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TCM for Headaches 

 

Do you take painkillers every time you have a headache?

Gradually find that you are taking more and more painkillers, but why do you still have headaches?

Long-term dependence on painkillers? Are you worried about drug side effects?

Headaches that make you unable to sleep or work, causing a vicious cycle?

Decrease gradually

You have been suffering from headaches for a long time and have tried many methods, but your symptoms still do not improve. Recurrent headaches are not uncontrollable. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use traditional Chinese medicine to regulate your body and acupuncture to adjust your blood circulation from the inside out to make headaches not happen. As a result, the frequency and pain level decrease gradually, and the side effects are low. It improves long-term headache symptoms, the whole person’s mental state, and a rosy complexion.

About headaches

Strictly speaking, a headache is a “symptom.” There are quite a few diseases that can cause headaches. Today, we often hear “migraine.” Migraine is a primary headache and belongs to vascular headache.

Common primary headaches:

• Tension headache: Muscles are contracted too tightly and cannot be relaxed for too long, often causing tight pain on the sides of the head, face, jaw, and neck

• Cluster headaches: Come on suddenly, with an intensity, High unilateral headache; the pain is often behind the eye socket and on the temporal side, with symptoms similar to allergies (red eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose), often at night, and occurs at a fixed time every day

• Vascular headache: dilation of blood vessels in the head. Headaches due to systolic dysfunction, the most common of which are migraines

Common clinical symptoms of migraine are:

• Irregular attacks lasting hours to days

• Headaches on one or both sides

• Throbbing headaches, with regularity resembling pulsating blood vessels

• Accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and will be afraid of moving, afraid of light, afraid of noise

Traditional Chinese medicine talks about headaches

Headaches caused by external factors generally have a more rapid onset and more severe pain, while wind, cold, dampness, and heat are common external pathogens that cause headaches. Most of these “diseases” are related to changes in the environment and weather:

environment and weather

• Headaches caused by wind pathogens are common exogenous symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, fear of cold, fear of wind, and pain in the neck, back, and shoulders.
• Headaches caused by cold pathogens are mainly cold: The patient is an aversion to cold, sneezing, and runny nose. Heating can temporarily relieve the pain.
• Headaches caused by heat evil are mainly swelling, involving the eyes, ears, nose, apparent thirst, and a reddish complexion.
• The headache caused by dampness is like being wrapped. The head and body are tired, heavy, stagnant, and have a poor appetite.

 

Headaches caused by internal causes are mainly caused by changes in the internal environment or bad living habits and generally belong to chronic, long-term headaches:

internal environment or bad living habits

• Ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang or syndrome of internal stirring of liver wind: headache with swelling, blurred vision, dizziness, and irritability
• Kidney deficiency: headache with a hollow feeling, dizziness, tinnitus, soreness of waist and knees
• Headaches with dual deficiency of qi and blood are often accompanied by dizziness, and there are signs of aggravation when tired and poor complexion.
• Headache with phlegm turbid, feeling of dizziness, feeling of nausea and vomiting, chest fullness.
• Headaches caused by blood stasis are sharp, stabbing pains that may worsen at night. It is more common in patients who have suffered head trauma.

 

 Note: The above are the common types of headaches. The onset of headaches is affected by too many factors and will change according to the situation. Although the syndrome may combine two or more, practitioners will master the main symptoms, determine the syndrome type, and provide complementary treatment. Patients also need to actively cooperate with the practitioner and return to the office frequently to track the subsequent changes in their condition.

 

TCM for Headaches

TCM for headaches offers a variety of natural and effective treatments to address the root cause of headaches. Here are some of the most common approaches:

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the most well-known TCM therapies. By inserting fine needles into specific points on the body, acupuncture helps regulate the flow of Qi and blood, relieving pain and addressing underlying imbalances. For headaches, points on the head, neck, and hands are often targeted. Studies have shown that acupuncture can be particularly effective for migraines and tension headaches.

Herbal Medicine

TCM herbal formulas are tailored to the individual’s specific pattern of imbalance. For example:

• • Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San is commonly used for headaches caused by wind-cold.
  • Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin can help with liver Yang rising.
  • Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang may be prescribed for headaches due to Qi deficiency.
    Always consult a licensed TCM practitioner before using herbal remedies.

 

Cupping and Gua Sha

These therapies help improve circulation and release tension in the muscles, which can be especially helpful for tension headaches. Cupping uses suction to stimulate blood flow, while Gua Sha involves scraping the skin with a smooth tool to release stagnation.

 

Diet and Lifestyle Adjustments

TCM emphasizes the importance of diet and lifestyle in maintaining balance. For headache relief:

• • Avoid excessive spicy, greasy, or cold foods.
  • Stay hydrated and eat warming, nourishing foods like ginger, scallions, and whole grains.
  • Practice stress-reducing techniques like Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or meditation.

 

How TCM can help?

Traditional Chinese Medicine for headaches offers a holistic and time-tested approach to understanding and treating headaches. By addressing the root cause of the pain and restoring balance to the body, TCM for headaches can provide lasting relief without relying solely on medications.

Conclusion

Whether through acupuncture, herbal remedies, or lifestyle changes, TCM empowers you to take control of your health naturally. If you’re struggling with headaches, consider exploring the wisdom of TCM. Your body—and your head—will thank you!

 

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References:

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Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, Manheimer E, Vickers A, White AR. Acupuncture for tension-type headache. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jan 21;(1):CD007587. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007587. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;4:CD007587. PMID: 19160338; PMCID: PMC3099266.

Vickers AJ, Rees RW, Zollman CE, McCarney R, Smith CM, Ellis N, Fisher P, Van Haselen R, Wonderling D, Grieve R. Acupuncture of chronic headache disorders in primary care: randomised controlled trial and economic analysis. Health Technol Assess. 2004 Nov;8(48):iii, 1-35. doi: 10.3310/hta8480. PMID: 15527670.

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