The 6 different types of Migraine related headache

In China in olden times regular pain in the head was referred to as ‘headache wind’. This was a metaphor likening the unpredictable movement of wind and its ever changing nature. The Chinese way of describing this is getting you to imagine looking out into a garden, you see the grass and the treetops in a state of calm and then suddenly the grass will move and the trees will sway before returning to calm as the wind comes and goes and becomes big and small – its main characteristic being CHANGE.

  Most people have heard of Acupuncture and understand that fine needles are applied to points on the body. However, what is little understood is that those points share common pathways or 'Meridians'. Meridians form a network of pathways in which the natural energy or lifeforce of the body 'qi' circulates assisting the movement of blood and other bodily fluids.

  Meridians can be divided into two types: regular meridians and extra meridians. The regular meridians including the six yin meridians and six yang meridians . Of the twelve regular meridians six yang and one yin circulate or terminate in different parts of the head.

 When exogenous pathogens attack the body this causes disruption to the movement of qi and Blood potentially blocking those meridians and the effects manifest themselves in the form of headache or Migraine (which is not only restricted to headache symptoms but nausea, vomiting, cold sweats and vision related problems,pain in the neck and shoulders may also be experienced).

The 6 different  types  of Migraine related headache are described below:

　

1. The YANGMING HEADACHE Includes forehead pain,cause superciliary pain similar to sinusitis symptoms, eyes pain ,upper tooth pain

 

2. SHAOYANG HEADACHE , around temples and side of head above the ears and may affect only one side or both sides.

 
3. TAIYANG HEADACHE that after occipital pain, low back of Cranium - some people will feel neck pain too.

 

 

4. JUEYIN HEADACHE pain on top of the head.

5. PIANZHENG HEADACHE pain in forehead and both sides of the head.

 
6. QUAN HEADACHE is that the pain of the entire head, it is difficult to distinguish the specific location of the pain.

 

 

 

 

Reference: Acupuncture Therapy - Editor - Wang Qicai

Migraine - discovering root cause

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Migraine causes - a TCM perspective

 

The Chinese believe that the root of the problem lies within the body itself.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine many symptoms and medical diagnosis originate from imbalance and disharmony within the body itself with specific reference to the internal organs and the natural energy that is produced and flows to regulate their function.

 

Organs are grouped into Yin and Yang and interior and exterior.  Chinese TCM views collections of specific interior and exterior organs as part of an overall working machine. It is the function of these organ groups and the interdependence upon each other and to other organ groups which determines the effective production and flow of the natural energy or life force within the body. 

 

This natural energy flows through the channels or meridians connecting every organ and tissue.  It is these meridians which act as the natural channels of this energy linking the organs of the body together.   Stress on any of organs within this system can lead to stagnation of this energy and impediment to its flow which in turn affects the function of other organs. The effects of this can manifest in all the conditions we know of within the medical arena and migraine is no exception. Understanding this, we can treat migraine by getting at the root cause and with natural treatments

So what is migraine?

Migraine can be described in many ways depending on who is describing it, from a 'very painful headache' to a debilitating condition characterized by frequent attacks of moderate to server pain and throbbing on one side of the head, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and effects to vision amongst other symptoms.

There are also types of Migraine broadly fitting into two but with various sub types: Migraine without Aura (common Migraine) and Migraine with Aura (a neurological condition which may affect vision, ability to speak and a feeling of numbness).

The International Headache Society recommends the 54321 rule for diagnosing common Migraine using the following criteria:

5 or more attacks
4 hours to 3 days in duration
At least 2 of unilateral location, pulsating quality, moderate to severe pain, aggravation by or avoidance of routine physical activity
At least 1 additional symptom such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound.

There are a range of articles covering Migraine available on the internet.

Typical treatments include the following:

Prescription medications such as Beta Blockers and Antidepressants to Botulinum toxin A (Botox)

Herbal prescriptions include Riboflavin, Coenzyme Q10 and Cannabis

Surgery, Spinal cord stimulator implantation and Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as well as paying attention to diet and living habits.

How about causes?

Conventional view of causes or triggers are listed below and fit within the Chinese TCM view of root cause with organ stresses having their root cause in emotional stress, consumption of toxins and allergic reactions to foods consumed. Physical and emotional stress can also have a detrimental affect and place undue stress on the organs of the body and their function.

Allergies and allergic reactions
Physical or emotional stress
Irregular sleep
Smoking or exposure to smoke
Irregular eating patterns
Excess Alcohol consumption
Menstrual cycle fluctuations, birth control pills, hormone fluctuations during menopause onset
Tension
Some Foods


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