治产后大便不通。（许叔微曰∶妇人产后有三种
疾，郁胃则多汗，多汗则大便秘，故难于用药。）及老人风秘，俱宜此粥。
大麻仁 紫苏子（等分） 共研，再用水研取汁煮粥。
此手阳明药也。麻仁阳明正药，滑肠润燥，利便除风；苏子兼走太阴，润肺通肠，和血下气，行
而不峻缓而能通。故老人产妇气血不足者，所宜用也。
治大小便不通。
用连根葱一二茎，带土生姜一块，淡豆豉二十一粒，盐二匙同研烂，捏作饼子烘热
掩脐中，以帛札定，良久气透自通，否则再换一饼。
蜜导法
方见伤寒门。
猪胆汁导法
方见伤寒门。
《经》曰∶风气循风府而上，则为脑风。新沐中风，则为首风。又曰∶头痛耳鸣，九
窍不利，肠胃之所生。总之，头为诸阳之首，以象天，六腑清阳之气，五脏精华之
血，皆会于头，为至清至高之处，故为天象，谓之元首，言其至尊，不可犯也。凡手
之三阳，从手走头。足之三阳，从头走足，以为常度，则无头痛之患。若外因风寒雾露
之触，内因痰火湿热之熏，痛由起矣。至于真头痛者，其脑尽痛，而手足寒，且青至
节，旦发夕死，夕发旦死，盖四肢为诸阳之本，痛尽脑而寒至节，则元阳亏败，气血虚
极，阴邪真中髓海于泥丸宫中，非药所能愈，盖其根先绝也。书又曰∶脑为髓海，受
邪则死，灸百会穴，猛迸大剂参附，亦有生者焉。
头痛头风，非二证也，在新久去留之分耳。浅而近者，名头痛，其痛卒然而至，易
于解散速安也；深而远者，名头风，其痛作止不常愈后遇触复发也。手足三阳之脉，皆
上循于头，为诸阳之会，六阴脉至颈而还，惟厥阴上入吭嗓，连目系出额，故当于七经
辨之，属痰者，居多，然有风寒湿热火痰，及气虚血虚，食郁疮毒之别，皆能伤于脉道
而为病也。伤于太阳则在后，阳明在额，挟鼻与齿，少阳两角，厥阳属巅顶，而多吐
涎，须寻风寻火，在气在血，晰其虚实表里，而便得病情矣。
《经》之论头痛，风也、寒也、虚也。皆六气相侵，与真气相搏，经气逆上，干于
清道，不得营运，壅遏而痛也。天气六淫之邪，人气五贼之变，皆能相害，或蔽覆其清
明，或瘀塞其经络，与气相搏，郁而成热，脉满而痛。若邪气稽留，脉满而气血乱，则
痛乃甚，此实痛也。寒湿所侵，真气虚弱，虽不相搏成热，然邪客于脉外，则血泣脉
寒，卷缩紧急，外引小络而痛，得温则止，此虚痛也。因风痛者，抽掣恶风；因热痛
者，烦心恶热；因湿痛者，头重而天阴转甚；因痰痛者，昏重而欲吐不休；因寒痛
者，绌急而恶寒战栗；气虚痛者，恶劳动其脉大；血虚痛者，善惊惕，其脉芤。头痛自
有多因，古方必兼风药者，以高巅之上，惟风可到。味之薄者，阴中之阳，自地升上者
也。在风寒湿者，固为正用，即虚与热者，亦假引经，且散其抑遏也。若疏散太过而
痛，及服辛散而反甚者，不防用酸收以降之。若年衰气弱，清气不能上升，而浊阴犯
之，以作痛者，宜升阳补气而自愈。若血虚之头痛，必处眉尖后，近发际而上攻头目，
宜用芎归养血而自愈。然新而暴者，但名头痛，深而久者，名为头风。头风必害眼者。
《经》所谓东风生于春，病在肝。目者，肝之窍，肝风动，则邪害空窍，且由精髓脑之
不足，而外邪易于以深入也。
厥头痛者，手三阳之脉，受风寒而伏留不去，上干于头，其气不循经隧而逆行，故
名曰厥。
久头痛病，略感风寒便发，而至塞目重
绵浓帕包裹者，此属郁热。本热而标寒，世人不识，率用辛温解散之药，临时得效，误
认为寒，殊不知因其本有郁热，毛窍常疏，故风寒易入，外寒束其内热，闭逆而为痛，
辛热之药，虽能开通闭逆，散其标之寒邪、然以热济热，病本益深，恶寒愈甚矣。惟当
泻火凉血为主，佐以辛温散表之剂，以从治法治之，则病可愈，而根可除也。
