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Headache

How Chinese medicine differentiates headache, the six patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. A sudden, severe ("thunderclap") headache, or a headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, or following a head injury, needs urgent medical evaluation, not acupuncture first.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for headache — 13 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
LIV-3Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
G.B.-20Expels exterior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, clears Heat, benefits the head.
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel.
LU-7Releases the Exterior, expels exterior Wind, benefits the head and neck.
Du-14Clears Heat, releases the Exterior, expels exterior Wind.
Taiyang (extra point)Clears Liver-Fire, used for temporal headaches. (Not part of the 12 channels — no dedicated location page on this site.)
ST-40Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, opens the chest, subdues rebellious Qi.
Du-20Extinguishes interior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, benefits the Brain.
Ren-12Tonifies Stomach and Spleen, regulates Stomach-Qi.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Essence.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
KI-6Nourishes Kidney-Yin, benefits the eyes, calms the Mind.
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
The Six Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.

1. Liver-Yang Rising View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Throbbing or distending pain at the temples or top of the head; brought on by stress, anger, alcohol, spicy food, overwork, lack of sleep, hot environments, or the premenstrual phase; eased by rest, quiet, a cool compress, a dark room, gentle neck stretches, or meditation.
Tongue: Red body, Redder at the sides, thin dry yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry, Forceful.
Treatment principle: Subdue Liver-Yang, extinguish Wind.
LIV-3 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓
Note: no moxa.

2. Wind-Cold View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Band-like or tight headache; brought on by cold or wind exposure, or cold drinks; eased by a warm compress, warm drinks, a warm room, or covering the head and neck.
Tongue: Normal or slightly Pale body, thin white moist coating. Pulse: Floating, Tight.
Treatment principle: Release the Exterior, expel Wind-Cold.
G.B.-20 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ LU-7 ↓
Note: moxa applicable.

3. Wind-Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Distending headache with fever, sore throat, and thirst; brought on by windy or hot weather, spicy or greasy food, or overexertion; eased by rest, a cool environment, water, or bland food.
Tongue: Red tip and edges, thin yellow coating. Pulse: Floating, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Release the Exterior, expel Wind-Heat.
L.I.-4 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ Du-14 ↓ Taiyang ↓
Note: no moxa.

4. Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing headache that doesn't move, worse at night; brought on by cold weather, prolonged inactivity, or pressure on the head; eased by gentle movement, a warm compress, or blood-moving spices.
Tongue: Dark Purple or dusky body with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Choppy, Rough.
Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, resolve stasis.
L.I.-4 ↓ LIV-3 ↓ Taiyang ↓
Note: no moxa.

5. Phlegm in the Channels

Clinical manifestations: A heavy, foggy, pressure-like headache with dizziness and nausea; brought on by damp weather, greasy, sweet or cold food, a sedentary lifestyle, or overthinking; eased by light exercise, dry warm weather, warm cooked food, or ginger tea.
Tongue: Purple body with stasis spots, white greasy coating. Pulse: Wiry, Slippery.
Treatment principle: Resolve Phlegm, unblock the channels.
ST-40 ↓ Du-20 ↓ Ren-12 ↓ LIV-3 ↓

6. Empty-Heat from Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A dull, empty headache worse in the afternoon or evening, with night sweats and heat in the palms and soles; brought on by staying up late, spicy or greasy food, stress, or hot environments; eased by adequate sleep, a cool environment, or moistening food such as pear, lily bulb, or black sesame.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry body with cracks, little or no coating. Pulse: Fine, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin, clear Empty-Heat.
KI-3 ↑ SP-6 ↑ KI-6 ↑ BL-23 ↑
Note: no moxa.
Related conditions
Liver Patterns Deck Lung Patterns Deck Kidney Patterns Deck

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Acupuncture-only reference — structure adapted (not text) from how other condition-lookup sites organize this kind of content. Let us know what to add or change.