In Chinese medicine, there are a number of patterns that can cause the occurrence of migraines. Most of these have to do with the Liver and Gallbladder system. In Chinese medicine, these systems relate to how we deal with anger, frustration, and stress in our lives.

In Chinese medicine, we treat the Liver and Gallbladder system for conditions of this sort. Our liver processes the body’s toxins. Stress, tension, and anger can be considered to be toxins that continue to influence our body and our mind if they are not processed properly. The meridian or channel that relates to the Gallbladder runs along some of the areas that are the most prone to tension in the body.

The Gallbladder meridian runs along the temples, around the head to the back of the neck, to the shoulders, along the side of the body to the hip area, along the side of the leg to the fourth toe. We often store tension in the Gallbladder meridian. Our neck and shoulders get tight. Our temples throb. Some people get sciatica from tightness in their hips. Treatment of acupuncture points along the Gallbladder meridian is often useful in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines.

A number of patterns can result in migraines. The first is a pattern of Blood Deficiency. The theory is that the person’s circulation is poor due to low energy and poor nutrition, along with depletion of the body’s resources. This depletion can be due to stress or anxiety. Blood Deficiency results in poor circulation to the area of the head resulting in migraines. Some of the symptoms associated with this type of migraine would include one or more of the following: poor vision, dizziness when standing up from a sitting position, insomnia or fitful dream disturbed sleep, tiredness, a pale complexion, and heart palpitations. A Chinese patent medicine called Ba Zhen Wan (pronounced bah jen wahn), or “Eight Precious Pill” can be useful for treating headaches due to this pattern.

Another pattern that can result in migraines is called Liver Fire Rising, and certainly this phrase is an apt description of the intensity of pain that a migraine can cause for those who suffer from this condition. People who suffer from this condition often have a fiery temperament. They can be irritable, have a flushed complexion, and they may eat a lot of spicy food. Their migraines can be very intense with flashing lights in the eyes. Their pulse is rapid and their tongue would be red rather than a pale pink. A patent formula called Long Dan Xie Gan Wan (pronounced lung dahn shyeh gahn wahn) or Gentiana Drain the Liver Pill can be useful for this pattern.

Another common pattern, one that I see in most of my migraine patients, is that of Liver Yang Rising. The idea behind this pattern is that the Liver can get depleted from processing toxins, including emotional toxins. When this occurs, the restful, nourishing, yin energy of the body gets depleted. The yin energy normally roots the more active kinetic yang energy of the body. When the yin energy gets depleted, the yang energy rises up and disturbs the head, causing a migraine. This pattern can also be present in people who have headaches related to high blood pressure. An excellent herb for this is Tian Ma (pronounced tyen mah) or gastrodia. This herb is found in an herbal remedy called Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin. A ready made patent that is similar is called Tian Ma Qu Feng Bu Pian, or Gastrodia Expelling Wind and Tonifying Tablet.

I have seen many migraine sufferers in the clinic I worked at for two years, and I saw most of them experience significant reductions in the severity and frequency of their migraines during a course of treatment with acupuncture and herbs. Chinese medicine can be very useful in the treatment of migraines and it can potentially alleviate a great deal of suffering for the patient.