Migraine

How Chinese medicine differentiates migraine, the five 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 one with fever, stiff neck, confusion, vision loss, or weakness on one side, needs urgent medical evaluation, not acupuncture first.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for migraine — 20 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
G.B.-20	Expels exterior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, clears Heat, benefits the head.
Taiyang (extra point)	Clears Liver-Fire, used for temporal headaches. (Not part of the 12 channels — no dedicated location page on this site.)
G.B.-8	Subdues Liver-Yang, extinguishes interior Wind.
LIV-3	Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel.
Du-20	Extinguishes interior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, benefits the Brain.
LIV-2	Drains Liver-Fire, subdues Liver-Yang, cools Blood.
G.B.-43	Subdues Liver-Yang, resolves Damp-Heat.
G.B.-34	Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, resolves Damp-Heat in Liver and Gall Bladder.
L.I.-11	Clears Heat, regulates the Intestines.
ST-40	Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, opens the chest, subdues rebellious Qi.
SP-9	Resolves Dampness, benefits the Lower Burner.
Ren-12	Tonifies Stomach and Spleen, regulates Stomach-Qi.
P-6	Opens the chest, moves Qi and Blood, harmonizes the Stomach.
BL-17	Invigorates Blood, opens the chest and diaphragm.
SP-10	Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
Ren-6	Tonifies Qi and Yang, raises sinking Qi.
BL-20	Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, regulates the Intestines.

The Five 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 temple pain with a distending, outward-pressing quality; dizziness and tinnitus during attacks; irritability before the headache starts; a sensation of heat rising to the face; brought on by stress, anger, frustration, overwork, insufficient sleep, alcohol, skipped meals, loud noise, bright light, or the premenstrual phase; eased by a dark quiet room, sleep, stress reduction, a cool compress on the temples, regular mealtimes, or gentle outdoor walking.

Tongue: Red body, especially at the sides, thin yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry, sometimes Rapid.

Treatment principle: Subdue Liver-Yang, extinguish Wind.

G.B.-20 ↓ Taiyang ↓ G.B.-8 ↓ LIV-3 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ Du-20 ↓

Note: no moxa.

2. Liver-Fire Blazing View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Severe, burning, bursting pain; a bitter taste in the mouth; constipation with dry stools; thirst for cold drinks; intense irritability and anger outbursts; a red face and eyes during attacks; dark, scanty urine; brought on by anger, loud arguments, suppressed frustration, alcohol, spicy or greasy food, hot weather, or sleep deprivation; eased by rest, emotional calm, a cool environment, a cold compress on the head, a bland diet, or bitter cooling food.

Tongue: Red body, dry yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry, Rapid, often Forceful.

Treatment principle: Drain Liver-Fire.

LIV-2 ↓ G.B.-43 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ G.B.-34 ↓ LIV-3 ↓ L.I.-11 ↓

Note: no moxa.

3. Damp-Phlegm

Clinical manifestations: A heavy, wrapped-head feeling with dull pressure pain; strong nausea during attacks, sometimes vomiting; poor appetite; bloating after eating; mental fogginess; heaviness in the body and limbs; excessive mucus; brought on by humid weather, rainy days, dairy, greasy or fried food, overeating, alcohol (especially beer), a sedentary lifestyle, or excessive mental work; eased by light eating, ginger tea, regular mealtimes, physical activity, warmth, or dry weather.

Tongue: Pale, swollen body, thick greasy white coating. Pulse: Slippery, sometimes Wiry.

Treatment principle: Resolve Phlegm and Dampness.

ST-40 ↓ SP-9 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ Taiyang ↓ Ren-12 ↓ P-6 ↓

4. Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Fixed, stabbing pain always in the same spot, worse at night; a long-standing history of migraine; cold hands and feet; a dark or dusky complexion; visible small veins on the cheeks; brought on by cold weather, night-time, prolonged sitting, the premenstrual phase, or alcohol; eased by gentle movement, light exercise, massage, warmth, heated compresses, or regular acupuncture.

Tongue: Purple body or with visible purple spots, often with distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Choppy.

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood, resolve stasis.

G.B.-20 ↓ Taiyang ↓ G.B.-8 ↓ BL-17 ↓ SP-10 ↓ LIV-3 ↓

Note: no moxa.

5. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dull, aching pain; cold hands and feet; frequent fatigue; light-headedness on standing; palpitations; attacks after menstruation; a pale complexion; easy bruising; dry hair and brittle nails; brought on by fatigue, exertion, prolonged standing, sleep deprivation, skipped meals, menstruation, or blood loss; eased by rest, sleep, lying down, eating, nourishing food, gentle pressure on the painful area, or warmth.

Tongue: Pale body, often thin or tooth-marked at the edges, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Weak, sometimes Slow.

Treatment principle: Tonify Qi and Blood.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ Ren-6 ↑ BL-17 ↑ BL-20 ↑ Du-20 ↑

Note: moxa applicable.

Related conditions

Spot an error, or have more to add? Send it to admin on WhatsApp and it'll be corrected/added here.

+91 99083 14510