Headache/Migraine
The definition of headache in Chinese medicine and western medicine are completely different:
In western medicine, the definition of headache is as follows: Headache is pain in any region of the head. Headaches may occur on one or both sides of the head, be isolated to a certain location, radiate across the head from one point, or have a viselike quality. A headache may appear as a sharp pain, a throbbing sensation or a dull ache. Headaches can develop gradually or suddenly, and may last from less than an hour to several days. (cephalalgia)
Migraine
Migraine is a recurrent throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a migraine usually include:
- Moderate to severe headache pain that may be confined to one side of the head or may affect both sides
- Head pain with a pulsating or throbbing quality
- An increase in headache pain with routine physical activity, such as walking or climbing stairs
- Sensitivity to light and/or sound, which can be so intense that only a dark, quiet room is comfortable
- Sensitivity to odors
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Sensations of being very warm or cold
- Paleness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Fever (rare)
Most migraines last about four hours, although severe ones can last up to a week. The frequency of migraines varies widely among individuals: It's common for a migraine sufferer to get two to four migraines per month. Some people, however, may get migraines every few days, while others get them only once or twice a year.
People with migraine often experience heightened sensitivity to light, sound, and odors, and they may also experience nausea and vomiting.
Migraines can be preceded by an aura of sensory disturbances followed by a severe headache that often appears on one side of the head.
People with migraine tend to have recurring attacks that are triggered by a lack of food or sleep, exposure to light, or hormonal irregularity (only in women). Anxiety, stress, or relaxation after stress can also be triggers. For many years, scientists believed that migraines were linked to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels in the head. Investigators now believe that migraine is caused by inherited abnormalities in genes that control the activities of certain cell populations in the brain.
Other Types of Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Stress and muscle tension are thought to play a role, as are genetics and environment. Symptoms usually include moderate pain on or around both sides of the head, and/or pain in the back of the head and neck. Tension headaches develop slowly and usually resolve within a few hours.
Cluster headaches are headaches that come in groups (clusters) separated by pain-free periods of months or years. During the period in which the cluster headaches occur, pain typically occurs once or twice a day, but some patients may experience pain more than twice a day. The duration of pain ranges from 30 to 90 minutes. Cluster headache pain occurs in bursts on one side of the head. The pain usually starts around the eyes and then spreads to the face, head and neck.
Medication-overuse headaches are caused by overuse of painkillers for headaches, including over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or aspirin. Unfortunately, this can lead to daily or almost-daily headaches.
In Chinese Medicine, there are eleven patterns of internal disease headache:
- Binding depression of liver Qi （肝气郁结）
- Liver fire flaming upward （肝火上炎）
- Ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang （肝阳上亢）
- Kidney essence insufficiency （肾精不足）
- Blood vacuity （血虚）
- Yin vacuity （阴虚）
- Qi vacuity （气虚）
- Yang vacuity （阳虚）
- Phlegm turbidity （痰浊）
- Blood stasis （血瘀）
- Head wind （头风）
Nerves VS Acupuncture Meridians and Acupoints