wk11 - headaches

Question 1

How do we distinguish headaches?

Answer 1

· by location and quality of headache
· exterior vs interior
· excess or vacuity (for interior headaches)

Question 2

A Frontal headache indicates what pathology?

Answer 2

· Yang Ming Disorder (ST or LI heat)

· Food Stagnation

Question 3

An Occipital headache indicates what pathology?

Answer 3

· Exterior Invasion (at Du 14, joining of Yang channels)

· Qi Stagnation (tension h/a)

Question 4

A Vertex headache indicates what pathology?

Answer 4

· LV Excess

Question 5

A headache located on both sides of head indicates what pathology?

Answer 5

· LV/GB pathology

Question 6

A one-sided headache indicates what pathology?

Answer 6

· GB pathology

Question 7

A headache behind the eyes indicates what pathology?

Answer 7

· LV Excess (connection bw Liver & eyes)

Question 8

A whole-headed “dull” headache indicates what pathology? (think very generally)

Answer 8

· Vacuity

Question 9

A whole-headed “pounding” headache indicates what pathology (think very generally)

Answer 9

· Excess

Question 10

A Facial or Sinus headache indicates what pathology?

Answer 10

· ST/SP Damp Heat (misting up to face)
· LU Heat
· Combined ST/SP Damp Heat with LU Heat (something is producing phlegm, and there’s accumulation in sinus)

Question 11

True or False: An Exterior headache means there has been an exterior invasion or pathogenic symptoms.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

True or False: An Interior headache can be categorized as Excess or Vacuity depending on the quality of pain and the underlying condition.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What are some words used to describe an Interior Excess headache?

Answer 13

· stabbing
· throbbing, pounding
· damp, oppressive

Question 14

A patient who with a “stabbing” headache has what pathology? What is unique about this headache? What are some good questions to ask this patient?

Answer 14

· Blood Stagnation
· unique bc patient knows specific location of headache
· inquire into any history of head trauma, accidents, hospitalizations, or playing sports

Question 15

A patient with a “throbbing” or “pounding” headache may have what 2 pathologies? How do we distinguish which pattern?

Answer 15

· LV Yang Rising or LV Fire
· LV Yang Rising – emotional onset of headaches, not as many heat sx, and LV Yin or LV Blood Vacuity in background
· LV Fire – more heat sx including anger, irritability, red eyes, thirst, rapid pulse, bitter taste in mouth, dizziness, and high-pitched episodic tinnitus

Question 16

A patient with a “damp” or “oppressive” headache has what pathology? How else might the patient describe the headache? is the headache better or worse with damp weather?

Answer 16

· Dampness
· feels like a wet towel over head
· cognitive functions are impaired; difficult to think
· described as “muzzy”, “foggy”, “band or tightness around circumference of head”
· always worse with damp weather (either before rain or in muggy weather/high humidity)

Question 17

What are some words used to describe an Interior Vacuity headache?

Answer 17

· dull
· achy
· nagging
· empty

Question 18

A patient with a “dull, achy, nagging” headache may have what 2 pathologies? How do we distinguish which pattern? What are some accompanying symptoms?

Answer 18

· LV Blood Vacuity or LV Yin Vacuity
· primary difference is dryness – LV Yin Vacuity presents with dry eyes, dry throat, etc
· otherwise both patterns share general sx: vision diminishment, cloudy vision, floaters, dizziness with motion, blood vacuity sx in menses (shortened cycles, light bleeding)

Question 19

A patient with a “dull, achy” headache has what pathology? Where is this headache located? Is it better or worse with rest and movement? What are some accompanying symptoms?

Answer 19

· Qi Vacuity
· tends to be whole-headed, better with rest, worse with movement
· general Qi Vacuity sx: loose bowels & stools, fatigue, easy bruising

Question 20

A patient with a “dull, empty” headache may have what 3 pathologies? What are some general symptoms? What are some specific symptoms that would help distinguish the pattern?

Answer 20

· KD Yang Vacuity, KD Yin Vacuity, or Essence Vacuity
· general KD sx: low back pain, knee pain, fatigue, low libido, frequent urination
· KD Yang Xu: cold, increased urinary output and frequency (clear, copious urine), lots of sweat all the time with little exertion
· KD Yin Xu: evening heat/yin vacuity fever, increased urinary frequency (darker, scanty), night sweats
· Essence Xu – worse case scenario: premature aging, early menopause, someone in 30’s with gray hair or dental issues or osteoporosis

Question 21

A patient presenting with a headache which he describes as throbbing or pounding and which occurs during or following episodes of emotional upset, is likely suffering from what kind of headache?

Answer 21

LV Yang Rising headache

Question 22

A patient who is presenting with a stabbing headache which is located at a specific place on the head, is suffering from what kind of headache?

Answer 22

Blood Stagnation

Question 23

How will a patient who is suffering from vacuity headaches describe his/her headache?

Answer 23

dull, achy, nagging, empty