Medicine Traditions
  • Home
  • About
  • Resources
    • Brief Overview of Traditional Medicine
    • Timeline
    • Authors and Sources
    • Glossaries
    • Articles on Traditional Medicine
    • Photos
    • Medicine Pictures
    • Substitute Medicines
  • Theory
  • Materia Medica
    • Ayurvedic Materia Medica
    • Chinese Materia Medica
    • Tibetan Materia Medica
    • Unani Materia Medica
    • Materia Medica of Herbal Medicine FREE
    • Materia Medica of Herbal Medicine PRO
    • Animal Materia Medica
    • Mineral Materia Medica
    • Chinese Classification
    • Western Classification
    • Humoral Medicine
    • Herbal Combinations
  • Formulas
  • Treatment
    • Types of Treatment in Traditional Medicine
    • Treatment of Specific Conditions
    • Diseases and Formulas
  • Patient Resources
  • Links & Texts
  • Contact Us
  • Store
  • Blog
Sentry Page Protection
Please Wait...

Headache and Migraine



Classical Classification of Headache:
  • Cephalgia–pain over the whole head; sometimes violent, other times mild; either acute or chronic
  • Cephalea–intolerable headache; weakens the head and senses; has paroxysms; violent pain, tinnitus, pulsing of the forehead veins, sight and hearing affected.
  • Hemicrana–one-sided headache; similar to the preceding (Galen and others treated them as one)
  • Congelatio–headache from cold numbness; originates in the rear of the head and takes away sense and feeling (similar to Lethargy or Stupor)

Causes of Headache
Headaches were long recognised to have numerous causes: the Heat of the Sun, bathing, change of air, wind, strong scent of spices, the smell of wine, drunkenness, stinking meat, garlic, onions, mustard, strokes, blows, bruising or great motions of the mind (excess thinking or emotions), sleep straight after dinner, excess bleeding; worms in the ears, nostrils, or stomach; choler (bile) in the stomach, repletion of the Stomach, immoderate or unnatural mixture of humors, and various other causes. (Wirtzung)

Normally, Headaches are caused by intemperance of one of the 4 Humors:
  • Blood: head is hot, forehead feels heavy, eyes and face are red, full veins in the face; urine is red and fatty, the pulse is soft.
  • Bile: great heat from the nostrils, tongue is dry, insomnia, thirst, pain tends to the right side of the head.
  • Melancholy: head is cold, dull color of the face, veins are not visible, little sleep, fear and worry; pain tends to the left side of the head.
  • Phlegm: senses are heavy and dull, feels cold, sleeps long, lethargic, greatest pain at the rear of the head.

In TCM theory, Headaches can often be associated with Wind, in addition to another factor: for example a Heat-type Headache can be referred to as Wind-Heat, Cold-type Headache to Wind-Cold, Phlegm-type Headache to Wind-Phlegm etc. Headache may also be caused by Blood stagnation with fixed pain; by chronic deficiency where the patient is weak and the headache dull, or from Trauma (which causes Blood stagnation).

Headache can also be divided into excess and deficient types. Excess is primarily of Heat, Cold, Wind or Phlegm, while deficiency may primarily be Blood, Qi or Yang deficiency.


Formulas most used in TCM
According to a survey of Taiwanese databases related to the treatment of Migraines, the following 10 formulas are most used in TCM (see research here):
  • Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San–statistically, the most used formula
  • Jia Wei Xiao Yao San–Liver Qi stagnation with Heat
  • Ge Gen Tang
  • Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang–Blood stagnation, with fixed, stabbing pain
  • Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang–Wind-Phlegm headache
  • Qing Shang Juan Tong Tang
  • Xiao Chai Hu Tang–Spleen deficiency with Liver excess, or half-interior, half-exterior syndrome
  • Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin–Internal Wind with Heat
  • Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang–Spleen Qi deficiency, or Spleen Qi sinking
  • Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan–Heart Blood and Yin deficiency (Headache with insomnia)

Headaches in General
Western Tradition

Simples
1. Feverfew is a special herb for all types of Headache and Migraine
2. Betony and Vervain have both been much used for Headaches and are often combined.
3. Eating a Crow Brain was regarded as being specific for all types of Headaches inlcuding severe and obstinate headaches. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)


Capitis dolori–Headache

Infusion of Hiera

Betony Infusion
Potion for Headache (Galen)
Cephalic Decoction (Charras)

Syrup of Betony (Bononiense)
Tincture of Valerian
Spirit of Wine Camphorated
Cephalic Powder
Abbots Confect of Roses

Troches of Saffron (Nicholas)
Stomach Pills (Mesue)
Pills of Mastic (Mesue)
Imperial Pills

