Blood Deficiency
This headache is due to deficient Blood failing to reach the head and nourish the brain. It is
slightly more severe in nature than the Qi-deficiency headache. It typically affects the top of the
head and is related to Blood deficiency of the Liver or Heart. It is often worse in the afternoon or
evening and is accompanied by poor memory and lack of concentration. In women, it often
occurs at the end of the period, as the temporary blood loss aggravates the Blood deficiency.
This headache is also better lying down.
Treatment Principle
Nourish Blood, tonify and raise Qi.
Acupuncture
General Prescription
ST-36 Zusanli, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, BL-20 Pishu, LIV-8 Ququan, Ren-4 Guanyuan, Du-20 Baihui,
BL-15 Xinshu. Tonifying method on all points.
Explanation
- ST-36, SP-6 and BL-20 nourish Blood and tonify Qi.
- LIV-8 nourishes Liver-Blood.
- Ren-4 nourishes Blood.
- Du-20 raises Qi.
- HE-5 nourishes Heart-Blood. It is necessary to tonify Heart-Blood as deficient
Heart-Blood not reaching the head is often a feature of this type of headache.
Other Points
- BL-20 Pishu and BL-18 Ganshu in combination nourish Liver-Blood.
- Yuyao is indicated as a local point if the headaches occur behind the eyes.
Herbal Treatment