头痛多主于痰。痛甚者，火多，盖火性炎上，其痛发劈，有可吐者，有可下者，东
垣曰∶湿热在头而痛者，当以苦吐之，如瓜蒂散、浓茶之类是也。痰厥头痛，非半夏不
能除，有属于风者，有属于寒者，有属于半寒为偏头痛者，有属于湿者，有属于火郁
者，有属于外感有余，有属于内伤不足，伤食伤酒，种种症候，皆以头痛，总由清阳不
升，浊阴上犯也。
感冒头痛，宜防风、羌活、 本、白芷，即所谓新沐中风为首风。风热在上头
痛，宜天麻、蔓荆子、台芎、酒制黄芩。肥白人头痛，是气虚，宜黄 酒洗生地、南
星。形瘦苍黑之人头痛，是血虚，宜当归、川芎、酒黄芩之类。太阳头痛，恶风寒，脉
浮紧，其痛在巅顶，与两额角，川芎、羌活、独活、麻黄之类为主，为冲头痛。少阳
头痛，脉弦细，往来寒热，其痛连耳根，柴胡黄芩为主。阳明头涌，自汗，发热恶寒，
脉浮缓长实，其痛连目 ，鼻干齿颊目疼，升麻、葛根、石膏、白芷为主。太阴头痛，
必有痰，体重或腹痛，或痰癖，脉沉缓，以苍术、半夏、南星为主。少阴头痛，足寒气
逆，为寒厥，其脉沉细，麻黄、细辛、附子汤主之。厥阴头项痛，或吐痰沫厥冷，其脉
浮缓，以吴茱萸汤主之。然太阴、少阴，有身热而无头痛，厥阴有头痛而无身热，若身
热又头痛，属阳经也。血虚头痛，连鱼尾相连者，当归、川芎为主，以润风燥经。所谓
头痛耳鸣，九窍不利，肠胃之所生也。气虚头痛，人参、黄 为主，以升清阳，《经》
所谓上气不足，脑为之不满，头为之苦倾是也。偏头痛者少，少阳相火也。有痰者多，
在左属风属火，多血虚，宜薄荷、荆齐、川芎、当归，在右属痰，属热，多气虚，宜苍
术、半夏、酒芩为主。若属湿痰，川芎、南星、苍术为主。气血俱虚头痛，调中益气
汤，内加川芎三分，蔓荆子二分，细辛二分，其效如神。厥逆头痛者，所犯大寒，内
至骨髓，髓者，以脑为主，脑逆故令头痛，齿亦痛，以羌活附子汤主之。肾虚头痛，即
《经》所谓下虚上实，由相火上冲，气逆上行，痛不可忍，用补中汤加芎归，或姜附理
中汤。太阴头痛，必有痰也。少阴头痛，足寒而气逆也。太阴、少阴二经，虽不上头，
然痰与气壅于隔中，头上气不得畅而为痛也。痰厥头痛，所感不一，发时恶心，呕吐
痰水，甚则手足厥冷，吐去痰涎，其痛见减，虽由乎痰，然痰之始也，必有本，是知
方者，体也，法者，用也。徒知体而不知用者弊。若体用不失，可谓上工矣，宜以白
术、半夏、天麻汤主之。痰厥头痛，非半夏不能除；眼黑头旋，风虚内作，非天麻不能
解。平人头痛属火与痰者多，若肥人多是湿痰，二陈加苍术；人瘦多是血虚与火，酒炒
芩连荆防薄荷芎归之类。巅顶痛甚，加 本酒炒升柴。东垣曰∶顶巅痛，须用 本去川芎。
头痛不可专泥风药愈虚其虚，使风入于脑，永不可拔。亦不可偏于逐火，使风火上
乘空窍而从眼出，如腐之风火相煽，而成衣焉。谚云∶医得头风瞎了眼，此之谓也。
总之，头痛、头风，皆因清阳之气有亏，精华之血有损，不能交会卫护于首，以
致浊阴外邪犯之。若从标疏散清理，不过徒取近功。然益虚其虚，旋踵愈甚，（张）每
重用八味汤，加牛膝、五味子，食前早晚服之，浊阴降，真阴生，雷火熄，真火藏，上
下整肃，不惟头病既痊，精神亦可倍长矣
治疗产后大便不通。（许叔微说：妇人产后有三种疾病，胃气郁滞则多汗，多汗导致大便秘结，所以难以用药。）以及老人因风邪引起的便秘，都适宜用此粥。
大麻仁、紫苏子（等量），共同研磨，再用水研磨取汁煮粥。
这是手阳明经的药物。麻仁是阳明经的正药，能滑肠润燥，通便祛风；苏子兼走太阴经，润肺通肠，和血下气，药性行而不峻烈，缓而能通。所以气血不足的老年人和产妇适宜使用。
治疗大小便不通。
