Migraine is a recurring type of headache that causes severe throbbing or pulsing pain, often on one side of the head.
In Chinese medicine, migraines are further divided into eight different patterns, each providing unique insights into the condition.
Migraine Headache Western Medicine Diagnosis and Chinese Medicine patterns:
Migraine without Aura (Common Migraine)
- Western Medicine Diagnosis: Migraine without Aura is characterised by recurrent moderate to severe headaches without any warning signs or auras. The pain is often pulsating and affects one side of the head. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual disturbances during the headache.
- Chinese Medicine Pattern: In Chinese medicine, common migraine can be associated with Liver Qi stagnation, where there is an imbalance in the flow of Qi in the liver or gall bladder meridians.
Migraine with Aura (Classic Migraine)
- Western Medicine Diagnosis: Migraine with Aura involves specific warning signs or auras before the onset of the headache. Auras can include visual disturbances like flashing lights or zigzag lines, as well as sensory, motor, or verbal disturbances.
- Chinese Medicine Pattern: In Chinese medicine, class migraine can be associated with liver fire, where there is an excess of heat and energy in the liver meridian, leading to visual disturbances and other symptoms.
Chronic Migraine:
- Western Medicine Diagnosis: Chronic Migraine is diagnosed when a person experiences headaches on 15 or more days per month for at least three months, with at least eight of those days being migraines.
- Chinese Medicine Pattern: In Chinese medicine, chronic migraines can be associated with a variety of patterns, including Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency, Qi and Blood deficiency, and sometimes Phlegm and Damp stagnation.
At Acupuncture Medicine South Melbourne, we aim to identify specific Chinese medcine pattern associated with migraine headache to providing more personalised treatments.