Arabian Pills (Nicholas)
Hiera Hermetis
Hiera Logadii
Hiera Pachii
Triphala of Coriander (Itrafil Kishneez) (Unani)

Electuary of Frankincense (Diaolibanum) (Nicholas)
Oxymel of Squill
Sothira Magna Nicolai
Oil of Dill
Oil of Bay
Oil of Orris
Oil of Spikenard
Oil of Marjoram

Oil of Oregano
Oil of Rose

TCM Classification

Blood Deficiency
Si Wu Tang


Blood Stagnation

Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang


Liver Qi Stagnation
Xiao Yao San


Liver Heat
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Long Dan Xie Gan Wan



Liver Wind-Heat
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin


Liver Wind-Phlegm
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang


Qi Deficiency
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang

Yin Deficiency
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Zuo Gui Wan



Headache from Bile or Heat

Symptoms
Head and forehead feel hot, red eyes, belching, loathesomeness, thirst, dry mouth, bitter taste; pain is pricking, sharp, more commonly on the right hand side of the head, maybe with dizziness, the body is hot, little appetite, insomnia, irritable, angry, pulse is hard and fast, urine reddish, face yellowish. Especially in hot and dry times of the year, and in young people.

Diet
Stewed Lentils, Spinach, Chicory, Purslane, Lettuce and leafy vegetables, broths, stewed Apples and Pears, broths of Veal and Hens; drinks: whey, barley water with a little Pomegranate or Lemon juice added. Avoid wine and meat.

Medicines
Barley, Four Cold seeds, Lettuce leaf and seed, Purslane, Plantain, Black Nightshade, Violet, Water Lily flower, Poppy seed, Sandalwood

Externally
1. Oxyrrhodinum (equal parts of oil of roses, rose water, and vinegar of roses). Apply soaked linen cloths across the forehead from one temple to another. If the heat is extreme Camphor should be added.
2. Egg white beaten                    1
    Rose water                               1 oz.
    Waters of Elder and Fennel  
½ oz. ea.
Add 5 small Walnuts, beaten, and a little Saffron. Mix well; lay on the forehead with wool.
3. Ointment of Roses (Mesue)
4. Infrigidans Galeni ‘Cold Cream’ (washed wax 2 oz., oil of Roses 4 oz.)
5. Ungentum Populeum



Western Tradition

Headache from Bile / Heat

Decoction for Chronic Heat-type Headache (Mesue)

Syrup of Hops
Tincture of Balm
Elixir of Camphor
Abbots Confect of Rose (Diarrhodon Abbatis)
New Rose Powder (Rosata Nouvelle)
Powder of Three Sandalwoods (Diatrionsatalum)
Troches of Camphor (Nicholas)

Electuary of the Juice of Rose (Mesue)
Pills for Headache from Bile and Phlegm
Pills of Violet (Habbe Banafsha) (Unani)
Oil of Violet
Oil of Rose



Headache from Liver Headache


Syrup of Hops
Tincture of Balm
Powder of Rhubarb
Powder to Cool the Liver
Powder of Three Sandalwoods (Diatrionsatalum)
Sandalwood 18 (Tibetan Medicine)



Extra Formulas

Decoction for Chronic Heat-type Headache
  Roman Wormwood    1 oz.
  Fumitory                       8 drams
  Raisins stoned             1 oz.
  Agrimony                     5 drams
  Bugloss flower            6 drams
  Dodder
  Endive seed
  Agaric                           3 drams

Boil in 3 lbs down to 1.5 lbs. (De Morbis Internis Curandis, Mesue, 1551)

Pills for Headache from Bile and Phlegm
  Aloes                             6 drams
  Yellow Myrobalan       4 drams
  Mastic                           3 drams
  Rose                              2 drams
  Saffron                          1 dram
Form Pills. (De Morbis Internis Curandis, Mesue, 1551)

TCM Classification

Wind Heat
acute headache, cough, sore throat, blocked nose, maybe yellowish or green or clear or white mucus, stiff neck, restless, fever, floating rapid pulse

Yin Qiao Jie Du San
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San



Liver Heat / Liver Yang Rising (Bile)
sharp, acute or pulsating headache, dizziness, irritable and angry, insomnia, red eyes, red face, bitter taste, high colored urine .

Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San (TCM)
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang

Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin





Headache caused by Cold or Phlegm

Symptoms
Headache which is not extreme, feeling heavy and Cold, tiredness, sleepiness, excess saliva, runny nose with clear mucus, pale face, loss of taste. Sennertus notes that Cold headaches can be caused by cold air and cold winds, showing this category is associated with Wind-Cold Headache of TCM.

Diet
Warming and drying; roasted meats; spiced food and wine; eat a little Marmalade after food

Medicines
Nutmeg, Mace, Cinnamon, Clove, Marjoram, Rosemary, Mastic

Externally
1. Pills to Chew: Mastic 2 drams, Pepper 1 dram, Caper root-bark half dram; powder and form pills with Vinegar of Squill; hold in the mouth
2. A gargle: Mustard seed 1 oz., Pepper 3 drams, Hyssop 1 handful; seethe in red wine with a little Honey. Use as a gargle.
3. Scented balls to smell: Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, Aloeswood, Marjoram 2 drams each; with a little Musk and some Mastic, form balls. Various warming aromatics can be used to smell.
4. Promoting Sneezing is very useful in Cold Phlegm type Headache; sniffing Pepper or Hellebore root was used


Western Tradition

Headache from Cold

Sage Wine
Rosemary Wine
Decoction to Warm the Head
Powder to Warm the Head (Rondeletius)

Warming Powder for the Head
Diambra
Powder of Anise (Dianisum)
Powder of Happiness (Letificans) (Galen)
Aromatic Clove Powder (Aromaticum Caryophyllat.)
Powder of Galangal Compound (Diagalanga) (Mes.)

Wonderful Confection for Cold Nerve Diseases
Oil of Rue
Oil of Marjoram



Headache from Phlegm

Tincture of Valerian
Foetid Pills Minor of Galen
Foetid Pills Major of Galen
Theriac for Pain in the Head

Antimoron (Nicholas)


To Purge

Triphala Electuary of Coriander (Itriphal Kishneez)
Pilulae Cochia
Golden Pills
Pil. Alephangine


TCM Classification

Wind Cold Attack (acute)
acute headache, aversion to wind, no sweating or mild sweating, aching muscles, runny nose with clear mucus, chills (fever low if present), stiff neck, pulse is on the surface.

Ma Huang Tang
Gui Zhi Tang
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San



Wind-Phlegm Obstruction
dull, heavy headache, mental fogginess, fullness in the chest, excess mucus and saliva, nausea, coughing or vomiting saliva.

Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang




Headache from Wind
Symptoms
The key indication for Wind type pain is its moving and changeable nature, much like Wind itself. The pain may be tight or tearing by nature, changes place, and is aggravated by wind or draughts, as well as stress and overthinking.

Western Tradition

Decoction to Warm the Head
Cephalic Decoction (Charras)
Syrup of Betony (Pharmacopoeia Augustana)
Tincture of Rue
Cephalic Powder
Theriac for Pain in the Head
Powder of Galangal Compound (Diagalanga) (Mes)
Electuary for the Head (Lewis)
Hiera Logadii

Garuda 5 (Khyung Lnga) (Tibetan Medicine)
Pearl 25 (Mu tig nyer lnga) (Tibetan Medicine)

Chinese Classification

Wind-Phlegm

Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang


Wind-Heat

Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang





Headache caused by Melancholy
Western Tradition

Chronic Headache

Tincture of St. John's wort
Decoction of Woods
Decoction for Chronic Heat-type Headache (Mesue)
Theriac for Pain of the Head
Pills of Hiera (Habbe Ayarij) (Unani)

Arab Confect Purging Melancholy (Confectio Ham)
Hiera Logadii



Chronic Headache from Melancholy

Arab Confect Purging Melancholy (Confectio Hamech)

Arabian Pills (Nicholas)
Hiera Logadii
Triphala of Stoechas (Itrafil of Stoechas) (Unani)


From TCM

While TCM has no direct correlation with Melancholy, Melancholy types of Headache can be associated with Qi Stagnation in acute cases, with Dampness, or with Deficiency of Yin and Blood Stagnation in chronic cases.


Headache From Blood Stagnation

Headache with fixed, constant or recurrent pain; maybe with history of Trauma; insomnia, restless, poor memory, dull complexion, dark under eyes, maybe purplish lips, tongue and nail beds, choppy pulse

Western Tradition

Headache from Blood stagnation

Syrup of Betony (Bononiense)
Tincture of St. John's wort
Tincture of Rue
Tincture of Myrrh
Cephalic Powder

Electuary of Frankincense (Diaolibanum) (Nicholas)


From TCM

Blood Stasis

Tao Hong Si Wu Tang
Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Zheng Tian Wan


Special Formula:
HEADACHE FROM OLD INJURY

    Dang Gui
    Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
    Angelica Bai Zhi
    Mistletoe (Sang Ji Sheng)
    Notoginseng San Qi
    Salvia Dan Shen
    Cyperus Xiang Fu

(The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)


Headache From Hangover

Western Tradition
1. Rue, Rose, Bitter Almond, beat with Vinegar and apply to the Head.
2. Wormwood, Betony, Feverfew

Other Categories of Headache from TCM

TCM recognises Headaches from acute and chronic causes. Acute are from external attack of Wind and are therefore of the same cause as Colds and Flus. Note the formulas for Acute Headache from Wind are formulas used for Cold and Flu. Chronic are from Organ or Humoral imbalance.

