头为诸阳之会，与厥阴脉会于颠，诸阴寒邪不上逆，惟阳气窒塞，浊邪得以上据，厥阴
风火乃能逆上作痛。头痛症皆由清阳不升，风火乘虚上扰所致也。
头痛之症虽主风，亦有痰火虚不同。顶颠属风太阳火，眉棱骨痛由痉攻。脑后血脉虚来
大，滑痰弦数火风逢。九味羌活汤主治，芩连治火殊多功。痰合二陈虚四物，气血四君亦可
庸（用也）。风亦属阳头为会（诸阳之会），两阳相争痛势凶。气血虚者无力拒，风不与争痛故
松。若因痰饮作痛者，胸膈饱闷非风从。
风火头痛（宜辛散轻清法）
羚羊片 元参 薄荷 山栀 桑叶 夏枯草 连翘 丹皮 菊叶 黄芩 苦丁茶
荷叶 木通蔓 荆子 白芷
肝风头痛（宜熄风滋肝法）
首乌 枸杞子 生地 菊花 白芍 料豆衣 柏仁
夏秋伏暑头痛
石膏 连翘 羚羊片 蔓荆子 木通 山栀 苦丁茶 荷叶边 飞滑石 生草 紫川朴 桑叶
胆胃伏邪
羚角片 菊叶 连翘 葛根 牛蒡子 赤芍 白芷
凡头痛而属阴，虚阳越者，用复脉汤、甘麦大枣法加阿胶、牡蛎、生地、白芍、沙参。因
阳虚浊邪阻塞气血，瘀痹而痛者，用虫类搜逐血络，宣通阳气。
炮川乌 半夏 细辛 生姜汁 露蜂房 川芎 当归 炙全蝎
陈参曰∶头风初起，以桑叶、山栀、丹皮、荷叶边轻清凉泄，使少阳内遏之邪倏然而解。
若久则伤及肝阴，参入酸凉柔剂可也。或肝阴久耗，厥阴无一息之宁，痛掣之势已极，此岂
轻剂可解？惟复脉汤之纯甘壮水，胶芍之柔婉以熄风和阳，庶足俾刚亢之盛一时顿息。
头部是诸阳经汇聚之处，与厥阴经脉在头顶交会。一般的阴寒邪气不会向上逆行，只有当阳气被阻滞闭塞时，浊邪才能占据高位，厥阴的风火之气才会逆冲而上引发疼痛。头痛病症都是由清阳之气不能上升，风火乘虚上扰所致。
头痛病症虽然主要与风有关，但也存在痰、火、虚等不同证型。头顶和巅部疼痛属于太阳经风火，眉棱骨疼痛多由痉病攻冲引起。脑后部位血脉虚弱则疼痛剧烈，脉象滑主痰，弦数主火风相兼。九味羌活汤主治此类头痛，黄芩、黄连治疗火邪功效显著。痰证可用二陈汤，虚证可用四物汤，气血两虚者也可使用四君子汤（庸：此处指通用或适用）。风也属阳，头为诸阳之会，两阳相争则疼痛剧烈。气血虚弱者无力抵御外邪，风邪不与正气抗争，故疼痛感觉较为松弛舒缓。若因痰饮导致头痛，则伴有胸膈部饱闷感，并非风邪所致。
风火头痛（适宜采用辛散轻清的方法）
羚羊片、玄参、薄荷、山栀、桑叶、夏枯草、连翘、丹皮、菊叶、黄芩、苦丁茶、荷叶、木通、蔓荆子、白芷
肝风头痛（适宜采用熄风滋肝的方法）
首乌、枸杞子、生地、菊花、白芍、料豆衣、柏仁
夏秋伏暑头痛
石膏、连翘、羚羊片、蔓荆子、木通、山栀、苦丁茶、荷叶边、飞滑石、生甘草、紫川朴、桑叶
凡是头痛属于阴证，虚阳外越的，使用复脉汤、甘麦大枣法，并加入阿胶、牡蛎、生地、白芍、沙参。因阳虚导致浊邪阻塞气血，瘀痹而痛的，使用虫类药物搜逐血络，宣通阳气。
炮制过的川乌、半夏、细辛、生姜汁、露蜂房、川芎、当归、炙全蝎
陈修园说：头风初起，用桑叶、山栀、丹皮、荷叶边等药进行轻清凉泄，使潜伏在少阳经内的邪气迅速解除。如果病程长久则会损伤肝阴，可以配合酸凉柔润的药物。或者肝阴长期耗损，厥阴经没有片刻安宁，疼痛掣引之势已经极重，这岂是轻剂所能解决的？只有复脉汤的纯甘壮水，以及阿胶、白芍的柔婉以熄风和阳，才足以使刚亢的盛势一时平息。
The head is the convergence point of all Yang meridians (Yang meridians: meridians that run along the exterior of the body and are associated with Yang energy) and meets with the Jueyin meridian (Jueyin meridian: the Liver and Pericardium meridians, representing the deepest level of Yin) at the vertex. Pathogenic cold from Yin sources generally does not ascend; only when Yang Qi (vital energy associated with warmth and activity) is obstructed can turbid pathogens (pathogenic factors characterized by heaviness and stickiness) occupy the upper region, allowing Wind-Fire from the Jueyin to counterflow upward and cause pain. All headache syndromes are caused by the failure of Clear Yang (pure, ascending vital energy) to rise, with Wind-Fire taking advantage of deficiency to disturb upwards.
