Identify Your Headache Type with Chinese Medicine (+ Treatment Tips)
Not all headaches look, feel or are treated the same!
One symptom, such as a headache, may have different underlying causes. The frequency, intensity, time of day, and the location of the headache, plus a deeper investigation into other symptoms will determine what pattern you fit into and thus how to treat your headache.
According to Chinese medicine, headaches can have a number of root causes. Two common headache patterns we see in our practice are Liver Qi Stagnation and Blood Deficiency.
Now let’s dive into each!
Liver Qi Stagnation – The liver keeps your energy (Qi) and emotions flowing smoothly. If you’re overworked, sedentary, have irregular eating and sleeping patterns, or generally suppress your emotions, energy can’t circulate properly in the body. This leads to stuck or stagnant energy (Qi), which can then cause a variety of other symptoms, one of which might be headaches.
Liver Qi stagnation headaches feel like a tension headache, are throbbing in nature, and are often felt in the temporal area or behind the eyes.
In addition to headaches, those with liver qi stagnation may also experience irritability and anger, a short temper, anxiety and depression, stress sensitivity, PMS, abdominal distention or bloating, reflux, alternating constipation/diarrhea, upper body tension, irregular cycles, menstrual cramps, breast tenderness, and frequent sighing.
How to treat Liver Qi headaches:
Consume Liver supporting foods and herbs – chrysanthemum tea, mint, lemon, lime, mustard and dandelion greens and green herbs in general.
Prioritize daily movement
Practice mind supporting activities like breath work, journaling, time in nature, stretching
Blood Deficiency – Healthy blood is characterized by a robust supply of oxygen-rich red blood cells that are able to circulate freely in the body. Poor diet, a weak gut, blood loss or excessive overwork can all compromise the health of the blood and lead to a pattern of Blood deficiency.
Blood deficiency headaches are typically dull headaches that are worse with exertion and at the end of the day.
Other symptoms someone with blood deficiency may experience are fatigue, anxiety, difficulty falling asleep, heart palpitations, eye floaters, dry eyes, skin and hair, a pale complexion, a light menstrual flow, dizziness, and tingly fingers and toes.
How to treat Blood deficient headaches:
Consume the following Blood-building foods: red meat, beets, goji berries, dark leafy greens, bone broth
Warm & cook your foods to aid in digestion
Prioritize breaks throughout the day to avoid straining yourself
Treating holistically means there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment. We understand your condition through the signs and signals your body is sending. Becoming more connected to those signals is the first step to making healthy decisions for you in every changing moment.
