Heavy Sensation in the Head

How Chinese medicine differentiates a heavy, wrapped feeling in the head into the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's Head Fog and Headache pages. 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. Head heaviness with sudden severe headache, vision or speech change, or persistent high blood pressure needs medical assessment.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for a heavy sensation in the head — 3 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
DU-20	Extinguishes interior Wind. Subdues Liver-Yang. Raises Yang.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Original Qi.
ST-40	Resolves Phlegm and Dampness. Opens the chest and subdues rebellious Qi. Promotes the descending of Lung-Qi and stops cough.

The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle Burner

Clinical manifestations: Head feels wrapped; bloating after eating; poor appetite; nausea; sluggish body.

Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked, thick greasy white coat. Pulse: Slippery, often soggy or slow.

Treatment principle: Dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, strengthens the Spleen and lifts clear Yang.

ST-36 ↑ ST-40 ↓ REN-12 ↑ DU-20 ↑

Note: This site's decks have no Phlegm-Dampness-in-the-Middle-Burner slide — no pattern link is given here.

2. Wind-Damp

Clinical manifestations: Heavy, wrapped head; body aches; shifting joint pain; worse in damp or windy weather; aversion to wind; stiff neck and shoulders; mild fever or chills.

Tongue: Normal or slightly pale, white greasy coat. Pulse: Floating, soggy, often slippery.

Treatment principle: Dispels Wind and drains Dampness from the surface channels.

G.B.-20 ↓ DU-20 ⊥ L.I.-4 ↓ SP-9 ↓

Note: No matching deck slide — no pattern link is given here.

3. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dull, non-sharp heaviness; worse with fatigue and prolonged standing; pale complexion and lips; dizziness; palpitations.

Tongue: Pale, thin or tooth-marked, thin white coat. Pulse: Fine and weak.

Treatment principle: Tonifies Qi and Blood, raises clear Yang and nourishes the head.

DU-20 ↑ ST-36 ↑ REN-6 ↑

Note: moxa is appropriate. No combined Qi-and-Blood-deficiency slide exists — no pattern link is given here.

4. Liver Yang Rising View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Distending, throbbing heaviness; irritability; flushed face and red eyes; sensation of heat rising; worse with stress and anger.

Tongue: Red, redder sides, thin dry yellow or scanty coat. Pulse: Wiry, possibly fine and rapid.

Treatment principle: Subdues Liver Yang, nourishes deficient Yin, clears Heat and calms internal Wind.

LIV-3 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓

Note: no moxa.

5. Spleen Deficiency with Dampness

Clinical manifestations: Heavy, muzzy, wrapped head; loose stools; bloating worse after eating; fatigue; body and limb heaviness; greasy mouth sensation.

Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked, white greasy moist coat. Pulse: Soggy and slow, weak, may be slippery.

Treatment principle: Strengthens the Spleen, drains Dampness and lifts clear Yang.

ST-36 ↑ SP-9 ↓ DU-20 ↑ ST-40 ↓

Note: Mixed Deficiency/Excess. No deck slide combines Spleen deficiency with Dampness — no pattern link is given here.

Related conditions

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