Chinese Medicine for Headaches & Migraine
When Headaches Become Part of the Routine
A headache is not always just pain.
You may notice nausea, light or sound sensitivity, neck tension, visual changes, irritability, fatigue or difficulty thinking clearly around an episode.
Some headaches build gradually. Others appear suddenly. Some occur around menstruation or periods of stress, while others seem connected with missed meals, poor sleep, travel, weather changes or no obvious trigger at all.
For many people, the period before and after the headache is just as important as the pain itself.
Understanding these patterns helps create a fuller picture of what may be contributing.
A Whole-Person Approach
The pattern around the headache matters
Headaches may be influenced by several factors at the same time — sleep, stress, hormonal changes, digestion, muscle tension, hydration, medication, workload or other aspects of health.
Looking at these factors together can help make sense of why symptoms may recur or change over time.
How Traditional Chinese Medicine Looks at Headaches & Migraine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the location, timing and character of the pain can all provide useful information.
During your consultation, we may look at:
where the headache is located
whether the pain is throbbing, tight, dull, sharp or heavy
how frequently episodes occur
how long they last
visual symptoms or aura
nausea or digestive changes
sensitivity to light or sound
neck and shoulder tension
sleep quality
stress levels
menstrual or hormonal timing where relevant
appetite and hydration
energy before and after an episode
temperature or weather sensitivity
known triggers
current medication and supplements
Two people may both experience migraine but have very different accompanying patterns.
This is why treatment is individualised rather than based only on the diagnosis of “migraine” or “headache.”
More Than the Pain Itself
Your consultation considers what happens before, during and after an episode, not just the intensity of the headache.
Individual Treatment Decisions
Recommendations are based on your own symptom pattern, health history and current treatment rather than a standard headache protocol.
Common Headache & Migraine Concerns
Safety Comes First
New, severe, rapidly worsening or unusual headaches require appropriate medical assessment. If your history suggests that further investigation is needed, I will advise you to seek medical care.
People commonly consult me online about:
Recurring headaches
Migraine
Headaches associated with stress
Headaches with neck or shoulder tension
Menstrual or hormonally linked headaches
Headaches associated with poor sleep
Headaches with nausea
Light or sound sensitivity
Visual symptoms or aura
Headaches associated with fatigue
Headaches that worsen after missed meals
Weather-related headache patterns
Headaches occurring alongside digestive symptoms
Feeling depleted or foggy after an episode
Recurrent headaches despite identifying no clear trigger
This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure whether an online Chinese medicine consultation may be appropriate for your skin concern, you can book a free 10-minute introductory call.
When headaches start shaping your day
Recurring headaches or migraine can affect much more than the hours when the pain is present. You may find yourself planning around possible attacks, avoiding certain triggers, struggling with concentration, or feeling exhausted afterwards.
For some people, headaches are linked with stress or poor sleep. For others, they appear alongside hormonal changes, digestive symptoms, neck and shoulder tension, visual disturbance or changes in energy.
Your consultation gives us time to look at the pattern of your headaches, what seems to trigger them, what comes with them, and what happens between episodes.
Book an Initial Online TCM Consultation
Not sure whether online Chinese herbal medicine is right for you? Book a free 10-minute introductory call.
Book an Initial Online TCM Consultation
Approx. £120 / €141 / 20,900 ISK
Not sure whether online Chinese herbal medicine is right for you? Book a free 10-minute introductory call.
Your First Consultation Includes
A detailed headache and migraine review
We discuss where the pain is felt, how it starts, how long it lasts, how often it occurs and what symptoms appear before, during or after an episode.
Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment
The headache itself is only one part of the picture. I also look at sleep, digestion, stress, circulation, menstrual or hormonal changes where relevant, temperature patterns and other associated symptoms.
Personalised care plan
Your care plan may include nutritional and lifestyle guidance, acupressure, Qigong or other supportive measures based on your individual presentation.
Bespoke Chinese herbal prescription where appropriate
If herbal medicine is suitable for you, a formula can be prescribed according to the wider TCM pattern associated with your headaches.
Written consultation summary
You receive a written summary of the main findings and the recommendations discussed during your consultation.
Chinese herbal medicine is charged separately. The cost is confirmed before anything is ordered.