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The *Neijing* states: A short pulse at the Cun Kou (radial artery) is termed headache.

The *Maijing* states: A wiry yang pulse indicates headache; it also states that a floating pulse at the Cun Kou, accompanied by wind-stroke, fever, and headache, or a tight pulse with headache, indicates cold damage (*Shanghan*); a tight pulse located above the Cun Kou indicates wind-induced headache.

The *Maijue* states: If a short and choppy pulse accompanies headache, death is likely; if a floating and slippery pulse appears, it indicates wind-phlegm, which is easy to cure.

The *Huo Ren Shu* states: Headache belongs to Yang syndromes. In Taiyang syndrome, symptoms include headache, fever, aversion to wind and cold, and anhidrosis, treated with Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction); if there is sweating, Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) is used. If sweating has already occurred or not yet occurred, and the headache is severe as if breaking, Lian Xu Cong Bai Tang (Scallion White Decoction with Roots) is used; if ineffective, Ge Gen Cong Bai Tang (Kudzu Root and Scallion White Decoction) is used. In Yangming syndrome, headache occurs without aversion to cold but with aversion to heat, indicating excess heat in the stomach, treated with Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang (Regulate the Stomach and Direct Downward Decoction). Shaoyang headache is treated with Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). There are no headache syndromes in Taiyin and Shaoyin. Zhang Zhongjing mentions only one Jueyin syndrome, treated with Wu Zhu Yu Tang (Evodia Decoction).

Note: In cold damage diseases, the three Foot-Yang meridians ascend to the head, converging with the Jueyin meridian and the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) at the vertex; thus, only these four meridians' headaches are discussed. However, in miscellaneous diseases caused by external pathogens, all meridians can cause headache. The *Huo Ren Shu* uses Cong Bai Tang (Scallion White Decoction) to unblock the Yang qi of the upper and lower body.

Taiyang headache, characterized by aversion to wind and cold, is primarily treated with Chuan Xiong Rhizome (Chuanxiong). Shaoyang headache, characterized by alternating chills and fever and a wiry pulse, is primarily treated with Chai Hu Radix (Bupleurum). Yangming headache, characterized by spontaneous sweating, fever, and aversion to heat, is primarily treated with Bai Zhi Rhizome (Angelica Dahurica). Taiyin headache, characterized by heavy body, phlegm-fullness, and abdominal pain, is primarily treated with Ban Xia Rhizoma Preparatum (Pinellia). Shaoyin headache, due to non-circulation of Qi in the Three Yin and Three Yang meridians and cold/reversal in the feet, constitutes Cold-Jue headache, primarily treated with Xi Xin Herba (Asarum). Jueyin headache, characterized by neck pain and a slightly floating and slow pulse, suggests transmission to Taiyang where the disease will heal, but Chuan Xiong Rhizome should still be used (*Ba Jian* records Gao Ben Rhizome or Wu Zhu Yu Fructus). Qi-deficiency headache is primarily treated with Huang Qi Radix (Astragalus). Blood-deficiency headache is primarily treated with Dang Gui Radix (Angelica Sinensis) (*Ba Jian* records Chuan Xiong Rhizome, same below). Qi-and-Blood deficiency headache is primarily treated with Huang Qi Radix and Dang Gui Radix. For Taiyang headache in cold damage, use Ma Huang Tang or Gui Zhi Tang; for Yangming headache, use Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction); for Shaoyang headache, use Chai Hu Tang (Bupleurum Decoction); for Taiyin headache, if the pulse is floating use Gui Zhi Tang, if sinking use Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction); for Shaoyin headache with a deep and faint pulse, use Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction); for Jueyin headache due to external injury to its own meridian, use Gui Zhi Ma Huang Ge Ban Tang (Half Cinnamon Twig and Half Ephedra Decoction); for vomiting with slight spitting of clear water, use Wu Zhu Yu Tang.

Note: This section repeats much of the following discussion, but with slight differences in ingredients, so both are preserved.

