, adolescent depression, circadian rhythms, and related acupuncture interventions. Particular attention was given to studies of Ziwu Liuzhu acupuncture for depression, acupuncture interventions for adolescent depression, and relevant mechanistic research. Results: Direct evidence was derived mainly from studies involving adult depression, post-stroke depression, and depression accompanied by sleep disturbances. These studies suggest that timed acupoint selection may be associated with improvements in depressive symptoms, sleep quality, quality of life, and selected cognitive outcomes. In adolescents, studies have investigated conventional acupuncture, electroacupuncture, intradermal acupuncture, and acupuncture combined with pharmacotherapy. However, randomized controlled trials specifically evaluating Ziwu Liuzhu acupuncture for mild depression in adolescents are lacking. Circadian clock genes, melatonin, and sleep-wake rhythms may provide a hypothetical research framework for timed acupuncture; nevertheless, existing theoretical evidence, animal studies, and indirect clinical evidence are insufficient to establish an adolescent-specific mechanism. Conclusion: Ziwu Liuzhu acupuncture warrants further investigation. Future studies should be conducted on the basis of prioritizing safety and implementing standardized psychiatric and psychological assessments. Multicenter randomized studies incorporating appropriate blinding and follow-up are needed, together with the evaluation of comprehensive outcomes such as academic functioning, social adjustment, sleep rhythms, and quality of life.