人有头痛连脑，双目赤红，如破如裂者，所谓真正头痛也
。此病一时暴发，法在不救，盖邪入脑髓而不得出也
。虽然邪在脑，不比邪犯心与犯五脏也，苟治之得法，亦有生者。我今传一奇方以救世，名
为救脑汤∶
辛夷（三钱） 川芎（一两） 细辛（一钱） 当归（一两） 蔓荆子（二钱）
水煎服。一剂而痛即止。
细辛、蔓荆治头痛之药也，然不能直入于脑，得辛夷之导引则入之矣。但三味皆耗气之
味，同川芎用之，虽亦得愈头痛，然而过于辛散，邪气散而真气亦散矣，故又加入当归之补
气补血，则气血周通于一身，邪自不能独留于头上矣，有不顿愈者乎。
此症用护首汤亦效。
川芎（五钱） 当归（一两） 白芷 郁李仁 天花粉（各三钱） 蔓荆子（一钱）
水煎服。一剂效。
人有头痛如破，走来走去无一定之位者，此饮酒之后，当风而卧，风邪乘酒气之出入而
中之也。酒气既散，而风邪不去，遂留于太阳之经。太阳本上于头，而头为诸阳之首，阳邪
与阳气相战，故往来于经络之间而作痛也。病既得之于酒，治法似宜兼治酒矣，不知用解酒
之药必致转耗真气，而头痛愈不能效，不若直治风邪能奏效之速也
。方用救破汤∶
川芎（一两） 细辛（一钱） 白芷（一钱）
水煎服。一剂而痛止，不必再剂也。
盖川芎最止头痛，非用细辛则不能直上于巅顶，非用白芷则不能尽解其邪气，而遍达于
经络也。虽如 本他药，未尝不可止痛，然而大伤元气，终逊川芎散中有补之为得也。
此症亦可用芷桂川芎汤∶
川芎（一两） 白芷（三钱） 桂枝（三分）
水煎服。一剂即止痛。
人有头疼不十分重，遇劳、遇寒、遇热皆发，倘加色欲，则头岑岑而欲卧矣。此乃少年
之时，不慎酒色，又加气恼而得之者也。人皆以头痛之药
治之而不愈者何也?盖此病得之肾劳，无肾水以润肝，则肝木之气燥，木中龙雷之火，时时
冲击一身，而上升于巅顶，故头痛而且晕也。治法宜大补其肾中之水，而少益以补火之品，
使水足以制火，而火可归源，自然下引而入于肾宫。火有水养，则龙雷之火安然居肾，不再
上升而为头痛也。方用八味地黄汤加减用之。
熟地（一两） 山茱萸（五钱） 山药（五钱） 茯苓 丹皮 泽泻（各三钱） 川芎（一两） 肉桂（一钱）
水煎服。二剂而头轻，十剂而全愈。然后去川芎而加白芍、当归各五钱，再服二十剂，
永不再发矣。
盖六味汤为补精之圣药，肉桂为引火归经之神品，川芎治头痛之灵丹，合而用之，所以
奏功如响。惟是头痛在上焦，补肾中之水火在下焦也，何以治下而上愈?且川芎乃阳药也，
何以入之至阴之中，偏能取效耶?不知脑髓与肾水原自相通，补肾而肾之气由河车而直入于
脑未尝相格也。川芎虽是阳药，然能补血而走于巅顶，既可上于巅顶，独不可入于脑内乎。
况加之肉桂，以助命门之火，同气相合，故能同群共济，使宿疾老邪尽行祛散。而肾中水火
，又复既济，何至有再冲上焦之患乎。十剂之后，不再用川芎者，头痛既痊，不可再用以耗
真气。故改用白芍、当归，肾肝同治，使木气无干燥之忧，而龙雷之火，且永藏于肾宅，尤
善后之妙法。倘倦服药汤，改汤为丸，未为不可也。
此症用五德饮亦佳。
熟地（二两） 麦冬 玄参（各一两） 川芎（五钱） 肉桂（三分）
水煎服。一剂而火降，二剂而痛止，连服一月，永不再发。
人有患半边头风者，或痛在右，或痛在左，大约痛于左者为多，百药治之罔效，人不知
其故。此病得之郁气不宣，又加风邪袭之于少阳之经，遂致半边头痛也
。其病有时重有时轻，大约遇顺境则痛轻，遇逆境则痛重，遇拂抑
之事而更加之风寒之天，则大痛而不能出户。痛至岁久，则眼必缩小，十年之后，必至坏目
，而不可救药矣。治法急宜解其肝胆之郁气。虽风入于少阳之胆，似乎解郁宜解其胆，然而
胆与肝为表里，治胆者必须治肝。况郁气先伤肝而后伤胆，肝舒而胆亦舒也。方用散偏汤∶
白芍（五钱） 川芎（一两） 郁李仁（一钱） 柴胡（一钱） 白芥子（三钱） 香附（二钱） 甘草（一
钱） 白
水煎服。毋论左右头疼，一剂即止痛，不必多服。
夫川芎止头痛者也，然而川芎不单止头痛，同白芍用之，尤能平肝之气，以生肝之血。
肝之血生，而胆汁亦生，无干燥之苦，而后郁李仁、白芷用之，自能上助川芎，以散头风矣
。况又益之柴胡、香附以开郁，白芥子以消痰，甘草以调和其滞气，则肝胆尽舒而风于何藏
?故头痛顿除也。惟是一二剂之后，不可多用者，头痛既久，不独肝胆血虚，而五脏六腑之
阴阳尽虚也。若单治胆肝以舒郁，未免销铄真阴，风虽出于骨髓之外，未必不因劳因感而风
