Headaches and Migraines

Most people will experience headaches some time in their life.

The most common types of headaches people suffer from, also known as primary headaches are: tension headaches, migraines, sinus headaches, and cluster headaches.

Also common are headaches that occur after traumas or accidents.

Other headaches can be associated with specific serious medical conditions.

From a western medical prospective, the causes of headache are in most cases prolonged tension, stress, staying in one position for a long time, and other postural issues.

There is no clear understanding of the actual physiological mechanism that leads to the head pain, in the medical module. Theories refers to a possible contraction of muscle on the skull, tension of muscle at the neck and shoulder, and more.

In migraines we know that there is a vasodilatation period of major blood vessels inside the brain itself, many time preceded by a period of vasoconstriction.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we know that all pain is somewhat related to the Liver/GB system, as one of this systems function is promoting free circulation of Qi (energy) and blood through the body.

Not all headaches are directly related to the Liver/GB system. Headaches in different parts of the head relate to different organ systems, and through this we can see that they have different causes.

The most common places people experience headaches are at the temples, around the eyes, and in the back of the neck.

Temple headaches, and pain around the eyes are mostly caused by constriction of Qi (energy).

A condition caused by blockage of the free flow of the energy in the Liver/GB channels, and more specific in the GB channel around the head, this kind of headache is temporary, it comes and goes, usually not severe. The cause for these kind of headaches are mostly tension, stress and other emotional strain.

The best treatment for these headaches is Acupuncture, the results are usually fast and the relief is long-term.

Neck headaches are experienced by people with posture problems, people that spend long hours by a computer, people that have had accidents (whiplashes) and other traumas, also at the onset of cold and flu.

Migraines headaches are directly related to stress and diet, but can arise from many other reasons.

Neck headaches are experienced by people with posture problems, people that spend long hours by a computer, people that have had accidents (whiplashes) and other traumas, also at the onset of cold and flu.

Migraine headaches are directly related to stress and diet, but can arise from many other reasons.

The mechanism that leads to migraine is not completely clear.

In TCM we usually refer to migraine as a possible symptoms of a condition called “Liver yang goes up.” This is a condition that involves internal heat in the body, effecting the Liver system, and creating an imbalance between Yin and Yang, where the Yang energy moves up and create a strong and debilitating headache around the temples and behind the eyes, usually happened at one side at a time.

The pain could last hours or days and the suffering person might be extremely sensitive to noise and light.

The best treatment for headache is Acupuncture. In migraine and some other long term chronic headaches, or with heavy stress, I use herbal remedies as well.

I use Ear Acupuncture for immediate relief, with very successful results.

Dr. Eyal Lebel is both a Dr.of TCM, Acupuncture, as well as a Master herbalist of “western herbal remedies” in Vancouver, BC.