A hereditary Lung weakness in a child may manifest with a tendency to catching colds and
respiratory infections, whooping cough, asthma, eczema, pale complexion, a thin chest and a
pulse in both Front positions which when felt is more medial and running upwards towards the
thumb (Figure 1.1(53)).
A hereditary Heart weakness in a child may manifest with dream-disturbed sleep, nervousness
and a relatively deep midline crack on the tongue. Young children (under 3) may wake up crying
at night. In such cases, the headaches are usually on the forehead or in the whole head.
The condition of the mother during the pregnancy can affect the foetus. For example, an accident
to the mother can cause headaches for the child. A shock during pregnancy can also cause a child
to suffer headaches deriving from Heart deficiency. This will also manifest with a bluish tinge on
the child's forehead and chin.
Emotions
Emotional causes of disease are of course extremely frequent causes of headaches.
Anger
Many different emotions fall under the broad term of "anger" in Chinese Medicine. These are
frustration, resentment and pent-up grudges. All these cause the rising of Liver-Yang or
Liver-Fire. Among the emotional causes of headaches this is by far the most common one. It will
give rise to headaches from Liver-Yang rising or Liver-Fire blazing. These headaches are
typically situated on the Gall-Bladder channel on the temple or side of the head.
Worry
Worrying excessively knots Qi, in particular Lung and Heart Qi. This is often an indirect cause
of headaches as the deficiency of Lung-Qi (Metal in the 5-Element model) may allow
Liver-Yang to rise (Wood in the 5-Element model) and cause headaches.
Worry may also be a direct cause of headaches, which are usually situated on the forehead or the
top of the head, and are dull in character.
Fear
A chronic state of anxiety and fear depletes the Kidneys and causes headaches either directly
from Kidney deficiency (in this case affecting the whole head) or indirectly when the Kidney