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Headache
头痛 (Tóu Tòng)
A Chinese medicine perspective — in everyday language
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In Chinese medicine, two people with “headaches” may be understood very differently.
Assessment looks at the whole picture — including constitution, lifestyle, emotional load, and physical patterns.
This understanding guides the choice of acupuncture points, herbal support, and other therapies.
These are always selected after a full individual assessment, rather than following a fixed protocol..
This overview is shared for education and understanding.
It does not replace medical diagnosis or care.
Persistent, severe, or changing headaches should always be assessed by a medical professional.
Common Headache Patterns
External Influence Patterns
“Something from outside has affected the system”
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These patterns relate to how external factors such as wind, cold, or heat affect the body.
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When the body is exposed or more sensitive, these influences can impact the head — often quite suddenly.
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They are commonly influenced by weather, environment, and changes in temperature.
What it may feel like:
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Sudden onset of headache
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Tight or aching pain, often at the back of the head or neck
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Sensitivity to wind, cold, or temperature changes
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Symptoms that change quickly or come and go
Often linked to:
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Exposure to wind, cold, or drafts
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Sudden weather changes
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Being underdressed or chilled
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Seasonal transitions
Deficiency & Fatigue Patterns
“A sense of low energy, depletion, or lack of support”
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These patterns tend to develop gradually over time.
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They reflect reduced energy, nourishment, or the body’s ability to sustain and recover.
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They are commonly influenced by long-term strain, overwork, or insufficient rest and recovery.
What it may feel like:
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Dull, persistent or background headache
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A sense of emptiness or weakness in the head
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Pain often worse with fatigue
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Symptoms that improve with rest
Often linked to:
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Ongoing fatigue or overexertion
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Lack of rest or recovery over time
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Insufficient nourishment (diet or lifestyle)
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Long periods of strain or depletion
Digestive & Internal Heat Patterns
“When heat or imbalance in digestion rises upward”
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These patterns relate to how digestion and internal heat are processed in the body.
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When heat builds or becomes unsettled, it can rise upward — often affecting the head and creating more intense or reactive symptoms.
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They are commonly influenced by diet, eating habits, and the balance between digestion and daily life over time.
What it may feel like:
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Frontal or temporal headache (sometimes one-sided)
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Throbbing, intense, or burning sensation
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Pain linked to food or digestion
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May worsen with stress or after eating
Often linked to:
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Rich, spicy, or greasy foods
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Alcohol, coffee, or stimulants
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Overeating or irregular meals
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Digestive imbalance and stress
Stress & Tension Patterns
“Pressure builds up”
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These patterns are linked to how energy (qi) moves in the body.
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When movement becomes constrained or rises upward, pressure can build — often affecting the head.
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They are commonly influenced by emotional strain, mental load, or the pace of daily life.
What it may feel like:
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Tight, band-like pressure around the head
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Pain at the temples or sides of the head
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Headaches that build gradually
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Tension in the neck, shoulders, or jaw
Often linked to:
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Stress, frustration, or emotional strain
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Long periods of concentration or screen use
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Difficulty switching off or relaxing
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Irregular rest or imbalance in daily rhythm
Heaviness & Congestion Patterns
“A sense of heaviness, fogginess, or blockage”
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These patterns are linked to how fluids and nourishment are processed in the body.
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When this becomes sluggish, heaviness and obstruction can develop — often affecting clarity.
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They are commonly influenced by digestion, eating habits, level of movement, and overall lifestyle over time.
What it may feel like:
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Dull, heavy, or foggy sensation in the head
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A feeling of pressure or fullness
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Cloudy thinking or reduced clarity
Often linked to:
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Digestive weakness or irregular eating habits
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Rich, heavy, or greasy foods over time
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Low energy or lack of movement
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Internal accumulation building gradually
Stagnation & Obstruction Patterns
“When movement becomes blocked or fixed”
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These patterns relate to how circulation and movement occur in the body.
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When movement becomes obstructed, pain may become fixed, intense, or persistent — often affecting a specific area of the head.
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They are commonly influenced by injury, long-term constraint, or stagnation over time.
What it may feel like:
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Fixed or localised headache
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Sharp, stabbing, or intense pain
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Pain that tends to recur in the same spot
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Symptoms that feel persistent or difficult to shift
Often linked to:
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Previous injury or trauma
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Long-term tension or stagnation
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Chronic or unresolved conditions
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Emotional or physical constraint over time
How are headaches understood?
In Chinese medicine, headaches are not seen as a single condition.
They are understood through patterns — looking at how the pain feels, where it appears, and what may be influencing it.
1. By quality of pain
The way the pain feels can offer useful clues. ・Dull or heavy → often linked to low energy or sluggish flow ・Tight or band-like → often linked to tension or pressure ・Throbbing or pounding → may relate to heat or rising activity ・Sharp or fixed → may reflect something more stuck or not moving well
2. By location
Where the pain appears can also give helpful insight. ・Front → often linked to digestion or sinus involvement ・Sides (temples) → often linked to stress or tension ・Back (neck/occiput) → may relate to posture, external factors, or fatigue ・Top → sometimes linked to deeper, long-term patterns
3. By triggers & timing
When headaches appear can be just as important as how they feel. ・During stress or emotional strain ・With fatigue or overwork ・After screen use or poor posture ・Influenced by food, hydration, or weather ・At certain times of day or hormonal phases