Using TCM to Address Headaches

Many people suffer from frequent headaches. Some people experience headaches in patterns: those brought on by stress, worry, during your menstrual cycle or even after eating a greasy meal. It’s easy enough to pop an aspirin for temporary relief, but understanding why the headache formed in the first place is key to breaking the pattern for good.

Everything that appears on the physical body happens first at an energetic level. This means that the root cause of headaches (and all ailments) is an imbalance or deficiency on the energetic level. In TCM, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment approach. In fact, if one or more of the six meridians that run through your head suffer from Qi stagnation, there are 720 possible combinations that can produce headaches! Your headache is unique to you. Identifying which organ system(s) are out of balance and treating the root cause is the goal.

Headaches are a big wake-up call from the body. Pay attention to the messages your body is sending you!

TCM Headache Facts:

1. Location, location, location:

Pinpointing  the location of your headache can clue your practitioner in to which meridians or organs are affected. Where do you experience headaches, and what might this mean from an energetic perspective?

Sides of head or eyes: Gallbladder function (The Gallbladder and its partner organ, the Liver, are highly sensitive to stress, so one-sided headaches often indicate stress is the real culprit.)

Top of head: Liver and Kidney function

Front of forehead: Stomach function

Back of head: Bladder function

 

2. PMS:

Headaches that occur as part of PMS are also related to Liver function, which is responsible for flow—both of blood and emotions. Directly or indirectly, the Liver is the most important organ for women’s health.

 

3. After eating:

Headaches that occur after eating, especially in the front of the forehead, generally indicate a Stomach Qi deficiency. Your Stomach doesn’t have ample Qi to properly digest your food.

 

 

Quick TCM Tip for Headaches:

Acupressure can help relieve Qi stagnation and heal headaches effectively. Next time you’re battling a headache, try Energy Gate No. 1, one of the powerful Four Energy Gates, a special healing protocol developed by Grand Master Lu.

Join Us for Liver Qi Enhancement: March 20-30, 2022

Spring has sprung, and with it Liver Qi is on the rise! Many people experience headaches and allergy symptoms as the seasons transition. Learn to flow harmoniously with Nature and get your Qi moving in our upcoming Liver Qi Enhancement. In this 10-day journey, Grand Master Lu will challenge all participants to reach new levels of health and healing. Save the date! Registration will open soon!