These can be divided into different categories depending on the part of the head which aches.
There are numerous causes of headache. The majority are benign eg. migraine, stress, viral etc., however important causes such as tumours and strokes must always be first excluded.
Migraines: Classically these are severe causing vomiting and extreme pain often on one side of the head only. The eyes are sensitive to light and occasionally numbness and weakness may be experienced on one side of the body. They are caused by dilation of blood vessels to the head often for unknown reasons.
Use the general pain points for the head in all cases:
| Disperse | |
LI4 |
Situated on the top of the hand in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger, around the highest point of the raised area occurring when the thumb and forefinger are brought together. |
GV20 |
On the top of the head where an imaginary line between the top of the ears crosses a line from the nose to the top of the spine. |
Frontal (Front)
Depending on the area of pain disperse also the following:
| Ah Shi points | |
GV23 |
One thumb width above the front hairline in the centre line of the head. |
ST8 |
Directly above the centre of the temple, half a thumb width above the hairline. |
| GB14 |
One thumb width above the middle of the eyebrow. |
Yintang |
At the top of the nose on the centre line between the ends of the eyebrows. |
Taiyang |
On the side of the head, in the depression one thumb width from the outer corner of the eye. |
Occipital (Back)
| Ah Shi points | |
GB20 |
In the depression below the skull bone at the back of the neck, on the outside of the large muscle. |
Vertical (Top)
| Ah Shi points | |
UB60 |
In the hollow at the centre of a line between the outer ankle bone and the Achilles tendon. |
LIV2 |
Half a thumb width behind the webbing between the 1st and 2nd toe. |
GB34 |
In the hollow on the outside of the leg just below the top of the lower leg bone (fibula). |
| ST8 |
Directly above the centre of the temple, half a thumb width above the hairline. |
UB10 |
One and a half thumb widths to the outside of a point which is half a thumb width above the hairline at the centre back of the head, in the hollow. |
SI3 |
On the outside edge (little finger side) on the hand at the end of the main crease formed when the hand is clenched. |
Temporal (Side)
| Ah Shi points | |
| ST8 |
Directly above the centre of the temple, half a thumb width above the hairline. |
GB8 |
One thumb width above the top most point of the ear. |
SJ23 |
At the outside end of the eyebrow in the hollow. |
| Taiyang |
On the side of the head, in the depression one thumb width from the outer corner of the eye. |
SJ5 |
On the top of the forearm two thumb widths from the crease of the wrist between the two bones in the arm. |
