Headache – Tou Feng - Treatment with Chinese Medicine

A headache in Chinese Medicine is a certain area or whole head pain that can correspond to many characteristics, lasting minutes to months. The causes of Headache are by both internal and external pathogenic factors.

Western Medicine Diagnosis of Headaches: Epidemic febrile disease, common cold, influenza, neurological disorders, hypertension, brain tumor, brain blood vessel disorder … … …

Etiology (causes)of Headache in Chinese Medicine:

1. Exterior Pathogenic Invasion- wind attacks head blocking other meridian channels – clear yang Qi is unable to ascend – turbid Qi is unable to descend

2. Interior- Injuries-Lung/Spleen/Kidney disorder makes essence unable to ascend to brain, Qi/Blood deficiency and produces dampness

Chinese Medicine Differentiation and Treatment of Headache:  

Exterior Pathogenic Invasion

Principle of Treatment – treat the same as common cold except factor in location differences.

Acupuncture points – vertex: Du 20, Liver 2, Bladder 7, frontal: Du 23, Stomach 8, 43, occipital: Bladder 10, 60, Du 19, temporal: Gall bladder 20, 43, taiyang  

Wind Cold Occipital headache with stiff neck and shoulders, aversion to cold, shivering, cough, runny nose, clear discharge, no fever, no sweating, no thirst Tongue - thin white coat Pulse - tight, floating

Principle of Treatment: expel wind cold to relieve head ache

Herbal Medicine Formula: Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San (take with green tea)

Shao Yin Cold Cold limbs/upper back Tongue - thin white coat Pulse - deep

Principle of Treatment : warm cold and remove blockage to ShaoYin meridian

Herbal Medicine Formula: Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang

Jue Yin Vertex headache, painful behind eyes Tongue - white coat Pulse - wiry

Principle of Treatment: expel cold pathogen and remove obstruction from JueYin meridian

Herbal Medicine Formula: Wu Zhu Yu Tang

Wind heat Distended headache, aversion to cold, cough, runny nose, yellow mucus, fever, slight sweat, itchy sore throat, thirsty, slight constipation Tongue - red tip/sides Pulse - rapid, floating

Principle of Treatment: expel wind heat to relieve headache

Herbal Medicine Formula: Xiong Zhi Shi Gao Tang severe constipation + Da Huang

Toxic Wind Dampness Pounding headache with swollen head

Principle of Treatment: expel wind, dry dampness, clear heat and detoxify

Herbal Medicine Formula:Qing Zhen Tang + Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin

Wind Dampness Heavy head, poor appetite, heavy limbs, fullness in chest, soft stools Tongue - white greasy coat, swollen body Pulse - soft

Principle of Treatment: expel wind damp to relieve headache

Herbal Medicine Formula: Qiang Huo Sheng shi Tang Summer heat with dampness – Huang Lian Xiang Pu Yin

Internal Organ Disorders:  

Liver Yang rising Throbbing and/or stabbing, feeling of heat on the face, red eyes, tinnitus with headache, thirst, irritable, T- red with thin yellow coat, P- wiry

Principle of Treatment – descend Liver Yang, extinguish Wind

Acupuncture points – foot Jueyin and Shaoyang, Gall bladder 4-5, 20, *40, Liver 3, ashi points - dizziness- Si Shen Cong

Herbal Medicine Formula: Tian Ma Go Tang Yin (mild) Zhi Zi Qing Gan San (severe) Qi Jue Di Huang Wan (due to Liver/kidney yin Deficiency)

Turbid Phlegm Throbbing heavy headache, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, chest fullness, tendency to be overweight, T- greasy, P- wiry slippery

Principle of Treatment – transform Phlegm, descend turbid, open cavities

Acupuncture points – foot yangming, local, ashi points, Ren 12 and Stomach 40, Du 20, Yintang, Stomach 25 - nausea- Pericardium 6

Herbal Medicine Formula: Ban Xia Bai Zhu tian Ma Tang

Blood Stasis Chronic fixed stabbing headaches, caused by injury, or long term illness

Principle of Treatment – promote circulation, move Stasis, and meridian Qi

Acupuncture points – ashi, Large Intestine 4, Spleen 6, Bladder 17, 40

Herbal Medicine Formula: Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang

Qi and Blood deficiency Lack of nourishment, mild dull headache that is worse in the afternoon, photophobia, tired eyes, poor sleep, palpitations, fatigue, pale complexion and tongue, P- weak

Principle of Treatment – nourish Qi and Blood, promote circulation

Acupuncture points– tonify, foot Taiyin and Yangming, Du 20, 23, Stomach 36, Spleen 6, 10 - when in remission add Shu points, Ren 4 and 6, and Moxa

Qi Deficiency Chronic dull/mild headache, aggravated by activity, easily fatigued, easily catch cold, pale complexion, spontaneous sweat Tongue - pale/normal Pulse - weak

Principle of Treatment: nourish Qi, ascend nutrients to head to relieve headache

Herbal Medicine Formula: Shun Qi He Zhong Tang

Blood Deficiency History of loss of blood, chronic illness, generally blood deficient, dull headache, complicated with light headedness, dull yellow complexion, palpitations, insomnia Tongue - pale Pulse - thin

Principle of Treatment: nourish blood to relieve headache

Herbal Medicine Formula: Jia Wei Si Wu Tang Ren Shen Yang Ying Tang (Qi and Blood Deficiency)

Liver Kidney Yin deficiency Dizziness and blurred vision, Liver and Kidney deficiency symptoms, may be mild or severe, T- red with scanty coat, P- thin wiry

Principle of Treatment – nourish Liver and Kidney

Acupuncture points – foot Shaoyin, Shu, Du 20, Bladder 18, 23, Liver 3-KI 1, Spleen 6 - heat signs- Pericardium 8

Kidney Yang Deficiency Empty headache, dizziness, tinnitus, cold hands/feet, weak/cold lower back/knees, reproductive disorders, abundant clear urination Tongue - pale, swollen, wet Pulse - deep, weak

Principle of Treatment: nourish kidney essence to relieve headache

Herbal Medicine Formula: Da Bu Yuan Jian

Kidney Qi Deficiency - Turbid yin up surging Sore/weak lower back, clear frequent urination, dribbling after urination, frequent urination, reproductive disorders Tongue - pale Pulse - deep, weak

Principle of Treatment: nourish and stabilize kidney Qi while descending up surging yin

Herbal Medicine Formula: Yu Zhen Wan

Alternative Treatment Methods for Headache 

Ear Acupuncture - occiput, frontal, brain, shenmen, bleed vein on the back of the ear forLiver Yang rising

7 star Needle Acupuncture - ache, Bladder meridian, taiyang, yintang, Gallbladder on head