又入于骨髓之中。故以前方奏功之后，必须改用补气补血之剂，如八珍汤者治之，以为善后
之策也。
此症亦可用半解汤∶
白芍（一两） 柴胡（二钱） 当归（三钱） 川芎（五钱） 甘草（一钱） 蔓荆子（一钱） 半夏（一钱）
水煎服。
人有遇春而头痛者，昼夜不得休息，昏闷之极，恶风恶寒，不喜饮食，人以为中伤寒风
之故，而不知非也。《内经》云∶春气者，病在头。气弱之人，阳气不能随春气而上升于头
，故头痛而昏闷也。凡有邪在头者，发汗以散表邪，则头痛可愈。今因气微而不能上升，是
无表邪也，无邪而发汗，则虚其虚矣，而清阳之气益难上升，气既不升，则阳虚而势难外卫
，故恶风寒。气弱而力难中消，故憎饮食耳。治法补其阳气，则清气上升，而浊气下降，内
无所怯，而外亦自固也。方用升清固外汤∶
黄 （三钱） 人参（二钱） 炙甘草（五分） 白术（三钱） 陈皮（三分） 当归（二钱） 白芍（五
钱） 柴胡
水煎服。一剂而痛减，再剂而病愈。
此方即补中益气之变方，去升麻而用柴胡者，以柴胡入肝，提其木气也。木主春，升木
以应春气，使不陷于肝中，自然清气上升。况参、 、归、芍无非补肝气之药，气旺而上荣
外固，又何头痛之不愈哉。
此症亦可用升阳汤∶
人参 蔓荆子（各一钱） 半夏（一钱） 黄 （二钱） 白术（五钱） 甘草（五分） 白芍 川芎（各三钱
升麻（六分） 白芷（三分）
水煎服。四剂愈。
人患头痛，虽盛暑大热之时，必以帕蒙其首，而头痛少止，苟去其帕，少受风寒，其痛
即发，而不可忍，人以为风寒已入于脑，谁知乃气血两虚、不能上荣于头而然?夫脑受风寒
，药饵上治甚难，用祛风散寒之药，益伤气血，而头愈痛。古人有用生莱菔汁以灌鼻者，因
鼻窍通脑，莱菔善开窍而厘清浊，故用之而可愈头风，然又不若佐以生姜自然汁为更胜也，
盖莱菔祛脑中之风，是其所长，不能祛脑中之寒，二物同用，则姜得莱菔而并可祛风，莱菔
得姜而兼可祛寒也。其法用生莱菔汁十分之七，生姜汁十分
之三和匀，令病患口含凉水仰卧，以二汁匙挑灌鼻中，至不能忍而止，必眼泪口涎齐出，其
痛立止也。痛止后，用四物汤加羌活、 本、甘草数剂调理，断不再发。此等治法，实法之
至巧者。
此症亦可用爽气丹∶
人参（三钱） 白术 甘草 黄 当归 茯苓 川芎（各一钱） 防风 荆芥（各五分） 半夏（八
水煎服。服一月全愈。
Headache extending to the brain, with both eyes red and swollen, and pain so severe as if the head were breaking or tearing apart, is what is referred to as "True Headache" (Zhen Zheng Tou Tong). This disease erupts suddenly and is conventionally considered incurable because the pathogenic factor has entered the brain marrow and cannot exit. Although the pathogen is in the brain, it is not as critical as when it invades the Heart or the Five Zang Organs; if treated correctly, there is still a chance of survival. I now transmit a miraculous formula to save the world, named Jiu Nao Tang (Brain-Saving Decoction):
Xinyi (San Zi, Magnolia Flower) (3 qian), Chuanxiong (1 liang), Xixin (Qian Xin, Asarum) (1 qian), Danggui (Dong Qu, Angelica Sinensis) (1 liang), Manjingzi (Vitex Fruit) (2 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. Pain stops immediately after one dose.
