Distending sensation in the head
The head develops a distending sensation, which may feel like the head is splitting in serious cases. This is a usual complaint among headache sufferers. In TCM, headache with a distending feeling is usually resulted from abundant qi and blood flowing into the head region that lead to localized stagnation, and disturb the head orifices. The usual disharmony patterns are:
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TCM disharmony patterns |
Headache manifestations |
Therapeutic principles |
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Invasion of wind-heat |
Headaches with a distending, or even a splitting sensation, accompanied by fever, aversion to wind blowing, thirst, flushed face, bloodshot eyes, a red tongue covered by yellow coating, floating and rapid pulse |
Disperse wind and clear heat |
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Up-bearing of liver yang |
A distending feeling in the head, accompanied by dizziness, ear ringing, numbness and tingling of the limbs, insomnia, lumbar soreness, knee weakness, flushed face, a red tongue with yellow coating, taut and rapid pulse. The symptoms are aggravated by fatigue or emotional stress |
Calm the liver, subdue yang, nourish the kidney and liver |
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Flaming up of liver fire |
A distending feeling in the head, or more severe like the head is splitting, accompanied by bloodshot eyes, bitter sense in the mouth, lower chest discomfort, irritability, dream-disturbed sleep, a red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, taut and rapid pulse |
Purge liver fire, clear heat and eliminate dampness |
