Headaches may be diagnosed generally by looking at the nature of the pain, what makes the pain better or worse and the location of the pain. If the pain is dull it is likely from deficiency, whereas sharp pain is likely from excess. If the pain is better with rest it is likely from deficiency, whereas if it is improved with movement it is likely from stagnation. Locating which channels are near the pain, ST, GB, etc. will also aid in the selection of proper treatment points.
Etiology & Pathology:
Differentiation:
General Treatment Points by Location:
Eyebrows - UB 2
Frontal - ST 8, ST 44, GV 23, GB 14 a/or Taiyang
Occipital - UB 10, GV 19 a/or SI 3
Temple - TH 5, GB 8, GB 41 a/or Taiyang
Vertex - GV 20, SI 3, UB 67, UB 7 a/or LV 3
External Factors:
Wind Cold
Wind Heat
Wind Damp
Excess Internal Conditions:
LV Yang Rising - primarily from emotional factors, may also be related to diets with greasy foods a/or alcohol, or excessive sexual activity.
LV Fire - progression of LV yang rising.
Phlegm Turbidity - primarily from phlegm excesses usually resulting from consistiently poor dietary habits.
Blood Stagnation - usually resulting from trauma.
Deficient Internal Conditions:
Qi Deficiency - primarily from overwork mentally a/or physically.
Blood Deficiency - primarily after long term illnesses where the body has been weakened.
KD Deficiency - primarily from old age or excessive sexual activity.
Wind Cold - Excess
Signs & Symptoms:
Distending/pulling sensation in the head, may be tight in the posterior aspect of the head, common wind cold symptoms such as chills, stuffy nose a/or body aches, may arise due to allergies in the spring or during the change of seasons.
Tongue: Thin white coat
Pulse: Floating, tight
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
GB 20 - clear wind
GV 16 - clear wind
UB 12 - wind shu
LU 7 - clear wind, command point of head and posterior neck
Consider cupping for to release wind cold
Consider locational points as described above
St. John Point Selection:
Same as above plus:
LI 4 - release exterior wind/wind-cold
UB 10 - release the exterior for wind cold
Wind Heat - Excess
Signs & Symptoms:
Distending or "splitting" headache, heat signs such as red face a/or eyes, fever, thirst.
Tongue: Red, possibly w/thin yellow coat
Pulse: Floating, fast
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
LI 4 - clear heat, release exterior
LI 11 - clear heat
GV 14 - release the exterior, clear heat
Consider locational points as described above
St. John Point Selection:
Same as above plus:
GB 20 - clear wind from head
GV 16 - clear wind from head
TH 5 - release the exterior, clear the head
Wind Damp - Excess
Signs & Symptoms:
Sensation of a "towel wrapped around the head", heavy body, poor appetite, may have chest oppression
Tongue: Greasy coat
Pulse: Soft, slippery
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
GV 20 - clear the head
CV 12 - ST Mu
UB 20 - SP Shu
ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
ST 40 - resolve dampness
GB 20 - clear wind from head
Consider locational points as described above
LV Yang Rising - Excess Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Severe headache usually worse in the afternoon, may be pulsing a/or accompanied by the appearance of blue veins on the forehead or temples, headache is usually bilateral although it may be one sided, pain may worsen if lying down, patient may have a quick temper, irritability, bitter taste in the mouth, red face, constipation. May also effect the ST leading to nausea a/or vomiting.
Tongue: Red w/thin yellow coat
Pulse: Wiry and rapid or forceful
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis & St. John Point Selection:
LV 3 - resolve LV stagnation
SP 6 - tonify the yin
KD 3 - tonify the yin
GB 4 - headache
GB 20 - descend the Qi from the head
GB 43 - clear heat from the GB channel
Taiyang - headache
If ST involvement - PC 6, GB 34, CV 12 a/or ST 36
LV Fire - Excess Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Further progression of LV Yang Rising but with a worse headache and stronger heat signs, red face, strong anger, possibly shouting.
