In Western medicine, headache is often treated as a broad, one-size-fits-all problem. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), when a patient says they have a headache, it actually doesn’t tell us much at all. On its own, it lacks meaning.
In TCM, we want context.
We want to know where the headache is located, what kind of pain it is, whether it’s acute or chronic, and how long it has been present. We look at elimination, urination, and bowel movements, and we also ask what’s going on in someone’s life. Stress, workload, emotions, and environment all matter.
This is because headaches are not approached the same way for every person. Each case is evaluated individually, and each approach to resolving the headache will be different.
How TCM Views Headaches
From a TCM perspective, headaches occur when Qi, Blood, and fluids are not moving or eliminating properly. When this movement is disrupted, the body can develop excess Heat, Wind, or dampness, or fall into a state of deficiency. The headache is simply a sign that the body has an internal imbalance.
Acute vs. Chronic Headaches
Acute headaches tend to come on quickly. They are often triggered by sudden change, sudden stress, dietary triggers, dehydration, or external pathogens such as Wind. These headaches usually have a clear cause and can resolve once normal flow is restored.
Chronic or recurring headaches point to a deeper imbalance. These patterns often involve long-term Liver Qi stagnation, Kidney depletion, excess dampness, or Blood deficiency. Because the imbalance has been present for a long time, the headaches tend to repeat or linger.
Why the Quality of the Headache Matters
The way a headache feels gives us important information.
- A throbbing headache suggests Heat is rising.
- A dull or heavy headache points towards dampness.
- Sharp pain indicates Blood stasis.
- Headaches that improve with rest often signal deficiency.
- Headaches that worsen with stress commonly involve the Liver.
Each quality helps guide the direction of support.
Different Locations, Different Meanings
Headaches at the back of the head are often related to spinal misalignment or blockage along the Bladder meridian. In these cases, chiropractic care and acupuncture can be important tools to help restore circulation and relieve tension in the neck and upper back. These headaches can also be influenced by external environments, especially Wind invasion, which causes tight muscles, stiffness, and pain that worsens with cold.
Headaches at the temples follow the Gallbladder meridian and are closely tied to Liver and Gallbladder stress. This is one of the most common headache patterns. Emotional stress and tension disrupt the smooth flow of Qi and Blood, leading to Liver stagnation or Liver Heat rising upward. These headaches often worsen with stress and are accompanied by neck tension, tight muscles, and irritability.
Pain at the very top of the head is associated with the Liver and often indicates that circulation is not reaching the head adequately. Qi is deficient, and the person may feel burnt out, fatigued, dull, or overworked. These headaches often improve with proper nourishment, hydration, and rest.
Headaches across the forehead or above the eyes are connected to the Stomach and Spleen. This pattern points toward digestive imbalance, whether from weak digestion, food stagnation, excess dampness, congestion, or constipation affecting elimination. These headaches tend to feel heavy or pressure-like and may be accompanied by brain fog. Supporting digestion, clearing dampness, and reducing inflammatory foods becomes key.
Headaches around or behind the eyes often reflect Liver strain or weak Liver Blood. This pattern is commonly seen with excessive screen time and high emotional or mental stress.
Supporting the Root Cause
Different headache patterns require different support. Repair, the new human formula, can help with headaches related to internal imbalance. Relief can support muscle pain and tension associated with misalignments. Redemption or Relentless can be helpful when the Spleen and Stomach are involved. Pairing one GI formula with one musculoskeletal formula, whichever best fits.
In TCM, the goal is not just to stop the headache; it’s to restore balance so the body no longer needs to create the pain signal in the first place.