用带根的葱一两根，带土的生姜一块，淡豆豉二十一粒，盐两匙，一同研烂，捏成饼状烘热后敷在脐中，用布条扎紧，过一会儿气机通畅自然排便，否则再换一张饼。
《内经》说：风气顺着风府穴上行，就成为脑风。刚洗完头受风，就成为首风。又说：头痛耳鸣，九窍不利，是由肠胃产生的。总之，头是诸阳经的首领，象征天，六腑的清阳之气，五脏精华之血，都汇聚于头部，这是最清高至极的地方，所以称为天象，叫做元首，意思是极其尊贵，不可侵犯。凡是手三阳经，从手走向头；足三阳经，从头走向足，这是正常的规律，就不会有头痛的病患。如果外受风寒雾露的侵袭，内受痰火湿热的熏蒸，疼痛就产生了。至于真头痛，整个脑部都痛，而且手脚寒冷，青筋一直延伸到关节，早上发病晚上死，晚上发病早上死，大概四肢是诸阳的根本，疼痛遍及脑部且寒冷到达关节，说明元阳亏损败坏，气血极度虚弱，阴邪真的侵入髓海泥丸宫中，不是药物所能治愈的，因为根本已经断绝了。医书又说：脑为髓海，受到邪气就会死亡，灸百会穴，猛烈地投以大剂量人参、附子，也有存活的人。
头痛和头风，并不是两种证候，只是在新久、去留上的区别罢了。病位浅且病程短的，名叫头痛，其疼痛突然发生，容易解散迅速痊愈；病位深且病程长的，名叫头风，其疼痛发作停止没有定规，痊愈后遇到诱因又复发。手足三阳经脉，都向上循行于头部，是诸阳经的交会处，六条阴脉到达颈部就返回，只有厥阴经向上进入喉咙，连接目系出于额部，所以应当在七条经脉中进行辨别，属于痰证的居多，然而有风寒湿热火痰，以及气虚血虚、食积疮毒的区别，都能损伤脉道而成为疾病。伤及太阳经则在脑后，伤及阳明经在前额，挟鼻与齿，伤及少阳经在两颞侧角，伤及厥阴经在头顶，且多吐涎沫，必须寻找风邪与火邪，分辨在气在血，明晰虚实表里，就能掌握病情了。
《内经》论述头痛，是由于风、寒、虚。都是六气相互侵扰，与真气相搏，经气逆上，干扰清道，不能正常营运，壅遏而疼痛。天气六淫之邪，人气五贼之变，都能相互伤害，或者遮蔽覆盖其清明，或者瘀塞其经络，与气相搏，郁结而成热，脉满而痛。如果邪气稽留，脉满而气血紊乱，则疼痛更严重，这是实痛。寒湿所侵，真气虚弱，虽然不相搏结成热，但邪气客居在脉外，则血液凝涩脉寒，血管卷缩紧急，向外牵引小络而痛，得温则止，这是虚痛。因风致痛的，抽搐掣动怕风；因热致痛的，心烦怕热；因湿致痛的，头重且阴天加重；因痰致痛的，昏沉重浊想吐个不停；因寒致痛的，拘急怕冷战栗；气虚致痛的，厌恶劳动且脉大；血虚致痛的，容易惊恐惕惧，脉芤。头痛自有多种原因，古方必定兼用风药，是因为高巅之上，只有风能到达。气味薄的药，是阴中之阳，自地上升的。对于风寒湿邪，固然是正用，即使是虚证与热证，也借风药作为引经药，并且疏散其抑遏。如果疏散太过反而疼痛，以及服用辛散药反而加重的，不妨用酸收药来降逆。如果年老体衰气弱，清气不能上升，而浊阴侵犯它导致疼痛的，适宜升阳补气而自愈。如果是血虚的头痛，必在眉尖后方，近发际处向上攻冲头目，适宜用川芎、当归养血而自愈。然而新近暴发的，只名叫头痛，深久不愈的，名叫头风。头风必定损害眼睛。《内经》所谓东风生于春，病在肝。眼睛是肝之窍，肝风动，则邪气侵害空窍，而且由于精髓脑之不足，外邪易于深入。
厥头痛，是手三阳经脉，受风寒而潜伏停留不去，向上干扰头部，其气不循经隧而逆行，所以名叫厥。
久患头痛病，稍微感受风寒就发作，甚至闭目重裹厚帕包裹的，这属于郁热。本质是热而表象是寒，世人不懂，一律用辛温解散的药物，临时得到效果，误认为是寒，殊不知因其本有郁热，毛孔常疏松，所以风寒易入，外寒束缚其内热，闭塞逆乱而疼痛，辛热药物，虽然能开通闭逆，疏散表象的寒邪，然而以热助热，病本更深，恶寒更严重了。只应当以泻火凉血为主，佐以辛温解表的药剂，以从治法治之，则病可愈，而病根可除。
