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The symptom of headache is generally considered by people to be a disease of the Yang channels. However, there is a distinction between headaches caused by Yang deficiency and those caused by Yang excess (exuberance of pathogenic factors). The so-called disease of Yang deficiency is essentially a syndrome of Yin deficiency. When Yang Qi is deficient, it leads to the exuberance of Yang pathogens; if Yin Qi were not depleted, these Yang pathogens would be restrained and unable to cause havoc. Therefore, headaches cannot be indiscriminately classified as Yang syndromes. I now clarify that there are headaches due to Yang deficiency and headaches due to Yin deficiency. Some may argue: "The head is the gathering point of the six Yang channels; Yin Qi cannot reach the head, so how can it be said to be caused by Yin deficiency?" In fact, Yin Qi ascends to the head and then returns. If Yang Qi is decadent and fails to connect with the Yin Qi, headache results. Although this stems from Yang deficiency, it is essentially also due to the depletion of Yin Qi. If Yin Qi were vigorous, it could ascend to connect with Yang Qi. Yin and Yang originally serve as mutual roots and connections, inherently inseparable. It is precisely because one side is deficient that they become separated. Thus, treatment methods must distinguish between Yin and Yang syndromes.

Headaches caused by Yin syndromes present with dizziness at the vertex, a heavy sensation in the head that feels like pain but is not sharp pain, lethargy, and an inability to lift the head due to heaviness, unlike the severe pain seen in Yang syndromes. These symptoms are lighter in the morning and heavier in the evening, and the body does not feel excessively heavy. This is caused by the depletion of Kidney Water, where Liver Qi overacts on Spleen deficiency, leading to the ascent of deficient fire. The formula Pingdian Huayun Tang should be used for treatment, which will naturally restore health. However, it will not take effect in just one or two doses, as diseases of Yin often lack immediate results. This is not due to the ineffectiveness of the medicine; do not blame it for failing to produce quick effects. This is a modification of Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), whose brilliance lies in the use of Jiegeng (Platycodon Root) and Xixin (Asarum Root). Within the context of nourishing Yin, once Yin fluids are sufficient, these two herbs resolve the dizziness of the head. This approach prioritizes protecting Yin as the root and dispersing pathogens as the branch.

Headaches caused by Yang deficiency are mostly due to the invasion of Wind pathogens. If Yang Qi were not deficient, how would pathogens enter? When the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach is deficient, Qi fails to protect the head, allowing Wind pathogens to invade. Therefore, when dispelling Wind, one must not neglect tonifying Zheng Qi (Upright Qi). But how to identify the deficiency of Yang Qi among them? It is also identified by observing symptoms. The symptoms must include nasal congestion with excessive discharge, thirst with excessive phlegm, pain that wanders without staying in one fixed location, pain radiating to the teeth, or pain radiating to the neck and back, accompanied by wailing throughout the night and insomnia. I have a best formula named Jietong Shendan (Divine Elixir for Pain Relief). After one dose, the pain disappears as if lost. This formula uses Chuanxiong up to one liang, assisted by Tianshuodong (Asparagus Root) and Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber), which are purely Yin-nourishing ingredients. How can this treat headaches of Yang deficiency with pathogens? One must understand that the exuberance of Yang pathogens ultimately stems from the depletion of Yin Qi. By tonifying Yin, Yang naturally becomes vigorous; when Yang is vigorous, pathogens naturally decline. Moreover, since the formula contains herbs that disperse pathogens, using them within Yin-nourishing medicines sufficiently demonstrates their great efficacy. If one uses only Wind-dispelling herbs, there may indeed be no lack of efficacy, but if Zhen Qi (True Qi) is scattered, although the headache may be relieved, other diseases will appear. This is something one must know.

Pingdian Huayun Tang
Shudihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, 1 liang), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, 1 liang), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma, 3 fen), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus, 5 qian), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 5 qian), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 3 qian), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 3 qian), Bei Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, 1 qian), Baijiezi (Brassicae Semen, 3 qian), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix, 1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally.

Jietong Shendan
Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 1 liang), Xinyi (Magnoliae Flos, 1 qian), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, 3 qian), Manjingzi (Vittaginis Fructus, 1 qian), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma, 5 fen), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, 5 qian), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 1 qian), Tianshudong (Asparagi Radix, 5 qian), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix, 3 qian), Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix, 2 qian). Decoct in water and take orally.