Headaches
The head is where all the Yang channels of hand and foot
meet. Attack of endogenous or exogenous factors may cause headache due to
derangement of Qi and Blood in the head and retardation of circulation of
Qi in the channels that traverse the head.
Headache caused by exogenous pathogenic factors will be
discusssed in section common cold or flu.
This section will deal with headache of endogenous origin, called "headwind",
which is intermittent, protracted and intractable.
It may be of the Shi or Xu type. Shi type headaches are due mainly to
hyperactivity of Yang of the Liver. Xu type headache is due to deficiency
of Qi and Blood.
Differentiation
Headache is differentiated according to its locality and its supplying
channels.
Pain at the occipital region and nape, is related to Urinary Bladder
channel.
Pain at the forehead and supraorbital region relates to the Stomach channel.
Pain at the temporal region of both sides or only one side relates to
the Gall bladder channel.
Pain at the parietal region is related to the Liver channel.
Treatment
Shi type: Violent boring pain may be accompanied by dizziness, irritabiltiy,
bitter taste in mouth, nausea, suffocating feeling in chest, hypochondriac
pain, sticky tongue coating and wiry pulse.
Xu type: Onset is mostly due to strain and stress. The pain is insidious.
It may be agitating or mild and responds to warmth and pressure. The accompanying
symptoms and signs are susually lassitude, palpitation, insomnia, pale tongue
and weak pulse.
Method: To dispel wind, remove obstruction in the channels and
collaterals, and regulate Qi and Blood by using point of the local area combined
with remote points. Reducing method fo the Shi type and reinforcing method
for the Xu type.
Points
Occipital headache- Fengchi- GB 20, Kunlun- UB 60, Houxi- SI 3
Frontal headache- Touwei- St 8, Yintang- Extra, Shamgxing- Du 23, Hegu-
LI4, Neiting- St44
One sided headache- Baihiu- Du 20, Houxi- SI 3, Zhiyin-UB 67, Taichong-
Liv 3
Points according to signs
Hyperactivity of Yang of Liver: Xingjian- Liv 2, Yanglingquan- GB 34
Qi and Blood Xu: Xihai- Ren 6, Zusanli- St 36.