头痛多主因于痰。痛剧烈的，多是火，因为火性炎上，其疼痛发作劈裂，有的可用吐法，有的可用下法，李东垣说：湿热在头部而痛的，应当用苦味药催吐，如瓜蒂散、浓茶之类是。痰厥头痛，非半夏不能去除，有属于风的，有属于寒的，有属于半寒而为偏头痛的，有属于湿的，有属于火郁的，有属于外感有余的，有属于内伤不足的，伤食伤酒，种种症候，都以头痛为主，总由清阳不升，浊阴上犯所致。
感冒头痛，适宜用防风、羌活、藁本、白芷，就是所谓刚洗头受风为首风。风热在上头部痛，适宜用天麻、蔓荆子、台芎、酒制黄芩。肥胖白人头痛，是气虚，适宜用黄芪、酒洗生地、南星。形体瘦苍黑之人头痛，是血虚，适宜用当归、川芎、酒黄芩之类。太阳头痛，怕风怕冷，脉浮紧，其痛在巅顶，与两额角，以川芎、羌活、独活、麻黄之类为主，为冲头痛。少阳头痛，脉弦细，往来寒热，其痛连耳根，以柴胡、黄芩为主。阳明头痛，自汗，发热恶寒，脉浮缓长实，其痛连目眶，鼻干齿颊目疼，以升麻、葛根、石膏、白芷为主。太阴头痛，必有痰，体重或腹痛，或痰癖，脉沉缓，以苍术、半夏、南星为主。少阴头痛，足寒气逆，为寒厥，其脉沉细，以麻黄、细辛、附子汤主之。厥阴头项痛，或吐痰沫厥冷，其脉浮缓，以吴茱萸汤主之。然而太阴、少阴，有身热而无头痛，厥阴有头痛而无身热，若身热又头痛，属阳经。血虚头痛，连鱼尾相连者，以当归、川芎为主，以润风燥经。所谓头痛耳鸣，九窍不利，是肠胃所产生的。气虚头痛，以人参、黄芪为主，以升清阳，《内经》所谓上气不足，脑为之不满，头为之苦倾是也。偏头痛者少，是少阳相火。有痰的多，在左侧属风属火，多血虚，适宜薄荷、荆芥、川芎、当归，在右侧属痰，属热，多气虚，适宜苍术、半夏、酒芩为主。若属湿痰，以川芎、南星、苍术为主。气血俱虚头痛，用调中益气汤，内加川芎三分，蔓荆子二分，细辛二分，其效如神。厥逆头痛者，所犯大寒，内至骨髓，髓者，以脑为主，脑逆故令头痛，牙齿也痛，以羌活附子汤主之。肾虚头痛，即《内经》所谓下虚上实，由相火上冲，气逆上行，痛不可忍，用补中益气汤加川芎、当归，或姜附理中汤。太阴头痛，必有痰。少阴头痛，足寒而气逆。太阴、少阴二经，虽不上头，然痰与气壅于膈中，头上气不得畅而为痛。痰厥头痛，所感不一，发作时恶心，呕吐痰水，甚则手足厥冷，吐去痰涎，其痛见减，虽由乎痰，然痰之始也，必有本，是知方者，体也，法者，用也。徒知体而不知用者弊。若体用不失，可谓上工矣，适宜以白术、半夏、天麻汤主之。痰厥头痛，非半夏不能除；眼黑头旋，风虚内作，非天麻不能解。平人头痛属火与痰的多，若肥人多是湿痰，二陈汤加苍术；人瘦多是血虚与火，酒炒芩连荆防薄荷芎归之类。巅顶痛甚，加藁本酒炒升柴。李东垣说：顶巅痛，须用藁本去川芎。头痛不可专泥于风药，愈虚其虚，使风入于脑，永不可拔。亦不可偏于逐火，使风火上乘空窍而从眼出，如腐之风火相煽，而成衣焉。谚语说：医得头风瞎了眼，此之谓也。
总之，头痛、头风，皆因清阳之气有亏，精华之血有损，不能交会卫护于头部，以致浊阴外邪侵犯。如果从标疏散清理，不过徒取近功。然而益虚其虚，转眼更严重，（张）每重用八味汤，加牛膝、五味子，食前早晚服之，浊阴降，真阴生，雷火熄，真火藏，上下整肃，不惟头病既痊，精神亦可倍长矣。