Li Dongyuan's *Headache Treatise*

The *Jingui Zhenyan Lun* states: East wind arises in spring, disease affects the Liver Shu, manifesting in the head and neck; thus, spring-pathogens often affect the head. Furthermore, all Yang meridians converge on the head and face. For instance, pathology of the Foot-Taiyang meridian causes rushing headache; pathology of the Foot-Shaoyang meridian causes headache at the temples and jaw. Wind pathogen enters from above; wind-cold damages the upper body, invading meridians from outside, causing shivering, headache, heavy body, and aversion to cold. Treatment should focus on Feng Chi (GB20) and Feng Fu (DU16 acupoints), regulating Yin and Yang; tonify deficiency, sedate excess, induce sweating, and the disease will resolve. This is cold-damage headache. Headache with tinnitus and dysfunction of the nine orifices arises from the stomach and intestines, constituting Qi-deficiency headache. Heart vexation with headache indicates pathology in the Diaphragm, involving Hand-Taiyang and Hand-Shaoyin meridians, constituting Damp-Heat headache. If Qi rises but does not descend, causing headache at the vertex, it is Lower Deficiency and Upper Excess, involving Foot-Shaoyin and Foot-Taiyang meridians; severe cases enter the Kidney, constituting Cold-Damp headache. If one side of the head feels cold and painful, first treat Hand-Shaoyang and Hand-Yangming, then Foot-Shaoyang and Foot-Yangming; this is lateral headache. True headache involves severe brain pain throughout, with cold limbs reaching the joints; this is fatal and incurable. Jue-ni headache results from exposure to severe cold, penetrating to the bone marrow; since marrow connects to the brain, brain Qi rebellion causes headache and toothache. Generally, headache is associated with Wood/Fire; wind brings warmth, so treatment should use Acrid-Cool methods, reflecting Autumn overcoming Spring. Thus, headache is generally treated with Wind-dispelling herbs, speaking broadly. High peaks can only be reached by Wind herbs; thin-flavored herbs belong to Yang within Yin, rising from earth to heaven. However, distinctions exist among the Three Yin and Three Yang: Taiyang headache, with floating-tight pulse and aversion to wind/cold, is primarily treated with Chuan Xiong Rhizome, Qiang Huo Radix Notopterygii, Du Huo Radix Saposhnikoviae, Ma Huang Herba, etc.; Shaoyang meridian headache, with wiry-thin pulse and alternating chills/fever, is primarily treated with Chai Hu Radix; Yangming headache, with body heat, eye pain, dry nose, aversion to cold/heat, and floating-slow-long pulse, is primarily treated with Sheng Ma Decoction or Shi Gypsum and Bai Zhi Rhizome; Taiyin headache necessarily involves phlegm, heavy body, or abdominal pain (phlegm-stagnation), with a deep-slow pulse, primarily treated with Cang Zhu Rhizoma, Ban Xia Rhizoma Preparatum, Nan Xing Rhizoma; Shaoyin meridian headache, with non-circulation of Qi in the Three Yin/Yang meridians, cold feet, and reversal, constituting Cold-Jue, with a deep-thin pulse, is primarily treated with Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang; Jueyin headache, with neck pain, phlegm/saliva expectoration, cold limbs, and floating-slow pulse, is primarily treated with Wu Zhu Yu Tang. All blood-deficiency headaches are primarily treated with Dang Gui Radix and Chuan Xiong Rhizome; all Qi-deficiency headaches are primarily treated with Ren Shen Radix and Huang Qi Radix. "Primary" means main treatment; accompanying syndromes are treated with assistant and guide herbs. This is the general principle of formula construction. For Qi-and-Blood deficiency headache, add small amounts of Chuan Xiong Rhizome, Man Jing Zi Fructus, and Xi Xin Herba to Tiao Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Regulate the Middle and Boost Qi Decoction) for miraculous effect. Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinellia, Atractylodes Macrocephala, and Gastrodia Decoction) treats Phlegm-Jue headache. Qing Kong Gao treats Wind-Damp-Heat headache. Qiang Huo Fu Zi Tang treats Jue-ni headache. If dampness is in the head, bitter emetics may be used; do not adhere rigidly to one formula.

Note: This treatise on headache is extremely detailed. It first distinguishes cold-damage from internal-injury headache, extensively cites the *Neijing* to clarify Damp-Heat, Cold-Damp, lateral, true, and Jue-ni headaches, and subdivides medication methods by the Six Meridians. Later generations could not surpass it.