Headache Connections
Below you will find various relationships to the concept of and potential clinical approaches for headache. It is critical to appreciate that in Chinese Medicine (and most related systems), treatment for "headache" is rarely designed with the resulting "headache" exclusively in mind.
For non-practitioners, we recommend reading treating the "cause" and not the "symptoms" for more on the overall approach and the importance of the TCM diagnostic system in formulating treatment approaches.
Associated Content, Writings and Products
Some acupuncture points are considered "empirically" related to a specific condition or diagnostic pattern. While this would rarely, if ever, dictate the entire composition of a treatment, the following points should be considered, possibly even more so within the context of acupressure:
EX Huatuojiaji at C1 (Sides of Spine at C1)
.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous processes…
C1 innervates the top of the head and is an important junct…
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KD 1 (Gushing Spring)
On sole, in depression with foot in plantar flexion, at the…
Descends excess from above, useful for LV Yang Rising or LV…
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KD 3 (Great Ravine)
In depression midway between the tip of the medial malleolu…
Tonify KD Qi, Yin or Yang Deficiencies from any etiology.
…
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LI 4 (Union Valley)
In the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.
Releases the exterior for wind-cold or wind-heat syndromes
…
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LI 8 (Lower Ridge)
4 cun below LI 11 on the LI 5 to LI 11 line.
The following relationships exist between the ST and the LI…
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PC 1 (Celestial Pool)
1 cun lateral to the nipple in the 4th ICS.
Window of the Sky Point, opens the chest - fullness, counte…
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SI 1 (Lesser Marsh)
.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail on the ulnar sid…
Breast disorders of any etiology, insufficient lactation, m…
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SI 2 (Front Valley)
When a loose fist is made, at the ulnar end of the crease, …
Local point for pain, swelling, numbness of the fingers. A…
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SI 3 (Back Ravine)
When a loose fist is made, at the ulnar end of the distal p…
Master Point of the GV, effects entire pathway.
Pain in th…
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SI 4 (Wrist Bone)
On the ulnar side of the palm in a depression between the b…
Local point for shoulder, arm, hand and wrist problems part…
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SI 17 (Celestial Countenance)
Posterior to the angle of the mandible in a depression on t…
Both SI 16 & SI 17 are Window of the Sky Points and are…
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ST 8 (Head Corner)
Directly above ST 7, .5 cun within the anterior hairline at…
Classically mentioned for "splitting headache; headache w/n…
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ST 9 (Man's Prognosis)
Level with the tip of the Adam's Apple on the anterior bord…
In ancient times the ST Qi was assessed by palpating the pu…
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ST 40 (Beautiful Bulge)
8 cun below ST 35, one finger width lateral to ST 38, two f…
Empirical point to resolve phlegm in the body anywhere from…
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ST 41 (Ravine Divide)
On the midpoint of the transverse crease of the ankle, appr…
Opposite end of channel issues (i.e. head/face) - swelling,…
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ST 45 (Severe Mouth)
.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail on the lateral s…
Release heat a/or move stagnation from the channel and orga…
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UB 2 (Bamboo Gathering)
On the medial end of the eyebrow, directly above the inner …
Local point for sinus congestion a/or headache.
Red, itchy…
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UB 3 (Eyebrow Ascension)
.5 cun inside the anterior hairline, directly above UB 2, b…
Local point for headaches, nasal obstruction.
Epilepsy, ag…
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UB 4 (Deviating Turn)
1.5 cun lateral to GV 24, or .5 cun inside the AHL at the j…
Local point for headache and/or nasal issues.
Headaches, p…
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UB 5 (Fifth Place)
.5 cun behind UB 4 or 1 cun above the AHL and 1.5 cun later…
Local point for headache and/or eye pain.
Epilepsy, yang a…
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UB 6 (Light Guard)
1.5 cun posterior to UB 5 or 2.5 cun above AHL and 1.5 cun …
Local point generally for headaches and vision issues - cle…
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UB 7 (Celestial Connection)
1.5 cun posterior to UB 6 or 4 cun above the AHL and 1.5 cu…
Clear wind and resolve the exterior - important point for s…
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UB 9 (Jade Pillow)
1.3 cun lateral to GV 17 or 2.5 cun above the PHL, 1.3 cun …
Expels wind-cold - nasal congestion, chills and fever, head…
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UB 11 (Great Shuttle)
1.5 cun lateral to GV 13, level with T1.
Wind disorders.
Hui-meeting point of the bones, useful wit…
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UB 12 (Wind Gate)
1.5 cun lateral to GV line, level with T2.
Main point to expel wind from the Wei Qi level of the body,…
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UB 22 (Triple Burner Shu)
1.5 cun lateral to GV 5, level with L1.
As Triple Heater Shu this point effects conditions related …
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The Tom Tam/Tong Ren Therapy system can be applied via energy healing/medical qi gong methods as well as an acupuncture component. The acupuncture aspect is generally utilized in combination with more standard TCM diagnostic approaches. For the specific points/areas that would generally be utilized in someone experiencing "headache", please read "Tam Healing and Tong Ren Therapy for Headaches ".