Treats postpartum constipation. (Xu Shuwei said: Women after childbirth have three types of diseases; if the Stomach Qi is stagnant, there is excessive sweating; excessive sweating leads to dry stool constipation, so it is difficult to use medication.) It is also suitable for elderly people with wind-type constipation. Use equal parts of Hemp Seed (Cannabis Fructus) and Perilla Seed (Perillae Fructus), grind them together, then add water, grind again to extract the juice, and cook into a porridge.
This involves the Hand Yangming channel. Hemp Seed is the primary herb for the Yangming channel, capable of lubricating the intestines, moistening dryness, promoting bowel movements, and dispelling wind; Perilla Seed also travels to the Taiyin channel, moistens the Lungs, unblocks the intestines, harmonizes Blood, directs Qi downward, acts gently without being harsh, and promotes flow smoothly. Therefore, it is suitable for the elderly and postpartum women who lack Qi and Blood.
Treats obstruction of both urination and defecation.
Take one or two stalks of green onion with roots, a piece of fresh ginger with soil attached, twenty-one grains of prepared Soybean (Fermented Glycine Max Semen), and two spoonfuls of salt. Grind them into a paste, shape into cakes, warm them, and apply to the umbilicus. Secure with a cloth bandage. After a while, Qi will penetrate and passage will naturally open; otherwise, replace with another cake.
Honey Suppository Method
See the Treatise on Cold Damage section.
Pig Bile Suppository Method
See the Treatise on Cold Damage section.