Tongue: Red w/yellow coat, red sides possible
Pulse: Wiry and rapid or forceful
Treatment Points:
St. John Point Selection:
LV 2 - clear LV fire
SP 6 - tonify yin
GB 20 - descend the Qi from the head
Taiyang - headache
For strong emotional involvements - PC 8
Phlegm Turbidity - Excess Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Headache with strong sensation of heaviness, pain is worse in damp weather, may experience dizziness, may also have other phlegm signs such as fullness in the chest a/or epigastric area, nausea, vomiting of watery mucus.
Tongue: Greasy white coat
Pulse: Slippery
Treatment Points:
St. John Point Selection:
ST 8 - clear head
ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
ST 40 - resolve phlegm
GV 20 - allow clear yang to rise to the head
CV 12 - ST Mu
Yintang - clear head
Blood Stagnation - Excess Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Usually the result of a trauma, headache that is fixed in location with very strong a/or drilling-type pain, may be worse at night.
Tongue: Purple possible w/purple a/or dark red spots
Pulse: Choppy or wiry
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
SP 6 - move Blood
SP 10 - move Blood
UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
Consider locational points as described above
Qi Deficiency - Deficient Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Headache that is consistient and dull, may involve the whole head or the frontal area, worsens with overwork or other mental a/or physical stressors, poor appetite and fatigue.
Tongue: Pale w/thin white coat
Pulse: Weak
Treatment Points:
St. John Point Selection:
SP 6 - tonify ST/SP
ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
CV 6 - tonify Qi
GV 20 - raise the Qi to the head
UB 20 - SP Shu
Consider locational points as described above
Blood Deficiency - Deficient Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Headache that worsens with exertion, improves with rest, pain may be dull in nature with an empty feeling in the head, palpitations, insomnia, poor memory, pale complexion, dry skin possible, in women this type of headache may be worse after their period.
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Thin, weak
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis & St. John Point Selection:
UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
UB 18 - LV Shu
UB 20 - SP Shu
UB 23 - KD Shu
ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
SP 6 - tonify SP
GV 20 - raise the Qi to the head
Kidney Deficiency - Deficient Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Empty feeling in head, weak low back a/or knees, fatigue.
Tongue: Pale (if more Yang def), Red w/little coat (if more Yin def)
Pulse: Deep, empty, may be thready if more Yin def)
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
KD 3 - tonify KD
CV 4 - tonify KD
GV 20 - raise the Qi to the head
ST 36 - tonify Qi
UB 23 Back shu KD..
Differentiation:
General Treatment Points by Location:
Eyebrows - UB 2
Frontal - ST 8, ST 44, GV 23, GB 14 a/or Taiyang
Occipital - UB 10, GV 19 a/or SI 3
Temple - TH 5, GB 8, GB 41 a/or Taiyang
Vertex - GV 20, SI 3, UB 67, UB 7 a/or LV 3
External Factors:
Wind Cold
Wind Heat
Wind Damp
Excess Internal Conditions:
LV Yang Rising - primarily from emotional factors, may also be related to diets with greasy foods a/or alcohol, or excessive sexual activity.
LV Fire - progression of LV yang rising.
Phlegm Turbidity - primarily from phlegm excesses usually resulting from consistiently poor dietary habits.
Blood Stagnation - usually resulting from trauma.
Deficient Internal Conditions:
Qi Deficiency - primarily from overwork mentally a/or physically.
Blood Deficiency - primarily after long term illnesses where the body has been weakened.
KD Deficiency - primarily from old age or excessive sexual activity.
Wind Cold - Excess
Signs & Symptoms:
Distending/pulling sensation in the head, may be tight in the posterior aspect of the head, common wind cold symptoms such as chills, stuffy nose a/or body aches, may arise due to allergies in the spring or during the change of seasons.
Tongue: Thin white coat
Pulse: Floating, tight
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
GB 20 - clear wind
GV 16 - clear wind
UB 12 - wind shu
LU 7 - clear wind, command point of head and posterior neck
Consider cupping for to release wind cold
Consider locational points as described above
St. John Point Selection:
Same as above plus:
LI 4 - release exterior wind/wind-cold
UB 10 - release the exterior for wind cold
Wind Heat - Excess
Signs & Symptoms:
Distending or "splitting" headache, heat signs such as red face a/or eyes, fever, thirst.
