Chinese Herbal and Acupuncture Treatment Protocols for Headache - Formulas, Protocols, TCM Diagnoses

• Nausea with possible vomitting from combination of damp with liver qi stagnation causing rebellious qi.
• Dizziness, migraines, and vertigo from damp and liver wind rising.
• Heavy or oppressed sensation of the chest.

This formula should not be used to treat dizziness or vertigo due to liver yang rising patterns.

• Headaches, primarily from wind-cold (but used with wind-heat/wind-damp), with neck stiffness, muscle aches and/or nasal discharge.
• In certain cases may be useful for migraines, frequent headaches - particularly when they are influenced by cold weather and/or changing from warm to cold environments.
• Rhinitis, sinusitis.

• Use only with direction during pregnancy.
• Avoid in cases of headache from liver yang rising or deficiencies of qi and/or blood.

• Common cold and flu patterns, particularly at the early stages.
• Can be used in lie of actual bacterial or viral infection as long as flu or cold like symptoms are manifest.

• A combination of jia wei xiao yao wan and gui pi wan - similar effects but with more spleen qi and blood tonification.
• A range of stress related issues - essentially mixes of stagnation with underlying deficiencies.
• Potential uses with immune / idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and other bruising/bleeding issues with appropriate diagnostic factors.

• Derived from the base formula, xiao yao wan, an important formula for liver qi stagnation with herbs added to clear heat.
• Liver qi stagnation - menstrual issues, painful cycles, irregular cycles, breast distention, PMS, acne.
• A range of mild to moderate psychological issues arising from liver qi stagnation such as anxiety, depression, panic disorder, insomnia, anger issues, etc.
• Physical symptoms from liver qi stagnation such as headaches, tightness in the chest, cold hands and feet, various eye issues.

• Hypochondriac pain, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, easily angered, headache, dizziness, red, and possibly sore, eyes resulting from liver fire rising.
• Urinary symptoms such as painful, hot urination perhaps with swollen genitalia, dark and/or turbid urine from damp heat accumulation in the lower jiao.
• Leukorrhea of yellow color with a strong odor.

• Not for long term use.
• Not for patients who present with yin, yang, and/or blood deficiency.
• Use with caution with patients that present with spleen qi deficiency.

• Headaches and/or migraines caused by liver yang or liver fire rising.

• Sinus issues arising from damp-heat pattern in Chinese Medicine - yellow and sticky discharge, sinusitis, rhinitis acute or chronic.
• Sinus headache, decreased olfactory sense.  

• Headaches, vertigo, dizziness, tinnitis, floaters or blurry vision, insomnia as a result of liver yang rising. 
• Siezures, spasms, convulsions or other types of involuntary muscle activity due to liver wind.

• Use with caution with patients presenting with yin deficiency.

• Blood stagnation particularly in the head - migraines and/or headaches with other sensory factors - auras, sound sensitivity, etc.
• Dizziness, tinnitus, hair loss - with underlying blood stagnation signs.
• Stroke, seizure disorder, post concussion headaches.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.

• Avoid during pregnancy.
• Avoid with heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Use only under direction if you are taking blood thinners.
• Generally not for long term use.

• Depression, anxiety, loss of motivation - resulting from liver qi stagnation.
• Fatigue, bloating, changes in appetite from the combination of spleen qi deficiency with liver qi stagnation.
• PMS, breast distention, irregular menstruation and in some cases infertility.

• Use with caution during pregnancy.

Signs of damp-heat with interior clumping which may settle into the abdominal region and/or rise upward to the head.  Fever, irritability, red eyes, constipation, dark urine, flushed face - middle warmer issues - jaundice, dysentery, tongue/mouth ulcers.

Pulse will be be wiry and rapid and the Tongue will be red, swollen with a yellow greasy tongue coating.

• Colds and/or allergies with heat signs (yellow mucus and/or fever, etc.).
• Chronic sinus congestions / issues, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, loss of smell.
• Nasal polyps with the right underlying factors.
• Difficult to resolve sinus issues with thick, sticky mucus.
• Headaches from sinus congestion.

• May not be appropriate with heat signs from lung yin deficiency.

• Colds and/or allergies with cold signs (white mucus and/or no fever, etc.).
• Chronic sinus congestions / issues, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, loss of smell.
• Headaches from sinus congestion.

• Avoid in patients with heat signs.

• Qi and Blood stagnation - pain, cardiovascular issues, physical organ issues.
• Coronary artery disease, angina and other cardiovascular issues.
• Hepatitis and other liver function issues.
• Migraines, headaches, neuralgia from most causes.
• A range of menstrual issues including dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroids - particularly with pain and/or bleeding.
• Certain diagnostic types of psychological illness, schizophrenia, bipolar, chronic depression, etc.

• Avoid during pregnancy.
• Avoid with heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Use only under direction if you are taking blood thinners.
• Generally not for long term use.