The Classic states: When Wind Qi follows the Fengfu point upward, it becomes Brain Wind. If one catches a cold immediately after washing hair, it becomes Head Wind. It also states: Headache, tinnitus, and dysfunction of the nine orifices are generated from the Intestines and Stomach. In summary, the head is the leader of all Yang channels, symbolizing Heaven. The Clear Yang Qi of the Six Fu organs and the Essence Blood of the Five Zang organs all converge in the head, which is the most pure and exalted place, thus called the Heavenly Image, or "Head Chief," implying supreme dignity that must not be offended. All three Hand Yang channels run from the hands to the head; all three Foot Yang channels run from the head to the feet. This is the normal pattern, under which there would be no headache. However, if externally invaded by Wind, Cold, Fog, and Dew, or internally harassed by Phlegm-Fire, Damp-Heat, pain arises. As for True Headache, the entire brain hurts, accompanied by cold limbs where cyanosis extends to the joints. Death occurs in the evening if onset is in the morning, and in the morning if onset is in the evening. This is because the four limbs are the root of all Yang; when pain pervades the brain and cold reaches the joints, it indicates depletion of Primordial Yang and extreme deficiency of Qi and Blood. Yin pathogenic factors truly invade the Sea of Marrow (Niwang Palace). It cannot be cured by medicine because the root is already severed. Medical texts also state: The Brain is the Sea of Marrow; if affected by pathogens, death ensues. Moxibustion at Baihui (GV20) and vigorous administration of large doses of Ginseng (Ren Shen) and Aconite (Fu Zi) may result in survival.
Headache and Head Wind are not two different conditions, but differ only in their newness/oldness and retention/resolution. Superficial and recent cases are named Headache; the pain comes suddenly and resolves quickly. Deep and chronic cases are named Head Wind; the pain comes and goes irregularly and recurs upon triggering after recovery. The meridians of the Hand and Foot Yang all ascend to the head, making it the meeting point of all Yang. The six Yin meridians return at the neck; only the Jueyin meridian ascends to the throat, connects to the eye system, and emerges at the forehead. Therefore, differentiation should be made among these seven channels. Cases involving Phlegm are common, but distinctions must be made between Wind-Cold-Damp, Fire, Phlegm-Fire, Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency, Food stagnation, and Carbuncle toxins, all of which can damage the meridians and cause disease. Invasion of the Taiyang channel causes pain at the back; Yangming channel affects the forehead, nose, and teeth; Shaoyang channel affects the temples; Jueyin channel affects the vertex and often involves salivation. One must identify Wind and Fire, determine involvement of Qi or Blood, and clarify Deficiency/Excess and Interior/Exterior to grasp the pathology.
The Classics discuss headache as caused by Wind, Cold, and Deficiency. These involve the invasion of the Six Qi clashing with True Qi, causing meridian Qi to reverse upward, disturbing the clear pathways, failing to circulate normally, leading to congestion and pain. Atmospheric Six Excesses and Human Five Thieves can harm each other, either obscuring clarity or blocking meridians. Clashing with Qi, they stagnate and generate Heat, causing full pulses and pain. If pathogens linger, pulses become full, Qi and Blood chaotic, and pain intensifies; this is Excess Pain. Invasion by Cold-Damp with weak True Qi, even without generating Heat, causes pathogens to lodge outside the vessels, leading to sluggish blood and cold vessels, contraction, tension, and traction on collateral vessels causing pain, which stops with warmth; this is Deficiency Pain. Pain due to Wind involves twitching and aversion to wind; due to Heat involves irritability and aversion to heat; due to Dampness involves heavy head worsening on cloudy days; due to Phlegm involves dizziness, heaviness, and persistent nausea; due to Cold involves cramping, aversion to cold, and shivering; Qi deficiency pain involves aversion to exertion and a large pulse; Blood deficiency pain involves palpitations and a hollow pulse. Headaches have many causes. Ancient formulas always include Wind-dispelling herbs because only Wind can reach the high summit. Herbs with thin flavors are Yang within Yin, rising from the earth. For Wind-Cold-Damp, they are primary; for Deficiency and Heat, they serve as guiding herbs to disperse stagnation. If over-dispersal worsens pain, or if acrid-dispersing herbs aggravate it, sour-astringent herbs may be used to descend. In elderly people with weak Qi, if Clear Yang fails to rise and Turbid Yin invades, tonifying Yang and boosting Qi will lead to self-recovery. For Blood deficiency headache, pain attacks near the hairline above the eyebrows; Angelica Sinensis (Dang Gui) and Ligusticum Chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong) nourish Blood. Acute cases are called Headache; chronic deep cases are called Head Wind. Head Wind inevitably damages the eyes. The Classic says: East Wind born in Spring harms the Liver. The Eye is the opening of the Liver; Liver Wind moves, harming the orifices. Insufficiency of Essence and Brain Marrow allows external pathogens to penetrate deeply.
