Liver reversal headache

Also reversal headache. Headache attributed to disturbance of liver qì. Distinction is made between liver counterflow headache and reverting yīn (jué yīn) headache.

Patterns

Liver counterflow headache (肝逆头痛 gān nì tóu tòng) occurs when anger damages the liver causing liver qì to rise counterflow to the head. The pain is more pronounced on the left side of the head, and there may also be rib-side pain.

Medicinal therapy: Course the liver and downbear counterflow. Use Aquilaria Qì-Downbearing Decoction (沉香降气汤 chén xiāng jiàng qì tāng), Perilla Seed Qì-Downbearing Decoction (苏子降气汤 sū zǐ jiàng qì tāng), or Minor Bupleurum Decoction (小柴胡汤 xiǎo chái hú tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on GB, LR, and GV. Select GV-20 (Hundred Convergences, 百会 bǎi huì), GB-20 (Wind Pool, 风池 fēng chí), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), and LR-1 (Large Pile, 大敦 dà dūn); needle with drainage.

Reverting yīn (jué yīn) headache (厥阴头痛 jué yīn tóu tòng) occurs in patients ordinarily suffering from stomach qì vacuity, when upsurge of liver qì carries with it cold turbidity qì from the stomach. The pain is at the vertex and is accompanied by reversal cold of the limbs, and vomiting of drool and foam. See reverting yīn (jué yīn) headache (1).