Wind-cold | Wind-heat | Wind-dampness
	Liver yang | Kidney deficiency | Qi deficiency
	Blood deficiency | Turbid phlegm | Blood stasis

Qi Deficiency Headaches & the Chinese Remedies

Headache pattern: lingering and dull pain in the head that triggered or aggravated by fatigue or physical activities.

Accompanied symptoms: sallow complexion, fatigue, no appetite, sensitivity to low temperatures, loose bowels, a bulky and pale tongue, and the pulse is thready and weak.

Analysis: the spleen governs ascending clear yang (pure essence). Spleen dysfunction that causes clear yang failing to ascend and turbid yin (impure substances) failing to descend, the head orifices will be disturbed, resulting in dull and lingering headaches. Physical activities consume qi, so they trigger or aggravate the headache, while rest alleviates it. Dysfunction of the middle burner makes yang qi fail to distribute inside the body, there will be symptoms such as sallow complexion, fatigue and se

nsitivity to low temperatures. Weakened spleen and stomach mean a poor digestive system, leading to no appetite and loose bowels. The tongue and the pulse are the manifestations of spleen weakness that cannot generate qi properly. Elderly people and those who overworked or exhausted tend to develop this type of headache.

Therapeutic principle: invigorate the spleen and replenish qi, promote the ascending of clear yang

Sample prescription: Smooth Qi and Harmonize the Middle Decoction

In the prescription, the astragalus root, ginseng, liquorice root and largehead atractylodes rhizome are used to replenish qi and invigorate the spleen, and are serving as the main herbs. The angelica root and white peony root nourish blood and harmonize the internal environment. The tangerine peel regulates qi and harmonizes the stomach; bugbane rhizome and bupleurum root promote the ascending of clear yang. The Manchurian wildginger, vitex fruit and Sichuan lovage dispel wind and relieve pain.

Astragalus root		Largehead atractylodes rhizome		Ginseng

Some modifications can be made according to the specific symptoms.

If blood deficiency also occurs, and presents with dizziness, palpations, and pale complexion, the above prescription should be combined with the Four-substance Decoction.

When spleen deficiency is serious that causes phlegm accumulated internally, appearing dizziness, chest stuffiness, abdominal distention, poor appetite, excess white sticky sputum, and a white greasy tongue coating. Extra herbs are added in the remedy to further invigorate the spleen and resolve phlegm.