Headache

Headaches are a common ailment that can disrupt daily life, but Chinese medicine offers time-tested, holistic approaches to address their root causes. By identifying the specific type of headache based on symptoms, Chinese medicine provides targeted herbal formulas and food remedies to restore balance and alleviate pain. This article explores various headache types, their symptoms, treatment principles, and natural remedies, optimized for those seeking alternative solutions for headache relief.

Understanding Headaches in Chinese Medicine

In Chinese medicine, headaches are classified based on their underlying causes, such as wind, heat, dampness, or energy deficiencies. Each type is associated with specific symptoms, guiding practitioners to tailor treatments that address both the symptoms and their root causes. Below, we outline the main headache types, their symptoms, and effective remedies to help you find natural relief.

1. Wind-Cold Headache

Symptoms:

  • Absence of perspiration

  • Nasal congestion with clear discharge

  • Cough with clear sputum

  • Dizziness

  • Stiff neck accompanied by headache

  • Dislike of cold temperatures

  • Fever

  • Body aches with no fixed location

  • Vomiting or diarrhea

Treatment Principle: Disperse wind and cold to relieve headache pain.

Remedial Formula: Chuan-Xiong-Cha-Tiao-San – An herbal blend designed to expel wind-cold and alleviate headache symptoms.

Food Remedies:Incorporate warming foods to dispel cold and promote circulation:

  • Peppermint (including oil)

  • Spearmint

  • Sweet basil

  • Cayenne pepper

  • Fresh ginger

  • Green onion

  • Mustard seed

  • Star anise

  • Chicken egg

  • Red-beet sugar

How to Use: Brew peppermint or ginger tea, or add cayenne pepper and green onion to soups to warm the body and ease headache symptoms.

2. Wind-Heat Headache

Symptoms:

  • Swelling sensation in the head with headache

  • Intolerance to light

  • Red eyes

  • Throat pain

  • Yellowish nasal discharge

  • Nosebleeds

  • Thirst

  • Toothache

  • Ringing in ears

Treatment Principle: Clear wind-heat and stop headache pain.

Remedial Formula: Sang-Ju-Yin – A cooling herbal formula to reduce heat and alleviate headache symptoms.

Food Remedies:Choose cooling foods to clear heat and soothe inflammation:

  • Banana

  • Spinach

  • Cucumber

  • Mung bean

  • Bamboo shoot

  • Strawberry

  • Lily flower

  • Purslane

How to Use: Add spinach or cucumber to salads, or enjoy a cooling mung bean soup to reduce heat-related headache symptoms.

3. Wind-Dampness Headache

Symptoms:

  • Heavy or tight sensations in the head

  • Chronic backache

  • Joint pain

  • Edema or light swelling

  • Fever worsening in the afternoon

  • Itchy sores

  • Scant urine

Treatment Principle: Expel wind, overcome dampness, and relieve pain.

Remedial Formula: Qiang-Huo-Sheng-Shi-Tang – An herbal formula to address dampness and alleviate pain.

Food Remedies:Incorporate foods that reduce dampness and promote circulation:

  • Job’s tears

  • Orange peel

  • Celery

  • Coconut meat

  • Green onion

  • Adzuki bean

  • Rice

How to Use: Cook Job’s tears with rice for a dampness-reducing porridge, or add celery and green onion to stir-fries.

4. Liver Yang Upsurging Headache

Symptoms:

  • Headache on the side of the head

  • Dizziness

  • Bitter taste in the mouth

  • Misty vision

  • Numbness in fingers

  • Pain in the ribs

  • Red complexion

  • Ringing in ears

Treatment Principle: Calm the liver, suppress yang, and relieve pain.

Remedial Formula: Zhen-Gan-Xi-Feng-Tang – A formula to balance liver energy and reduce headache intensity.

Food Remedies:Support liver health with these foods:

  • Celery

  • Chicken egg yolk

  • Duck

  • White fungus

  • Oyster

  • Kidney bean

  • Royal jelly

How to Use: Include celery in stir-fries or consume duck soup to calm liver yang and reduce headache symptoms.

5. Dampness-Sputum Headache

Symptoms:

  • Dizziness with headache

  • Excessive sputum

  • Chest pain

  • Hiccups

  • Prolonged dizziness

  • Morning sickness in pregnancy

  • Whitish vaginal discharge

Treatment Principle: Transform sputum, mobilize the spleen, and relieve pain.

Remedial Formula: Ban-Xia-Xie-Xin-Tang – A formula to clear sputum and support spleen function.

