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Tension-Type Headaches

What is Tension-Type Headaches?

Tension-type headaches, the most common form of headache, are characterized by a dull, aching pain and a sensation of tightness or pressure across the forehead or on the sides and back of the head. Often compared to the feeling of a tight band around the head, they can also be accompanied by tenderness on the scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles. These headaches may be episodic or chronic and are frequently attributed to stress or muscular tension.

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How Does TCM View Tension-Type Headaches?

From the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) standpoint, tension-type headaches are seen as a disturbance in the harmonious balance of the body's vital energies. TCM does not isolate the headache but considers it a symptom of an underlying imbalance, often involving the stagnation of Qi (energy) or Blood. Identifying and correcting the specific pattern of disharmony through an individualized assessment is vital for effective treatment in TCM.

Causes of Tension-Type Headaches According to TCM

Within the framework of TCM, tension-type headaches are typically linked to the disruption of the body's natural flow due to pathogenic influences such as Exterior Wind or Damp-Wind.

Example: If you ever eaten icecream or slipped slurpee, you may have experienced often called brain freeze. That is the internal cold in the spleen/stomach.

  • Exterior Wind: This concept refers to an external factor that impedes the flow of Qi, manifesting in symptoms like headaches and muscle stiffness.

  • Damp-Wind: Associated with feelings of heaviness, it can lead to a dull, persistent headache often accompanied by a sense of fullness in the head.

TCM practitioners focus on these patterns to understand the root of the headache, looking beyond the symptoms to restore inner harmony.

TCM Herbal Formulas for Tension-Type Headaches

For tension-type headaches linked to different patterns, TCM practitioners use specific herbal formulas:

The approach in TCM is to select a remedy that not only eases the headache but also addresses the climatic imbalances affecting the body.

  • For Exterior Wind:

    • Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San: This blend, anchored by the efficacy of Szechuan Lovage Roots, is designed to disperse Wind from the head, alleviate the pressure, and restore the free flow of Qi.

  • For Damp-Wind:

    • Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang: This formula uses Notopterygium Roots to expel the Dampness and Wind, relieving the head and body of the weighty sensation.

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