Although headaches are primarily governed by Wind, they may also differ according to Phlegm, Fire, or Deficiency patterns. Pain at the vertex and crown belongs to Wind-Fire of the Taiyang meridian (Taiyang meridian: the Bladder and Small Intestine meridians, governing the exterior); pain in the supraorbital ridge is often caused by spasms attacking the area. Severe pain in the back of the head indicates deficiency of blood vessels there; a slippery pulse suggests Phlegm, while a wiry and rapid pulse indicates an encounter of Fire and Wind. Jiwei Qianghuo Tang (Nine-Ingredient Notopterygia Decoction) is indicated for this condition; Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Lianlian (Coptidis Rhizoma) are particularly effective in treating Fire. For Phlegm syndromes, Erchen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) is used; for Deficiency syndromes, Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction) is applied; for Qi and Blood deficiency, Sijunzi Tang (Four-Gentlemen Decoction) is also applicable. Since Wind is also Yang and the head is the convergence of Yang, the struggle between two Yangs results in severe pain. In cases of Qi and Blood deficiency, there is insufficient strength to resist, so the Wind does not contend vigorously, resulting in a looser sensation of pain. If pain is caused by Phlegm-Fluid retention, there will be fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, which is not due to Wind.
Wind-Fire Headache (Suitable for acrid-dispersing and light-clearing methods):
Lingyang Pian (Antelope Horn Slice), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Sangye (Mori Folium), Xiakucao (Prunellae Spica), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Juye (Chrysanthemi Folium), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Kudingcha (Ilicis Kudingchae Folium), Heye (Nelumbinis Folium), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis), Manjingzi (Viticis Semen), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix).
Liver-Wind Headache (Suitable for extinguishing wind and nourishing liver methods):
Shouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus), Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix), Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Liaodouyi (Phaseoli Cocti Testa), Bairén (Ziziphi Spinosomi Semen).
Summerheat-Lingering Headache in Summer and Autumn:
Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Lingyang Pian (Antelope Horn Slice), Manjingzi (Viticis Semen), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis), Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Kudingcha (Ilicis Kudingchae Folium), Heyebian (Edge of Nelumbinis Folium), Feihuashi (Prepared Kaolin), Shengcao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Zichuanpu (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Sangye (Mori Folium).
Damp-Heat Stagnating in Gallbladder and Stomach:
Lingjiaopian (Antelope Horn Slice), Juye (Chrysanthemi Folium), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix).
For any headache belonging to Yin syndromes, where deficient Yang floats outward, use Maishu Tang (Pulse-Recovering Decoction) and Ganmai Dazao Fa (Licorice, Wheat, and Jujube Method), adding Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla), Muli (Ostreae Concha), Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), and Shashen (Glehniae Radix). For pain caused by Yang deficiency leading to turbid pathogen obstruction of Qi and Blood, resulting in stasis and bi-syndrome, use insect-based drugs to search out and purge blood collaterals and promote the circulation of Yang Qi.
Paocuanwu (Processed Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Shengjiangzhi (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens Juice), Lubifengfang (Coliae Cellula), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Zhiquanxie (Scorpio Preparatus).
Chen Xiuyuan stated: At the onset of chronic headache (Toufeng), use Sangye (Mori Folium), Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), and Heyebian (Edge of Nelumbinis Folium) for light cooling and draining to rapidly resolve pathogens constrained within the Shaoyang meridian (Shaoyang meridian: the Gallbladder and Sanjiao meridians, governing the pivot). If the condition persists, it damages Liver Yin, and sour-cool softening agents should be added. Or, if Liver Yin has been exhausted over a long period, leaving no moment of peace in the Jueyin meridian, and the pulling pain is extremely severe, how could mild formulas resolve this? Only the pure sweetness and water-nourishing properties of Maishu Tang (Pulse-Recovering Decoction), along with the gentle and soothing actions of Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla) and Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) to extinguish wind and harmonize Yang, are sufficient to temporarily quell the excessive rigid and hyperactive state.