Xixin and Manjingzi are herbs for treating headache, but they cannot directly enter the brain; guided by San Zi, they can enter. However, these three herbs are all qi-consuming. Used together with Chuanxiong, although they may cure the headache, they are too acrid and dispersing; while the pathogen scatters, the healthy Qi also scatters. Therefore, Danggui is added to tonify Qi and Blood, allowing Qi and Blood to circulate throughout the body, so the pathogen cannot remain solely in the head. How could it not heal rapidly?
This condition can also be effectively treated with Hu Shou Tang (Head-Protecting Decoction):
Chuanxiong (5 qian), Danggui (1 liang), Baizhi (Angelica Dahurica), Yuliren (Prunus Armeniaca Seed), Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes Root) (each 3 qian), Manjingzi (1 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. Effective after one dose.
Some people suffer from headache as if breaking, with the pain moving around without a fixed location. This occurs after drinking alcohol, lying exposed to wind; the Wind Pathogen enters during the fluctuation of the Qi from alcohol. Once the alcohol Qi dissipates, the Wind Pathogen remains and lodges in the Taiyang Meridian (Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang). The Taiyang channel ascends to the head, and the head is the meeting place of all Yang channels. Yang pathogen battles with Yang Qi, causing pain that comes and goes within the meridians. Since the illness originated from alcohol, the treatment might seem to require addressing the alcohol. However, using alcohol-resolving medicines will inevitably consume Healthy Qi further, making the headache harder to cure. It is better to directly treat the Wind Pathogen for rapid effect. Use Ji Po Tang (Breaking-Pain Saving Decoction):
Chuanxiong (1 liang), Xixin (1 qian), Baizhi (1 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. Pain stops after one dose; no need for a second dose.
Generally, Chuanxiong is best at stopping headache. Without Xixin, it cannot reach the vertex; without Baizhi, it cannot fully resolve the pathogen and spread through the meridians. While other herbs mentioned elsewhere may stop pain, they severely damage Yuan Qi. They are inferior to Chuanxiong, which disperses while simultaneously tonifying.
This condition can also be treated with Zhi Gui Chuanxiong Tang:
Chuanxiong (1 liang), Baizhi (3 qian), Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) (3 fen).
Decoct in water and take orally. Pain stops after one dose.
Some people have mild headaches that flare up upon exertion, exposure to cold, or exposure to heat. If sexual activity is excessive, they feel heavy-headed and sleepy. This results from imprudence regarding alcohol and sex in youth, combined with anger and frustration. Why do standard headache medicines fail? Because this illness stems from Kidney exhaustion. Without Kidney Water to nourish the Liver, Liver Wood Qi becomes dry. The Dragon-Lei Fire within the Wood constantly attacks the whole body and rises to the vertex, causing headache and dizziness. Treatment should heavily tonify Kidney Water and slightly add fire-tonifying herbs, so Water can control Fire, allowing Fire to return to its source and descend into the Kidney Palace. With Water nourishing Fire, the Dragon-Lei Fire rests peacefully in the Kidney and does not rise to cause headache. Use Bawei Dihuang Wan (Eight-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) modified:
Shudi (Prepared Rehmannia Root) (1 liang), Shanzhuyu (Cornus Fruit) (5 qian), Shanyao (Chinese Yam) (5 qian), Fuling (Poria), Danpi (Moutan Bark), Zexie (Alisma) (each 3 qian), Chuanxiong (1 liang), Rougui (Cinnamon Bark) (1 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. Head feels light after two doses; fully cured after ten doses. Then remove Chuanxiong and add Baishao (White Peony Root) and Danggui (each 5 qian), take another twenty doses to prevent recurrence permanently.
Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) is a sacred medicine for tonifying Essence. Rougui is a divine product for guiding Fire back to its origin. Chuanxiong is a spiritual pill for treating headache. Combined, they work like an echo. But why does treating the Lower Jiao (Kidney Water/Fire) cure the Upper Jiao (Head)? And since Chuanxiong is a Yang herb, why does it work in the Yin realm? Brain Marrow and Kidney Water are originally connected. Tonifying the Kidney allows Kidney Qi to enter the brain via He Che (the pathway of essence), without obstruction. Although Chuanxiong is Yang, it nourishes Blood and ascends to the vertex; if it can reach the vertex, why not enter the brain? Added with Rougui to assist Mingmen Fire (Gate of Life Fire), they share similar properties and work together to dispel old pathogens. Kidney Water and Fire achieve mutual balance (Ji Ji), preventing future upward surges. After ten doses, Chuanxiong is removed to avoid consuming Healthy Qi. Baishao and Danggui are used instead to treat Liver and Kidney together, preventing Liver Wood dryness and keeping Dragon-Lei Fire hidden in the Kidney home—a brilliant follow-up strategy. If one tires of decoctions, pills can be substituted.
Wude Yin (Five-Virtues Drink) is also excellent for this condition:
Shudi (2 liang), Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Xuanshen (Scrophularia Root) (each 1 liang), Chuanxiong (5 qian), Rougui (3 fen).
Decoct in water and take orally. Fire descends after one dose; pain stops after two doses. Take continuously for one month to prevent recurrence permanently.
Some people suffer from hemicephalic headache (Ban Tou Feng), either on the right or left side, mostly on the left. Hundreds of medicines fail, and people do not know why. This illness arises from stagnant Qi not venting, compounded by Wind Pathogen invading the Shaoyang Meridian (Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang), resulting in half-head headache. Severity varies; pain is lighter in favorable circumstances and heavier in adverse ones. Facing suppression plus cold-wind weather causes severe pain preventing one from leaving the house. Long-term pain shrinks the eyes; after ten years, it leads to irreversible eye damage. Urgent treatment must resolve Liver-Gallbladder stagnation. Although Wind enters the Shaoyang Gallbladder, resolving stagnation requires treating the Liver because Liver and Gallbladder are interior-exterior pairs. Stagnation first injures the Liver then the Gallbladder; relaxing the Liver relaxes the Gallbladder. Use San Pian Tang (Dispersing Bias Decoction):
Baishao (5 qian), Chuanxiong (1 liang), Yuliren (1 qian), Chaihu (Bupleurum Root) (1 qian), Baijiezi (White Mustard Seed) (3 qian), Xiangfu (Cyperus Rhizome) (2 qian), Gancao (Licorice Root) (1 qian), Baizhi (implied/missing character in text but contextually present).
Decoct in water and take orally. Regardless of left or right headache, pain stops after one dose; do not overuse.
Chuanxiong stops headache, but combined with Baishao, it particularly soothes Liver Qi and generates Liver Blood. Generated Liver Blood produces Gallbladder Juice, eliminating dryness. Then Yuliren and Baizhi assist Chuanxiong to disperse Head Wind. Added with Chaihu and Xiangfu to open stagnation, Baijiezi to eliminate phlegm, and Gancao to harmonize stagnant Qi, the Liver and Gallbladder are fully relaxed, leaving nowhere for Wind to hide. Thus, headache is instantly removed. However, after one or two doses, do not use excessively. Long-standing headache implies not only Liver-Blood deficiency but also Yin-Yang deficiency in all Zang-Fu organs. Solely treating Liver/Gallbladder to relieve stagnation may consume True Yin. Although Wind originates outside the bone marrow, it may re-enter due to fatigue and invasion. Therefore, after the initial formula works, switch to Qi- and Blood-tonifying formulas like Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) for follow-up care.