Jue Headache occurs when Hand Yang meridians are invaded by Wind-Cold, which lingers and ascends to disturb the head. Qi reverses against the meridians, hence named Jue.
Chronic headache triggered by slight Wind-Cold exposure, requiring heavy wrapping, belongs to Stagnant Heat. The root is Heat, the branch is Cold. People mistakenly use acrid-warm dispersing herbs, gaining temporary relief and misdiagnosing it as Cold. In reality, underlying Stagnant Heat keeps pores loose, allowing Wind-Cold entry. External Cold binds internal Heat, causing blockage and pain. Acrid-hot herbs open blockages and scatter superficial Cold, but adding Heat to Heat deepens the root and worsens aversion to cold. Treatment should focus on purging Fire and cooling Blood, assisted by acrid-warm exterior-dispersing agents, treating according to the contrary method to cure the disease and remove its root.
Headache is mostly dominated by Phlegm. Severe pain often involves Fire, as Fire flares upward. Pain may be treated with emesis or purgation. Li Dongyuan stated: Headache due to Damp-Heat in the head should be treated with bitter emetics like Momordica Seed Powder (Gua Di San) or strong tea. Phlegm-Jue headache requires Pinellia (Ban Xia) to resolve. Causes include Wind, Cold, Half-Cold (hemicrania), Dampness, Fire Stagnation, Exterior Excess, and Interior Deficiency (food/wine injury). All stem from failure of Clear Yang to ascend and invasion of Turbid Yin.
For Cold-Damage headache, use Saposhnikovia (Fang Feng), Notopterygium (Qiang Huo), Ligusticum Wallichii (Gao Ben), and Angelica Dahurica (Bai Zhi); this is Head Wind from washing hair. Upper Headache due to Wind-Heat uses Gastrodia (Tian Ma), Vitex (Man Jing Zi), Ligusticum (Tai Xiong), and Scutellaria (Huang Qin) processed with wine. Headache in fat, pale people indicates Qi deficiency; use Astragalus (Huang Qi), Rehmannia (Sheng Di) processed with wine, and Pinellia (Nan Xing). Headache in thin, dark people indicates Blood deficiency; use Angelica Sinensis (Dang Gui), Ligusticum (Chuan Xiong), and Scutellaria (Huang Qin) processed with wine. Taiyang headache, with aversion to Wind-Cold and floating-tight pulse, pain at vertex and temples, uses Ligusticum (Chuan Xiong), Notopterygium (Qiang Huo), Angelica Pubescens (Du Huo), and Ephedra (Ma Huang). Shaoyang headache, with wiry-thin pulse and alternating chills/fever, pain radiating to ears, uses Bupleurum (Chai Hu) and Scutellaria (Huang Qin). Yangming headache, with spontaneous sweating, fever, aversion to cold, floating-slow-long-full pulse, pain radiating to eyes, dry nose, tooth/jaw/eye pain, uses Cimicifuga (Sheng Ma), Pueraria (Ge Gen), Gypsum (Shi Gao), and Angelica Dahurica (Bai Zhi). Taiyin headache involves Phlegm, body weight, abdominal pain, or phlegm-rheum, sinking-slow pulse; uses Atractylodes (Cang Zhu), Pinellia (Ban Xia), and Pinellia Tuber (Nan Xing). Shaoyin headache, with cold feet and reversing Qi (Cold Jue), sinking-thin pulse, uses Ephedra (Ma Huang), Asarum (Xi Xin), and Aconite Decoction (Fu Zi Tang). Jueyin head/neck pain, with vomiting phlegm/saliva and cold limbs, floating-slow pulse, uses Evodia Decoction (Wu Zhu Yu Tang). Note: Taiyin and Shaoyin