Sides of the Head
This area corresponds to the Gall-Bladder channel and a headache here is most frequently due to
Liver-Yang, Liver-fire or Liver-Wind rising (Figure 1.7(64)). This headache is sharp and
throbbing in character.
One Side Only
This area also corresponds to the Gall-Bladder channel and a headache here is also due to either
Liver-Yang or Liver-Fire rising. It is said in Chinese Medicine that a headache on the left side is
more likely to result from a Deficiency and one on the right side to result from an Excess, but
this is by no means a completely reliable rule.
Temples
This area also corresponds to the Gall-Bladder channel and a headache most frequently affects
one side only. This headache is usually due to Liver-Yang, Liver-Fire or Liver-Wind rising and
is throbbing in character (Figure 1.8(65)).
Behind the Eyes
This is a very frequent location for migraine. The headache is due to Liver-Blood deficiency if
the pain is dull, or to Liver-Yang rising if the pain is sharp and severe.
Forehead
Headaches in this area are usually related to the Stomach. They can indicate either Stomach
deficiency if the pain is dull or Stomach-Heat if it is sharp.
A very frequent cause of frontal headaches is either Dampness or Phlegm being retained in the
head and preventing the clear Yang from ascending to the head to brighten the sense orifices. For
this reason this type of headache is associated with a heavy sensation of the head, a muzzy
feeling of the head, and a lack of concentration. If Phlegm is causing the headache the person
will also experience dizziness and blurred vision.
In a few cases, frontal headaches can be due to a residual pathogenic factor, such as external
Wind, which has not been expelled after an invasion of exterior Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat.