Headache Locations
According to Chinese medicine, there are many different reasons for a headache, including emotions like anger and fear, physical overwork, incorrect diet and excessive sex, or climatic conditions like Wind and Dampness, which are considered ‘external pathogens’.
Many meridians travel to the head. The Urinary Bladder meridian starts between the eyes and travels over the head and down the spine.
The Gall Bladder meridian starts beside the eye and the Stomach meridian starts below the eye. The Triple Burner meridian ends beside the eyebrow. The Large Intestine meridian travels across the jaw and ends beside the nose. Internally the Liver and Heart meridians travel to the eyes. The site of the headache gives an indication of which meridian may be the cause of the problem.
Headache on Top of the Head
A headache on the top of the head corresponds to the Liver meridian and is often caused by suppressed anger and irritability. The headache is a dull pain, and a person will probably feel better if they lie down. From a Western medical perspective, a headache in this area and the back of the head on the occiput could be due to hypertension – high blood pressure
Forehead Headache
A headache on the forehead is usually related to the Stomach and Large Intestine. This type of headache has a heavy muzzy sensation because it is often caused by retention of Dampness or Phlegm.
Sinus Headache
A headache from sinusitis is located on the face. The nose is stuffy, there is thick yellow discharge, a feeling of muzziness, and local tenderness over the various sinuses.
Temple Headache
A headache on the temple usually corresponds to the Gall Bladder meridian, and frequently only affects one side of the head. This type of headache is often sharp and throbbing in character
Occipital Headache
Occipital headaches are very often due to Wind-Cold blocking the flow of Qi in the meridians and causing shoulder and neck tension. This headache is related to the Urinary Bladder meridian and there will be great stiffness in the back and neck as well.
Headache on the Whole Head
Chronic headaches in the entire head are due to a Kidney-Essence deficiency. Kidney-Essence nourishes the brain and when it is deficient, the brain lacks nourishment. This can result in a dull ache and a feeling of emptiness. Acute headaches affecting the whole head are due to an invasion of external Wind. These headaches are severe and sharp.