Imagine that you are enjoying a peaceful time with your family, and suddenly, a sharp headache hits you, and the pain is enough to eclipse any good time. Headache, as a common health problem, affects the quality of life of hundreds of millions of people around the world. Lao Zhang, a retired teacher, is one of them. After many years of teaching, his life should have been easy, but frequent headaches kept him awake until he encountered Chinese medicine – which not only changed the way he managed his illness, but also rekindled his zest for life. The methods of Chinese medicine are simple and practical, both traditional and modern, so why not learn about them sooner?
TCM diagnosis of headache: insight into the cause and prescribing the right medicine
A unique perspective on TCM diagnosis
TCM believes that headache is not a single symptom, but a reflection of multiple imbalances. It may be caused by external wind and cold, or it may be caused by hyperactivity of liver yang or insufficient kidney essence. TCM infers the nature of the cause from the specific manifestations of the symptoms, such as the location of the pain point, the type of pain (dull pain, tingling or tightness), and other accompanying symptoms (e.g., nausea, dizziness).
Looking, hearing, asking, and cutting - four diagnoses and references
Look: Observe the complexion, tongue, etc. A pale face may indicate a heavy cold, while a flushed face may indicate an internal fire.
Smell: Ask and observe the sound of the patient's breathing and body odor, which can provide clues to the nature of the headache.
Q: Ask in detail about when the headache occurred, what triggered it, how long the pain lasted, etc.
Cut: Confirm the condition through the pulse, if the pulse is weak, it may indicate that the qi and blood are weak, and if the pulse is tight, it may be caused by liver depression.
Typing treatment: Precisely matched herbs
Wind-chill headache: common in winter, accompanied by chills, nasal congestion, etc., it is recommended to use peppermint, cinnamon and other drugs to dispel wind and cold.
Headache with hyperactivity on the liver yang: often manifested as sudden severe pain in the temples on both sides, irritability, and red eyes.
Damp-heat headache: headache like wrapping, lightheadedness, accompanied by bitter mouth, suitable for using Poria cocos and skullcap to clear heat and dampness.
Qi and blood deficiency type headache: the headache is persistent but not severe, accompanied by paleness and fatigue, it is recommended to replenish qi and nourish blood, such as the use of angelica and astragalus.
Through the above-mentioned detailed diagnosis methods and classification treatment, TCM can not only help patients effectively relieve headaches, but also fundamentally adjust their physical constitution and reduce the recurrence of headaches.
Traditional Chinese medicine instead of tea: natural remedy to relieve headaches
Headache is a common health problem in the middle-aged and elderly population, and TCM treats headache by adjusting homeostasis. Tea substitutes, as a simple and effective self-conditioning method, rely on the power of natural herbs and are designed to solve the root cause of headaches.
Basic Theory
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that headaches are mostly caused by the invasion of external evils or the dysfunction of internal organs. Specific to the tea drink, its treatment principle is to return to the meridians through the sexual taste of herbs, reconcile the five internal organs, and dredge the meridians, so as to achieve the effect of eliminating headaches. For example, for headaches with hyperactive liver yang, tea is often prepared with herbs that clear the liver and relieve fire.
Tea recipe and application
Chrysanthemum wolfberry tea — clears the liver and brightens the eyes, relieves the headache of hyperactivity of the liver yang
Ingredients: 10 grams of dried chrysanthemums, 15 grams of wolfberries.
Preparation: Put chrysanthemums and wolfberries into a teacup, add boiling water and soak for 10 minutes before drinking.
Drinking time: Drink once a day in the morning and evening for a week, and you can observe the improvement of the headache condition.
Mulberry chrysanthemum tea — Relieves wind-heat headaches
Ingredients: 10 grams of mulberry leaves, 10 grams of chrysanthemums.
Preparation: Mix mulberry leaves and chrysanthemums, brew in boiling water for 15 minutes, and drink when the temperature is suitable.
Drinking time: It is suitable to drink immediately when the headache occurs, or prophylactically drink every morning and evening.
These teas are not only good for headaches, but also for your overall health. With continued use, headache frequency and intensity can be significantly improved.
Traditional Chinese medicine massage method: self-treatment with acupoints, away from headaches
Traditional Chinese medicine massage (Tuina) is the stimulation of specific acupuncture points or parts on the body surface by manual techniques to adjust the body's qi and blood to achieve the purpose of treating headaches. Especially for middle-aged and elderly people with frequent headaches, learning simple self-massage techniques is undoubtedly a convenient and effective solution.
Acupressure point selection and massage method
Wind Pond Cave
Location: Located on the neck, under the edge of the hair, in the depression between the neck muscles on both sides.
Method: Press this acupoint with your thumb and gently massage it for 1-2 minutes each time, several times a day.
temple
Location: Located on either side of the forehead, about an inch above the eyebrows.
Method: Using the pads of the index and middle fingers, gently press and rotate in small rotations for 1-2 minutes each time, immediately when the headache occurs.
Heya Hole
Location: On the dorsum of the hand, between the first and second metacarpal bones, near the depression on the side of the middle finger.
Method: Press this acupoint with the opposite thumb and gently rotate and massage for 3-5 minutes each time, suitable for severe headaches.
The combined effect of massage
With these simple massage techniques, blood circulation can be effectively activated and headache symptoms can be relieved. At the same time, these methods can also help reduce stress and improve sleep quality, which can lead to a multifaceted fight against headaches. In addition, these tips are easy to learn and implement, making them suitable for middle-aged and elderly people to self-recuperate at home.