Shaking of the head

Tremor or wobbling of the head that the patient cannot control. There are repletion and vacuity patterns.

Repletion patterns usually take the form of mutual exacerbation of wind and fire or liver wind stemming from yáng brightness (yáng míng) repletion heat; signs include sudden shaking of the head, dizziness, deafness, stiff painful neck, and in some cases high fever, vexation and agitation, and abdominal pain and constipation.

Medicinal therapy: Calm the liver and extinguish wind; drain fire and clear heat.

Vacuity patterns mostly arise when insufficiency of the liver and kidney in old age or to vacuity weakness after enduring disease stirs internal vacuity wind. They are characterized by enduring tremor of the head with other vacuity signs.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the liver and kidney; boost qì and blood; support the right and extinguish wind.