Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Migraine Headache and traditional Chinese medicine

Back in the year 2001 I started a site:

Migraine/Headache at http://www.lews.info/headache/".

This site aims to give a perspective of how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sees the problems of headache/migraine. You'll see what 'syndromes' mean to the diagnosis of proper causes, how 'symptoms' help in reaching the right conclusion, what 'channels' are responsible for a specific parts of headache, how migraine is classified in terms of TCM diagnostic methods, some of the case studies that illustrate real cases of headache/migraine, what specific herbs are for various types of headache/migraine. Further readings are provided if you're interested in some of the deep theories of TCM.

Below are the categories I started with:

Headache (general):
Headache: Causes and Mechanisms
Discussion on Endopathic/Internal Headache
Differentiative Diagnosis
Channels of Headache
Locations/Characteristics of Headache
Conclusion

Headache (Syndromes):
Hyperactivity of the Liver-yang
Deficiency of the Kidney-yin
Insufficiency of Kidney-yang
Deficiency of both Blood and Qi
Retention of Phlegm and Dampness
Blood Stasis

Headache (Symptoms):
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) (Liver-Jue) Headache
Low Blood Pressure (Hypo-tension) Headache
Headache due to Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) or Premenstrual Tension (PMT)
Headache due to Menopause (Climacteric Syndrome)

Migraine:
Migraine (Neuro-headache)
Modern understanding of the causes of migraine
Modern interpretation of the manifestations

Treatments According to Syndromes
S1: Wind-Heat type
S2: Wind-Phlegm type
S3: Qi Stagnation due to Liver-Fire type
S4: Jueyin Inner Cold type
S5: Blood deficiency
S6: Insufficiency of Qi

Migraine differentiation in accordance with symptoms
Type 1: Mono Type (Accumulation of Cold in the Liver Channel and Qi Stagnancy)
Type 2: Blinking Dim Spots Type (Three syndromes in TCM)
Type 3: Complex Light Spots Type (Accumulation of Cold in the Liver Channel and Qi Stagnancy)
Type 4: Cluster Type (Stagnancy of the Liver-Qi and Exterior Wind)

Case Study:
Headache due to Blood Stasis
Headache due to High Blood Pressure (Hyperactivity of the Liver-Yang)
Headache due to Loss of Blood
Headache due to Low Blood Pressure Type (Deficiency of both Qi and Blood)

Migraine: Mono Type (Accumulation of Cold in the Liver channel and Qi Stagnancy)
Migraine: Bush Type (Stagnancy of the Liver-Qi)
Migraine: Complex Light Spots Type (Stagnancy of the Liver-Qi)
Migraine (Wind-Cold Type due to Insufficiency of Kidney-Yang)

Specific Herbs:
藁本,GaoBen, Gao Ben, Ligusticum Sinense (Ligusticum Sinense Oliv.)
川芎,ChuanXiong, Chuan Xiong, Chuanxiong Rhizome (Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong)
白芷,BaiZhi, Bai Zhi, Dahurian Angelica Root (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae)
吴茱萸,WuZhuYu, Wu Zhu Yu, Evodia Fruit (Fructus Evodiae)
柴胡,ChaiHu, Chai Hu, Bupleurum Root (Radix Bupleuri)
细辛,Xixin, Xi Xin, Wild Genger (Herba Asari)
苍术,CangZhu, Cang Zhu, Atractylodes Rhizome (Rhizoma Atractylodis)
羌活,QiangHuo, Qiang Huo, Notopterygium Root (Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii)
防风,FangFeng, Fang Feng, Ledebouriella Root (Radix Ledebouriellae)

Resources:
"Zhang's Medical Comprehension", by Zhang Jing-Yue
"The Heart Law of Dan Xi", by Zhu Dan-Xi
"Medicine Narration", by Wang Ren-Yen
Manifestations of Headache, various contributors
The Causes of Migraine, various contributors
Links to other Migraine Headache sites

For more details please visit "http://www.lews.info/headache/"

4 comments:

The Runner, Dreamer, Observer, Seeker said...

You are so spot on, John! I've been suffering migraine again for the last few weeks.
Thank you for sharing this website.
Indeed, we are here on this planet to help one another, to learn lessons, to progress and move on..
Thanks!

John J. C. Lew said...

Dear the Runner, Dreamer, Observer, Seeker,

As usual, I'm always spot on. Ha. Just kidding. The site has been around since 2001. It's just the timing of reintroducing it seems spot on.

It's incredible how forgetful we human beings can be. Let's try to remember the time we were in wombs...

Cheers,
John Lew

Anonymous said...

Dear John,

Hi! Accidentally found your website. There are some interesting articles. I am still going thru.

Can U let us know which Eu Yan Sang clinic U are at?

Thanks!
S. Lee

John J. C. Lew said...

Dear S. Lee,

It's always a delightful feeling to have people interested in natural healing. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

Currently I'm with Eu Yan Sang TCM Clinic at Shaw Parade, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It's the headquarter and located two blocks behind Times Square at Bukit Bintang area.

You may call 60-3-21186800 for appointment with John Lew.

Have a nice day.

Regards,
John Lew

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