Acute (External) Causes

Wind Cold Attack

acute headache, aversion to wind, no sweating or mild sweating, aching muscles, runny nose with clear mucus, chills (fever low if present), stiff neck, pulse is on the surface.

Ma Huang Tang
Gui Zhi Tang
Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San


Wind Heat
acute headache, cough, sore throat, blocked nose, maybe yellowish or green or clear or white mucus, stiff neck, restless, fever, floating rapid pulse

Yin Qiao Jie Du San
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San

Internal Causes from Deficiency

Blood Deficiency
headache, pale face, weak, feels the cold, dizziness, poor memory, palpitations, weak and low pulse, pale lips and tongue.

Si Wu Tang

Special Formula:
    Dang Gui
    Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
    Gastrodia Tian Ma
    Tribulus Ci Ji Li
    Lycium Gou Qi Zi
    Angelica Bai Zhi
(The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)

   

Kidney Deficiency
dull headache, head feels empty, dizziness, tinnitus, back pain, weak knees, insomnia, sallow and weak appearance, spermatorrhea

Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Zuo Gui Wan





Migraine

Western Tradition

Special Medicines:
Hiera Hermetis was commended for stubborn Migraine


Hemicranea conferunt–for Migraine

Infusion of Hiera
Decoction of Wormwood

Syrup of Betony (Bononiense)
Tincture of St Johns wort
Oxymel of Squill
Powder of Rosemary Compound (Dianthos) (Nich.)

Hiera Hermetis

Troches of Saffron (Nicholas)
Troches of Scammony

Pil. Cochia
Pills for Migraine (Galen)
Pills for Migraine (2) (Galen)

Electuary of Frankincense (Diaolibanum) (Nicholas)
Diacastoreum
Adrianum Nicolai (with a decoction of Sage in wine)
Mithridate
Theriac Galeni

Tincture of Mastic
Tincture of St. Johns wort
Mustard Plaster
Oil of Spikenard

Oil of Wormwood
Oil of Squill
Oil of Bay


Garuda 5 (Khyung Lnga) (Tibetan Medicine)



Headache and Migraine, to Purge

Powder of Rhubarb (Fuchs)
Pil. Aggregative Greater (Mesue)
Golden Pills (Pil Aurea)
Common Pills
Imperial Pills

Hiera Hermetis
Arabian Pills
Pilulae Alhandal

Pills of Hiera Simplex
Pills of Hiera with Agaric
Pills of Mastic (Mesue)
Pill of Three Things with Rhubarb
Stomach Pills (Mesue)

Triphala of Zamani (Itrafil Zamani) (Unani)


TCM Classification

TCM treatment for Migraines is generally as for Headache categories above. Acute Migraines where there is not a history of regular Migraine attacks may be treated with the medicines as for Acute Headaches, above.


Wind-Phlegm

Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang


Qi Stagnation

Xiao Yao San
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Yue Ju Wan


Wind-Heat or Liver Heat

Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang


Blood Stagnation

Tao Hong Si Wu Tang
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang


Yang Deficiency

Fu Zi Tang




Research
1. Investigation on the Chronic Tension-Type Headache from the Persian Medicine Point of View

Home
ABOUT
Brief Overview
RESOURCES
Timeline

materia medica – FREE
Materia Medica – PRO
Chinese Classification
Western Classification

Humoral Medicine

Diseases & Formulas
Resources
Theory
Links & Texts
Patient Resources

Shop
Texts for Sale
Contact us

TERMS OF USE
PRIVACY POLICY


© MedicineTradition 2015–2022
  • Home
  • About
  • Resources
    • Brief Overview of Traditional Medicine
    • Timeline
    • Authors and Sources
    • Glossaries
    • Articles on Traditional Medicine
    • Photos
    • Medicine Pictures
    • Substitute Medicines
  • Theory
  • Materia Medica
    • Ayurvedic Materia Medica
    • Chinese Materia Medica
    • Tibetan Materia Medica
    • Unani Materia Medica
    • Materia Medica of Herbal Medicine FREE
    • Materia Medica of Herbal Medicine PRO
    • Animal Materia Medica
    • Mineral Materia Medica
    • Chinese Classification
    • Western Classification
    • Humoral Medicine
    • Herbal Combinations
  • Formulas
  • Treatment
    • Types of Treatment in Traditional Medicine
    • Treatment of Specific Conditions
    • Diseases and Formulas
  • Patient Resources
  • Links & Texts
  • Contact Us
  • Store
  • Blog