TCM for Migraines: Acupressure Points and Herbal Support

A Personal NoteMigraine is one of those conditions where Western medicine has powerful acute treatments but few answers for prevention. TCM offers a different angle. Instead of asking only "what stops this headache," it asks "why does this person's body generate this pattern of pain in the first place?" Most migraines in TCM involve the Liver: either Liver yang rising, Liver qi stagnation, or Liver fire. The triggers are remarkably consistent: stress, irregular sleep, skipped meals, hormonal shifts, and weather changes. When those triggers meet an already tense Liver, the result is a headache that pulses, tightens, and refuses to be ignored.

The TCM Patterns Behind Migraines

Liver yang rising: Throbbing pain, often on one side, worse with stress or anger, accompanied by irritability, tinnitus, or dizziness. The most common migraine pattern.

Liver fire: Intense, pounding headache, bitter taste, red face, constipation, feeling hot. A more heated version of yang rising.

Blood deficiency: Dull headache that worsens with fatigue, poor sleep, or menstruation, with pale lips and nails. Common in women with heavy periods.

Qi stagnation with blood stasis: Fixed, stabbing headache at one point, often with tension in the neck and shoulders, worse at night.

Wind-phlegm: Heavy, foggy headache with nausea, a greasy tongue coating, and a sensation of pressure in the head.

Acupressure Points During an Attack

Tai Chong (LV3): Between the first and second toe bones, in the V-shaped hollow. The single most important point for Liver yang headache. Press firmly for 2-3 minutes on both feet while breathing slowly.

Feng Chi (GB20): In the hollows below the base of the skull, about two finger-widths apart. Release tension at the back of the head and neck. Press upward and inward with your thumbs for 1-2 minutes.

Tai Yang (EX-HN5): The temples, in the hollow at the outer corner of the eyebrow. Massage in small circles for 1 minute on each side.

He Gu (LI4): In the fleshy area between thumb and index finger. A powerful general pain point. Press for 1-2 minutes. Avoid this point during pregnancy.

Yang Ling Quan (GB34): Just below the knee on the outer side. Regulates the Gall Bladder meridian, which runs along the side of the head.

Herbs and Formulas for Migraines

Tian Ma (Gastrodia): Calms Liver wind and relieves dizziness and headache. One of the most specific herbs for migraines with throbbing pain.

Gou Teng (Uncaria): Clears Liver heat and calms Liver yang, often added to formulas for stress-triggered migraines.

Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum): Moves blood and qi in the head. The most frequently used herb in headache formulas; it appears in Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San.

Bai Zhi (Angelica dahurica): Releases wind and relieves frontal headache and sinus pressure.

Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum): Clears Liver heat and brightens the eyes. Good as a mild daily tea when stress is the trigger.

Xia Ku Cao (Prunella): Cools Liver fire and helps with migraines linked to high stress and irritability.

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin is the classic formula for Liver yang rising migraines. Xiao Yao San suits migraines that flare before menstruation or during stress. Both should be matched by a practitioner, not chosen by memory.

Lifestyle Changes That Reduce Frequency

Regular meals: Skipping meals is one of the most reliable migraine triggers. The Stomach and Liver are closely connected in TCM; an empty Stomach fans Liver fire.

Stable sleep: Going to bed and waking at the same time, even on weekends, prevents the rebound headaches that come from erratic sleep.

Cool the head, relax the neck: A cool cloth on the temples and gentle neck stretching can calm yang rising early. Avoid intense neck cracking or vigorous massage during an acute attack.

Track your pattern: Note the day before each migraine: food, sleep, stress, weather, and menstrual phase. After a few weeks, most people can see their own Liver trigger clearly.

Move between storms: Gentle walks, tai chi, or swimming keep Liver qi moving. Intense training during high stress can worsen yang rising.