Head & Necktóutòng

Headache

Also called:Head painHeadacheCephalalgia

From the TCM perspective: TCM 'tou tong' / 'tou feng'; divided into external contraction and internal injury, treated by channel.

Overview

Headache is pain in the upper head; the Suwen names it 'brain wind' and 'head wind'. TCM distinguishes externally-contracted headache (wind, cold, damp, heat) from internal-injury headache (liver yang, blood stasis, qi-blood deficiency, phlegm turbidity), and treats it by channel (Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang, Jueyin).

☯Common patterns (syndrome differentiation)

Wind-cold headache

Key distinguishing signs: Pain reaching the nape and upper back, aversion to wind-cold, worse with cold, often with clear nasal discharge, thin white coat, floating tight pulse.
Treatment principle: Dispel wind-cold and free the collaterals

Ascendant liver yang

Key distinguishing signs: Distending or throbbing headache with vertigo, tinnitus, irritability, red face, bitter taste or rib pain, red tongue, wiry pulse.
Treatment principle: Pacify the liver and subdue yang

Blood stasis

Key distinguishing signs: Long-standing headache fixed in one spot like a stab, sometimes after head injury, dark tongue or stasis spots, fine choppy pulse.
Treatment principle: Quicken blood, transform stasis and free the orifices

Qi-blood deficiency (pain from lack of nourishment)

Key distinguishing signs: Dull headache worse after exertion, fatigue, pale lusterless face, dizziness, palpitations, pale tongue, fine weak pulse.
Treatment principle: Tonify qi and blood to nourish the brain

Daily self-care

With external-contraction headache keep warm, rest and drink warm fluids; ginger, scallion and mint may be used under guidance.
Keep regular sleep, avoid late nights and prolonged neck flexion; relax the neck and shoulders and guard against wind-cold.
Note the location, character, triggers and duration; gentle acupressure at Taiyang, Fengchi and Hegu may help (avoid strong Hegu stimulation in pregnancy).

When to seek medical help

The following warning signs require prompt medical evaluation — do not rely on self-treatment:

Sudden 'worst headache of life', or with stiff neck, vomiting or altered consciousness: emergency now.
Headache with limb weakness, slurred speech, facial droop or vision change: stroke alert — call emergency services.
Progressively worsening headache, waking from sleep, new headache after 50, fever/rash, or post-trauma headache: seek prompt evaluation.

Medical disclaimer: Educational content about traditional Chinese medicine for information only; it is not a diagnosis or treatment and does not replace a qualified clinician. If symptoms worsen or warning signs appear, seek medical care.

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