Food Remedies:Use foods to clear dampness and support digestion:

  • Peppermint

  • Sweet basil

  • Asparagus

  • Bamboo shoot

  • Fresh ginger

  • Crown daisy

How to Use: Brew peppermint tea or add fresh ginger to meals to reduce sputum and alleviate headaches.

6. Energy Deficiency Headache

Symptoms:

  • Severe headache triggered by fatigue

  • Morning headaches

  • Intermittent headaches

  • Pain relieved by massage

  • Feeble breath

  • Lack of appetite

  • Cold limbs

Treatment Principle: Tone energy, elevate yang, and nourish the body.

Remedial Formula: Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang – A tonic to boost energy and relieve headache symptoms.

Food Remedies:Incorporate energy-boosting foods:

  • Grape

  • Longan nuts

  • Sweet rice

  • Carrot

  • Chestnut

  • Yam

  • Royal jelly

How to Use: Snack on longan nuts or prepare a sweet rice and yam porridge to boost energy and reduce headaches.

7. Blood Deficiency Headache

Symptoms:

  • Afternoon headaches

  • Dizziness with headache

  • Dry lips and mouth

  • Night sweats

  • Sleeplessness

  • White complexion

  • Fatigue

Treatment Principle: Nourish blood, soften the liver, and stop pain.

Remedial Formula: Si-Wu-Tang – A blood-nourishing formula to alleviate headache symptoms.

Food Remedies:Support blood health with:

  • Abalone

  • Asparagus

  • Beef liver

  • Cherry

  • Longan nuts

  • Milk

How to Use: Add asparagus to meals or snack on cherries to nourish blood and reduce headache frequency.

8. Kidney Energy Deficiency Headache

Symptoms:

  • Headache with a sensation of a ball inside the head

  • Ringing in ears

  • Prolonged dizziness

  • Lumbago

  • Fatigue

  • Deafness

Treatment Principle: Strengthen kidney essence and stop pain.

Remedial Formula: Shen-Qi-Wan – A formula to boost kidney energy and relieve pain.

Food Remedies:Support kidney health with:

  • Black sesame seed

  • Beef kidney

  • Chestnut

  • Sea cucumber

  • Walnut

  • Millet

How to Use: Add walnuts to oatmeal or consume millet porridge to support kidney function and reduce headaches.

9. Blood Coagulation Headache

Symptoms:

  • Fixed headache pain

  • Headache from external injuries

  • Prickling pain in the head

  • Abdominal or chest pain

  • Coughing or vomiting blood

Treatment Principle: Activate blood circulation and remove coagulations.

Remedial Formula: Tao-Hong-Si-Wu-Tang – A formula to promote blood flow and relieve pain.

Food Remedies:Incorporate blood-activating foods:

  • Chestnut

  • Peach

  • Black soybean

  • Sweet basil

  • Papaya

  • Saffron

How to Use: Enjoy fresh peaches or add sweet basil to dishes to promote blood circulation and alleviate headache pain.

Why Choose Chinese Medicine for Headaches?

Chinese medicine offers a holistic approach to headache relief by addressing the underlying imbalances in the body. Unlike conventional treatments that may focus solely on symptom relief, Chinese medicine combines herbal formulas, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle changes to promote long-term wellness. By identifying the specific type of headache and its cause, practitioners can create personalized treatment plans for effective relief.

Tips for Incorporating Chinese Medicine into Your Routine

  1. Consult a Practitioner: Work with a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner to identify your headache type and receive a tailored treatment plan.

  2. Incorporate Food Remedies: Add the recommended foods to your diet to support your treatment and prevent headache recurrence.

  3. Stay Consistent: Herbal formulas and dietary changes may take time to show results, so consistency is key.

  4. Monitor Symptoms: Keep track of your symptoms to adjust your treatment as needed with your practitioner’s guidance.

Conclusion

Chinese medicine provides a natural, effective approach to managing headaches by addressing their root causes. From wind-cold to blood deficiency, each headache type has specific remedies, including herbal formulas like Chuan-Xiong-Cha-Tiao-San and Si-Wu-Tang, and food remedies such as ginger, celery, and longan nuts. By incorporating these remedies into your routine and consulting with a practitioner, you can find lasting relief from headaches and improve your overall well-being.

Ready to try Chinese medicine for headache relief? Consult a practitioner today and explore the power of natural remedies to restore balance and live pain-free.

Consult with a Practitioner

Board-Certified Doctors of Chinese Medicine

Book