Pian Tou Tong Wan - Migraine Pills - TCM Herbal Formula

Chinese Name: Pian Tou Tong Wan
English Name: Migraine Pills

Formula Category


  • Harmonize
  • Regulate and Harmonize the Liver and Spleen

Clinical Usage and Indications

Coming Soon...

Related TCM Diagnostic Patterns


Staff Clinician Notes:

There are no staff notes at this time.

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Cautions and Contraindications:

None at this time.  As always consult with an acupuncturist/herbalist before use.

Related Western Medical Conditions:


Individual Chinese Herbs In This Formula:


  • Bai Zhi
  • Herb Functions
    • Expels wind-cold, dampness
    • Opens nasal passages, sinus congestion (particularly with green discharge), alleviates pain (especially in the head region)
    • Resolve wind-cold symptoms especially with headaches (yangming - ST), supraorbital pain, congestion
    • Useful for swollen gums and toothache

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid in Yin/Blood deficiency
    • Avoid in Heat in the Blood

  • Bo He
  • Herb Functions
    • Expels wind heat particularly from the head region - fever, headaches, red eyes, cough, sore throat.
    • Vents rashes - accelerates the activity of rashes towards the surface to quicken healing.
    • Resolves LV Qi Stagnation - emotional issues, PMS, menstrual issues, pressure in chest or sides of body.

  • Contraindications
    • May contribute to insufficient lactation in nursing mothers
    • Avoid excessive sweating/use in weak patients or those who sweat easily
    • May injure yin, use caution in yin deficiency patients

  • Chuan Xiong
  • Herb Functions
    • Invigorate blood, promote movement of Qi - any blood stasis pattern, important for gynecological issues (amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, difficult labor, lochioschesis).
    • Expels wind and alleviates pain - headache (temporal, vertex), dizziness, painful obstructions, skin issues.
    • Headache - moves qi upward and alleviates pain; headaches due to wind, heat, cold, blood deficiency.

  • Dang Gui
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonifies the blood, regulates menses - pallid, ashen complexion, tinnitus, blurred vision, palpitations, irregular menses, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea.
    • Invigorates/harmonizes the blood, disperses cold - important herb to stop pain due to blood stasis - abdominal pain, trauma, carbuncles due to blood stasis, chronic bi.
    • Moistens dry intestines due to blood deficiency.
    • Reduces swellings, expels pus, generates flesh - sores.

  • Du Huo
  • Herb Functions
    • Dispels wind-cold-damp - bi syndromes, especially lower back and legs (acute/chronic).
    • Shao yin stage headache and toothache.

  • Fang Feng
  • Herb Functions
    • Releases exterior, expel wind-cold (headache, chills, body ache)
    • Bi-Syndromes, Wind-Damp, alleviates pain, relieves spasms (not very strong, only as a supporting herb)
    • Trembling hands and/or feet
    • Spleen/Liver intestinal issues - painful diarrhea, bright blood in stool
    • Migraines

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid in Yin Deficiency - Empty Heat
    • Avoid in spasms from Blood Deficiency

  • Gao Ben
  • Herb Functions
    • Expels wind-cold, vertex headaches (teeth/jaw pain)
    • Dispels wind and dampness - useful for wind-cold-damp bi-syndromes and/or acute lower back pain from wind cold
    • Resolve dampness effecting stomach/spleen

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid in Blood and/or Yin Deficiency

    • Man Jing Zi
    • Herb Functions
      • Disperses wind, clears heat - wind-heat especially with headache or eye pain.
      • Wind-heat in the liver channel - excessive tearing, red-painful-swollen eyes, floaters.
      • Drains damp, expels wind - supporting herb for stiff, numb, cramping, and/or heavy limbs.

    • Contraindications
      • Avoid in cases of Stomach Qi Deficiency.
      • Avoid in headaches or eye problems that arise from yin/blood deficient heat.

    • Qiang Huo
    • Herb Functions
      • Release exterior, disperse cold - useful with wind-cold and damp associated body/joint pain
      • Guiding herb for the GV and Tai Yang Channels

    • Contraindications
      • Avoid in Blood and/or Yin Deficiency
      • Avoid with Exterior Deficiency

      • Wang Bu Liu Xing
      • Herb Functions
        • Invigorate blood and channels - upper body - promote lactation, lower body - unblocks menses, amenorrhea due to blood stasis.
        • Swelling - breast or testicular swellings with pain.

      • Contraindications
        • Avoid During Pregnancy