Headache+and+Dizziness+(Tou+Tong+and+Xuan+Mao)

In TCM, both headache and dizziness share the same mechanisms in their etiology and pathology, therefore they are discussed together

Relevant Western Diseases: Clinically there are many types of common headaches such as migraines, stress or depression headaches, as well as psychoneurosis, schizophrenia and paon resulting from medical side effects

Diagnosis: A. Headache and dizziness lasts for days, or pain is short term but very severe B. Aggravated by depressive moods and emotional changes C. No positive results found in imaging or laboratory examinations Should have A, B then refer others to confirm diagnosis

Prognosis: Many Western medications are available today for headaches; however, they are often addicting, lead to toxic chemical accumulation causing secondary bodily disharmonies, and only provide temporary relief from pain. Therefore, treating headaches and dizziness with TCM instead of the chemical medication is an important clinical goal. Many patients suffer chronic headache and dizziness after acute onset for many years with accompanying Shen or other bodily symptoms.

TCM Etiology & Pathogenesis: “Headaches can be created by external evil Qi invasion, emotiona dismharmony affecting the clear Yang cavity or brain Shen, leading to Zang Fu disharmony generating phlegm, fire or stagnation, or physical brain injury Su Wen indicates that when the lwer burner is deficient, the upper burner has excess; in other words, Kidney and Liver deficiency fails to nourish and Yang rises up to create internal wind and phlegm. In other cases there is lower excess and upper efficiency; thus there is stagnation in the lower burner, but the upper burner loses nourishment, which can also cause headache. Also, evil Qi can attack and obstruct the Brain meridian causing headache, wind evil is often the first pathogento cause headache. The Ling Shu discusses how improper lifestyle can cause the “sea of marrow” deficiency, so “when the sea of marrow is insufficient, one’s brain will feel turning… dizziness’. Internal organ disharmony can generate the phlegm, dampness, and wind; therefore headaches from internal disharmony are often a more complicated situation.”2

Taiyang Channel Qi Stagnation 2 Headaches start from inner eyes, goes up to the top of the skull and then down to the occipital region of the head, dizzy all the time, pain and dizziness related to exterior pathogenic attacks, pain can also be related to stress or bodily deficiency. Generally acute onset and are relieved when pathogens are expelled. With recurrent headache the body is sensitive to weather changes, aversion to wind, frequently catces cold, feels low energy, tires quickly.
 * Tongue:** pink or reddish tongue, white or yellow coat
 * Pulse:** floating, tense, wiry
 * Acupuncture Treatment:** SI-3, SI-7, GB-20, BL-2, BL-3, BL-9, BL-62, BL-66, LI-4, LI-20, Yintang
 * Herbal Treatment:** [Qiang Huo, Chuan Xiong, Fang Feng, Jing Jie, Gui Zhi, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Ge Gen, Gao Ben]

Shaoyang Channel Qi Stagnation 2 Headaches start from temporal region and can be on one or both sides; stress level is high and aggravates the pain which feels like pressure or an expanding feeling. May have stabbing pain and extreme suffering. Pain can get worse with stress and may have insomnia, weakness, sensitivity to sunlight and sound, nervousness and timidity, alternating cold and hot feelings in body, low appetite, depression
 * Tongue:** pink tongue, white coat
 * Pulse:** wiry, slippery
 * Acupuncture Treatment:** TW-3, TW-5, TW-17, TW-23, GB-1, GB-13, GB-41, Yintang, Taiyang
 * Herbal Treatment:** [Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Ban Xia, Bai Shao, Yu Zhu, Zhi Zi, Dan Shen, Yu Jin, Gou Teng, Man Jing Zi]

Yangming Channel Qi Stagnation 2 Headaches start around the eye, nasal and forehead regions and are accompanied by dizziness w/ nasal congestion, watery or yellow nasal discharge, pain is like constant pressure w/ itching or hot burning sensation, ma have epistaxis, red face, hot feeling in body, constipated, low appetite, bloat easily and have nausea. Pain and dizziness may worsen ater eating. Deficiency types will be lightheaded, dampness types will feel heaviness and have profuse nasal discharge, wind attack leads to itching all over, heat constitution may produce feeling of fire burning and bleeding
 * Tongue:** red tongue, yellow coat
 * Pulse:** slippery
 * Acupuncture Treatment:** LI-4, LI-11, BL-2, ST-4, ST-8, ST-40, ST-41, GV-23, Bi Tong, Yintang
 * Herbal Treatment:** [Sheng Ma, Ge Gen, Bai Zhi, Huang Qin, Tian Hua Fen, Chi Shao, Shi Gao, Zhi Mu, Gan Cao]

Liver Qi and Blood Stagnation 2 Headaches are severe with stabbing or sharp quality, worse w/ emotional activities, moody and easily angered, depressed, and hypochondriac distention or pain. May be worse at night, pain can occur in different resions of the head and may improve or get worse dramatically, leads to lack f concentration, lowered memory, purplish lips and complexion
 * Tongue:** purplish tongue w/ dark spots, white coat
 * Pulse:** wiry, tense
 * Acupuncture Treatment:** LR-3, LR-1, LR-14, SP-6, GB-5, GB-40, SP-10, PC-7, HT-7, Yintang
 * Herbal Treatment:** [Chai Hu, Qing Pi, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Fu Ling, Bai Zhu, Ban Xia, Chen Pi, Yuan Zhi, Shi Chang Pu, Xia Ku Cao, Xiang Fu, Chuan Xiong]

Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency with Yang Rising Up 2 Headaches w/ expanding or compressing feeling, dizziness, pain is worse w/ anger and strong emotion, hot flashes, feeling of burning up around face and head, rer face and eyes, dry eyes, moody and irritable, tinnitus, stressed about life situations, lower back sore and ache, poor memory and concentration, weakness and fatigued, very talkative, anxious and suspicious
 * Tongue:** pale tongue w/ cracks, dry thin coat
 * Pulse:** weak, deep
 * Acupuncture Treatment:** BL-23, BL-52, GV-4, KI-3, KI-6, KI-10, SP-6, CV-4, CV-6, LU-7, GB-15
 * Herbal Treatment:** [Ren Shen, Shu Di, Shan Yao, Shan Zhu Yu, Du Zhong, Huang Qi, Ge Gen, Zi He Che, Ge Jie, Gan Cao]

Phlegm Dampness Obstructing 2 Headache accompanied by dizziness, head feels heavy or as if surrounded by a bandage, mind feels fuzzy and clouded, difficulty concentrating, sleepy during daytime, overweight, heavy body sensation, sluggish, slow motivation, nausea and vomiting, may feel worse after eating, snoring, phlegm sounds when talking, plum pit Qi, depression and bloated abdomen 
 * Tongue:** puffy or swollen tongue, thick coat
 * Pulse:** slippery
 * Acupuncture Treatment:** ST-25, ST-40, PC-6, SP-6, SP-9, CV-12, CV-17, PC-6, GV-20, Yintang, Taiyang
 * Herbal Treatment:** [Ban Xia, Bai Zhu, Tian Ma, Fu Ling, Chen Pi, Bai Ji Li, Hou Po, Man Jing Zi, Shi Chan Pu]