Acupuncture Treatment for Headache

Headache – Tou Feng

Certain area or whole head pain that can correspond to many characteristics, lasting minutes to months. Caused by both internal and external pathogenic factors.

Western Medicine- neurovascular, high blood pressure



External Pathogenic invasion

P/T – treat the same as common cold except factor in location differences.

Acupuncture – vertex: Du 20, LR 2, BL 7, frontal: Du 23, ST 8, 43, occipital: BL 10, 60, Du 19,

temporal: GB 20, 43, taiyang

Liver Yang rising

Throbbing and/or stabbing, feeling of heat on the face, red eyes, tinnitus with headache, thirst, irritable, T- red with thin yellow coat, P- wiry

P/T – descend Liver Yang, extinguish Wind

Acupuncture – foot Jueyin and Shaoyang, GB 4-5, 20, *40, LR 3, ashi points

- dizziness- Si Shen Cong

Turbid Phlegm

Throbbing heavy headache, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, chest fullness, tendency to be overweight, T- greasy, P- wiry slippery

P/T – transform Phlegm, descend turbid, open cavities

Acupuncture – foot yangming, local, ashi points, Ren 12 & ST 40, Du 20, Yintang, ST 25

- nausea- PC 6

Blood Stasis

Chronic fixed stabbing headaches, caused by injury, or long term illness

P/T – promote circulation, move Stasis, and meridian Qi

Acupuncture – ashi, LI 4, SP 6, BL 17, 40

Qi and Blood deficiency

Lack of nourishment, mild dull headache that is worse in the afternoon, photophobia, tired eyes, poor sleep, palpitations, fatigue, pale complexion and tongue, P- weak

P/T – nourish Qi and Blood, promote circulation

Acupuncture – tonify, foot Taiyin and Yangming, Du 20, 23, ST 36, SP 6, 10

- when in remission add Shu points, Ren 4 & 6, and Moxa

Liver Kidney Yin deficiency

Dizziness and blurred vision, Liver and Kidney deficiency symptoms, may be mild or severe, T- red with scanty coat, P- thin wiry

P/T – nourish Liver and Kidney

Acupuncture – foot Shaoyin, Shu, Du 20, BL 18, 23, LR 3-KI 1, SP 6

- heat signs- PC 8





Alternative Treatment Methods

auricular- occiput, frontal, brain, shenmen, bleed vein on the back of the ear for Liver Yang rising

7 star- ache, Bladder meridian, taiyang, yintang, Gallbladder on head