Ban Jie Tang (Half-Resolve Decoction) is also usable:
Baishao (1 liang), Chaihu (2 qian), Danggui (3 qian), Chuanxiong (5 qian), Gancao (1 qian), Manjingzi (1 qian), Banxia (Pinellia Tuber) (1 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally.
Some people suffer headache in spring, unable to rest day or night, feeling extremely dizzy and stuffy, aversion to wind and cold, and loss of appetite. People think it is caused by cold-wind invasion, but this is incorrect. *Neijing* states: "Spring Qi diseases affect the head." In those with weak Qi, Yang Qi cannot ascend with Spring Qi to the head, causing headache and dizziness. Usually, sweating disperses exterior pathogens to cure headache. Here, weak Qi fails to ascend, meaning there is no exterior pathogen. Sweating without pathogen causes further deficiency, making Clear Yang even harder to ascend. Without ascending, Yang deficiency leads to inability to defend the exterior, causing aversion to wind/cold. Weak Qi struggles to digest, causing food aversion. Treatment should tonify Yang Qi so Clear Yang ascends and Turbid Qi descends, strengthening the interior and exterior. Use Sheng Qing Gu Wai Tang (Ascending-Clear and Securing-Exterior Decoction):
Huangqi (Astragalus Root) (3 qian), Renshen (Ginseng) (2 qian), Zhigancao (Honey-fried Licorice) (5 fen), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) (3 qian), Chenpi (Tangerine Peel) (3 fen), Danggui (2 qian), Baishao (5 qian), Chaihu.
Decoct in water and take orally. Pain reduces after one dose; cured after two doses.
This formula is a variation of Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Middle-Warming and Qi-Boosting Decoction), replacing Shengma (Cimicifuga Rhizome) with Chaihu because Chaihu enters the Liver to lift Wood Qi. Wood corresponds to Spring; lifting Wood Qi aligns with Spring Qi, preventing sinking in the Liver, thus naturally ascending Clear Yang. Besides, Renshen, Huangqi, Danggui, and Baishao all tonify Liver Qi. Abundant Qi nourishes the upper and secures the exterior, ensuring headache resolves.
Sheng Yang Tang (Ascending-Yang Decoction) is also applicable:
Renshen, Manjingzi (each 1 qian), Banxia (1 qian), Huangqi (2 qian), Baizhu (5 qian), Gancao (5 fen), Baishao, Chuanxiong (each 3 qian), Shengma (6 fen), Baizhi (3 fen).
Decoct in water and take orally. Cured after four doses.
People suffering from headache, even in midsummer heat, must cover their heads with a cloth for slight relief. Removing the cloth exposes them to slight wind/cold, triggering unbearable pain. People assume wind-cold has entered the brain, but it is actually due to dual deficiency of Qi and Blood failing to nourish the head. Treating brain-invaded wind-cold with medication is difficult; wind-dispelling and cold-resolving herbs further damage Qi and Blood, worsening pain. Ancients used fresh Radish Juice (Laifu Zhi) instilled into the nose because nasal cavities connect to the brain, and radish opens orifices and clarifies turbidity. However, adding fresh Ginger Juice (Shengjiang Zhi) is superior. Radish excels at dispelling brain wind but not cold; ginger complements it. Mix 70% fresh radish juice with 30% fresh ginger juice. Have the patient lie supine with cool water in mouth. Instill mixture into nostrils until unbearable, inducing tears and saliva flow, instantly stopping pain. Afterward, regulate with Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction) plus Qianghuo (Notopterygium Rhizome), Gaoben (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome), and Gancao for several doses to prevent recurrence. This method is exceptionally ingenious.
Shuangqi Dan (Refreshing-Qi Pill) is also usable:
Renshen (3 qian), Baizhu, Gancao, Huangqi, Danggui, Fuling, Chuanxiong (each 1 qian), Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), Jingjie (Schizonepeta Spike) (each 5 fen), Banxia.
Decoct in water and take orally. Fully cured after one month.