may have fever but no headache; Jueyin has headache but no fever. Fever plus headache indicates Yang channels. Blood deficiency headache extending to the temporal corners uses Angelica Sinensis (Dang Gui) and Ligusticum (Chuan Xiong) to moisten Wind-dry meridians. "Headache and tinnitus, dysfunction of nine orifices" arise from Intestines/Stomach. Qi deficiency headache uses Ginseng (Ren Shen) and Astragalus (Huang Qi) to raise Clear Yang ("Insufficient Upper Qi leads to empty Brain and painful tilting"). Hemicrania is rare, related to Ministerial Fire. Phlegm cases are common: Left side relates to Wind/Fire/Blood deficiency (Mint, Schizonepeta, Ligusticum, Angelica); Right side relates to Phlegm/Heat/Qi deficiency (Atractylodes, Pinellia, Scutellaria). Wet-Phlegm uses Ligusticum, Pinellia, Atractylodes. Qi-Blood dual deficiency uses Modulating Middle and Boosting Qi Decoction (Tiao Zhong Yi Qi Tang) plus Ligusticum, Vitex, Asarum. Jue Ni headache from severe Cold penetrating marrow to Brain uses Notopterygium and Aconite Decoction (Qiang Huo Fu Zi Tang). Kidney deficiency headache ("Lower Deficiency, Upper Excess") from Ministerial Fire rushing up uses Tonifying Middle Decoction plus Ligusticum/Angelica, or Ginger-Aconite Lizhong Decoction. Taiyin headache involves Phlegm; Shaoyin involves cold feet/reversing Qi. Though Taiyin/Shaoyin don't ascend to the head, Phlegm/Qi congestion in the diaphragm blocks Head Qi, causing pain. Phlegm-Jue headache varies; symptoms include nausea, vomiting phlegm-water, cold limbs. Vomiting phlegm reduces pain. Although caused by Phlegm, there is an original root. Formulas represent Substance (Ti); Methods represent Function (Yong). Knowing Substance without Function is flawed. Balancing both makes one a master physician. Use Atractylodes, Pinellia, Gastrodia Decoction. Phlegm-Jue requires Pinellia; Blackout/dizziness from Internal Wind-Deficiency requires Gastrodia. Common people's headache is often Fire/Phlegm. Fat people: Wet-Phlegm (Er Chen Tang + Atractylodes). Thin people: Blood deficiency/Fire (Scutellaria, Coptis, Schizonepeta, Saposhnikovia, Mint, Ligusticum, Angelica). Vertex pain adds Ligusticum Wallichii (Gao Ben) processed with wine, Bupleurum, Cyperus. Li Dongyuan said: Vertex pain requires Gao Ben, excluding Ligusticum. Do not rely solely on Wind herbs, which further deplete and allow Wind into the Brain. Do not focus only on purging Fire, allowing Wind-Fire to exit through eyes, causing blindness. As the saying goes: "Treating Head Wind blinds the eyes."
In summary, Headache and Head Wind result from deficiency of Clear Yang and Essence Blood, failing to protect the head, allowing Turbid Yin and external pathogens to invade. Treating only the branch with dispersing/clearing methods yields only short-term benefit, further depleting the patient and worsening the condition. Zhang frequently used Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) plus Achyranthes (Niu Xi) and Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), taken before meals morning and night. This lowers Turbid Yin, generates True Yin, extinguishes Thunder Fire, stores True Fire, and restores order, curing head disease and doubling spirit.