Migraines are a common condition seen in clinical practice. Common symptoms of migraine headaches are one-sided pain, nausea, vomiting, light and noise sensitivity possibly with dizziness, blurred vision, irritability
Female, 34 yo
Presents with occasional headache on the left side, behind the eye. Pain is sharp and localized with a throbbing sensation spreading through left temporal side of head.
Points at back of the head and neck are tight on palpation with tenderness. Prior to the pain there will be a slight feeling of nausea and fuzzy head this progresses to light and sound sensitivity with a flushed feeling. Nausea will increase with possible vomiting, usually bitter mucus. Headache often begins 1-2 days prior to menstruation but can occur separate from cycle. Menstruation is a 30 day cycle with period lasting 5 days. There is brown spotting the first day and then heavy, bright red blood with a few small clots for 2 days then light flow/spotting for 2 days. There is often loose stools on the first day of the cycle with the rest of the time bowels being soft, 1-2 d times per day. Energy is good, sleep is generally 7 hours a night, restful with dreams only occasionally disturb the sleep. Mood is usually upbeat but tend to feel stressed easily with some irritability. Tongue is red body, scanty coat with teethmarks and a centre crack. Pulse is thready.
Diagnosis Migraine Headache
Pattern
1. Liver yin deficiency with heat
2. Spleen Qi deficiency
Principle of Treatment
1. Tonify Liver Yin
2. Clear Heat
3. Relieve Pain
4. Tonify Qi
Acupuncture Point Prescription
Lv-3, Ki-3, Gb-5, Gb-20, Gb-43, Du-20, LI-4, Pc-6
Acupuncture was performed twice a week for 3 weeks during that time there was one headache with slight dizziness, and mild nausea, which occurred at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. After the six sessions treatments were spaced to once a week for 1 month. A break of two weeks was taken and then another headache occurred with the similar symptoms but milder and without nausea or vomiting. A course of treatment was resumed with the same point prescription except Pc6 was replaced by Sp-6 and St-36. This continued for 6 weeks. Often acupuncture will be combined with a Chinese herbal formula. Taking a herbal formula in conjunction with acupuncture helps to regulate the body on a daily basis and can allow for longer time between acupuncture sessions.