Whether a dull ache, a constant throb, or an endless jabbing sensation, headaches can be downright debilitating. For some, headaches are accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and floaters or vision changes. While they may come on suddenly without much warning, headaches often follow predictable patterns. For example, extreme stress, PMS symptoms, and certain foods can bring on patterned headaches.

The go-to solution is typically an aspirin, a glass of water, and a nap. But if you suffer from headaches continually, these quick fixes won’t do the trick in the long-term. Pay attention to the signs your body is sending you.

Looking at headaches from an energetic perspective can help pinpoint the cause of the imbalance. In TCM, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. In fact, if one or more of the six meridians that run through your head suffer from Qi stagnation, there are 720 different combinations that can produce headaches! Finding and treating the root cause of your headaches can provide much-needed relief.

Where are your headaches most often located?

Headaches on the sides of your head or eyes are usually related to Gallbladder function. In today’s fast-paced society, we often experience stress. The Gallbladder and its partner organ, the Liver, are highly sensitive to stress, so one-sided headaches are often indicative of a stress response.

Headaches on the top of your head relate to the Liver and the Kidney. Women who suffer from headaches along with PMS symptoms also experience Liver function issues. The Liver is responsible for flow—both of blood and emotions—making Liver the most important organ for women’s health. Conversely, the Kidney is the most important organ for men’s health. Energetically speaking, the Kidney supports men’s reproductive and hormonal health and supplies energy to any organ running low on Qi. Headaches in the back of the head relate to Bladder, the partner organ to the Kidney. The Kidney and the Bladder play a major role in maintaining a sharp mind and good memory.

Headaches that occur after eating, especially in the front of the forehead, generally indicate an imbalance in your Stomach function. In other words, your Stomach is lacking the Qi needed to properly digest food. Good digestive health is dependent on a healthy, supportive relationship between the Stomach/Spleen, the Liver/Gallbladder, and the Kidney/Bladder.

Healing the Root Cause

The body never lies! Whatever symptom you experience on the physical level is a message that something is energetically out of balance. As you begin to bring your body back to a state of harmony, you may see those symptoms lessen or disappear entirely.

TCM offers a number of treatments for creating wellness, including acupuncture, herbal therapy, Qigong, acupressure, and a unique understanding of eating for healing. In this video, Grand Master Lu demonstrates the Four Energy Gates. While all four motions will give your body an energy tune-up, focus on Energy Gate Number 1 for headaches.

There’s Much More to Discover!

Are you interested in discovering how the body’s organ systems interact and communicate? Learn more about the Five Element Consciousness Framework.

Take a Spring Deep Dive with Liver Qi Enhancement, March 19-26, 2023! Through Qigong practice and food choices that benefit the Liver, you’ll deeply connect to your own creative potential and journey into the energetic frequency of Spring. Join us!