Tongue: Red, possibly w/thin yellow coat
Pulse: Floating, fast
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
LI 4 - clear heat, release exterior
LI 11 - clear heat
GV 14 - release the exterior, clear heat
Consider locational points as described above
St. John Point Selection:
Same as above plus:
GB 20 - clear wind from head
GV 16 - clear wind from head
TH 5 - release the exterior, clear the head
Wind Damp - Excess
Signs & Symptoms:
Sensation of a "towel wrapped around the head", heavy body, poor appetite, may have chest oppression
Tongue: Greasy coat
Pulse: Soft, slippery
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
GV 20 - clear the head
CV 12 - ST Mu
UB 20 - SP Shu
ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
ST 40 - resolve dampness
GB 20 - clear wind from head
Consider locational points as described above
LV Yang Rising - Excess Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Severe headache usually worse in the afternoon, may be pulsing a/or accompanied by the appearance of blue veins on the forehead or temples, headache is usually bilateral although it may be one sided, pain may worsen if lying down, patient may have a quick temper, irritability, bitter taste in the mouth, red face, constipation. May also effect the ST leading to nausea a/or vomiting.
Tongue: Red w/thin yellow coat
Pulse: Wiry and rapid or forceful
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis & St. John Point Selection:
LV 3 - resolve LV stagnation
SP 6 - tonify the yin
KD 3 - tonify the yin
GB 4 - headache
GB 20 - descend the Qi from the head
GB 43 - clear heat from the GB channel
Taiyang - headache
If ST involvement - PC 6, GB 34, CV 12 a/or ST 36
LV Fire - Excess Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Further progression of LV Yang Rising but with a worse headache and stronger heat signs, red face, strong anger, possibly shouting.
Tongue: Red w/yellow coat, red sides possible
Pulse: Wiry and rapid or forceful
Treatment Points:
St. John Point Selection:
LV 2 - clear LV fire
SP 6 - tonify yin
GB 20 - descend the Qi from the head
Taiyang - headache
For strong emotional involvements - PC 8
Phlegm Turbidity - Excess Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Headache with strong sensation of heaviness, pain is worse in damp weather, may experience dizziness, may also have other phlegm signs such as fullness in the chest a/or epigastric area, nausea, vomiting of watery mucus.
Tongue: Greasy white coat
Pulse: Slippery
Treatment Points:
St. John Point Selection:
ST 8 - clear head
ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
ST 40 - resolve phlegm
GV 20 - allow clear yang to rise to the head
CV 12 - ST Mu
Yintang - clear head
Blood Stagnation - Excess Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Usually the result of a trauma, headache that is fixed in location with very strong a/or drilling-type pain, may be worse at night.
Tongue: Purple possible w/purple a/or dark red spots
Pulse: Choppy or wiry
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
SP 6 - move Blood
SP 10 - move Blood
UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
Consider locational points as described above
Qi Deficiency - Deficient Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Headache that is consistient and dull, may involve the whole head or the frontal area, worsens with overwork or other mental a/or physical stressors, poor appetite and fatigue.
Tongue: Pale w/thin white coat
Pulse: Weak
Treatment Points:
St. John Point Selection:
SP 6 - tonify ST/SP
ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
CV 6 - tonify Qi
GV 20 - raise the Qi to the head
UB 20 - SP Shu
Consider locational points as described above
Blood Deficiency - Deficient Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Headache that worsens with exertion, improves with rest, pain may be dull in nature with an empty feeling in the head, palpitations, insomnia, poor memory, pale complexion, dry skin possible, in women this type of headache may be worse after their period.
Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Thin, weak
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis & St. John Point Selection:
UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
UB 18 - LV Shu
UB 20 - SP Shu
UB 23 - KD Shu
ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
SP 6 - tonify SP
GV 20 - raise the Qi to the head
Kidney Deficiency - Deficient Internal
Signs & Symptoms:
Empty feeling in head, weak low back a/or knees, fatigue.
Tongue: Pale (if more Yang def), Red w/little coat (if more Yin def)
Pulse: Deep, empty, may be thready if more Yin def)
Treatment Points:
Valaskatagis Point Selection:
KD 3 - tonify KD
CV 4 - tonify KD
GV 20 - raise the Qi to the head
ST 36 - tonify Qi
UB 23 Back shu KD..
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