A male (no age or date given) was seen at the clinic complaining of a headache that began to manifest after contracting cold. He was erroneously given an acrid-cool formula, which offered him no relief.

The headache has lasted for over ten days now, and felt as if his head was being split open by a hatchet, which was described as “unbearable”. In the afternoon he would feel an aversion to cold, and generalized body pain. His pulse was deep and weak with no strength. His tongue coating was slippery-white, and he had no desire to drink.

The head is the gathering point for all the yáng, and currently we have a case of yīn pathogens rising and attacking the head. Yáng is insufficient and unable to transform and move these pathogens. The pathogenic factor and right qì are fighting one another, thereby causing this condition. The method of treatment should involve assisting the right qì and expelling pathogens. A modified version of má huáng fù zǐ xì xīn tāng (Ephedra, Aconite Accessory Root Tuber and Asarum Decoction) is able to address this.

fù zǐ (Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata) 100g

gān jiāng (Zingiberis Rhizoma) 36g

gān cǎo (Glycyrrhizae Radix) 6g

má huáng (Ephedrae Herba) 10g

xì xǐn (Asari Herba) 5g

qiāng huó (Notopterygii Rhizoma seu Radix) 10g

After taking one package of the formula, the headache pain was cut in half, and after taking another package, his condition quickly resolved.

Commentary: This is a Shào Yīn headache, and because it was treated accordingly, the effect was excellent. Within the formula we see sì nì tāng (Frigid Extremities Decoction), which is able to warm and assist yáng qì to reach the head. má huáng (Ephedrae Herba), qiāng huó (Notopterygii Rhizoma seu Radix), and xì xǐn (Asari Herba), can dispel the cold which has settled in the Tài Yáng, transforming in the bladder (channel). Therefore, the formula is able to warm the channels, scatter cold, assist the right qì, and expel pathogens, to offer an effective treatment.

Headaches can occur in diseases of all six channels, but when we adhere to the methods of six-channel pattern identification given to us by Zhòng-Jǐng, we are able to treat and achieve positive results.