🌿 Understanding Migraine Headaches: How and Why They Happen

yacuinfo
Apr 19
2 min read

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💡 What Is a Migraine?

A migraine is more than just a bad headache. It's a neurological condition that can cause:

Throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head
Nausea or vomiting
Sensitivity to light and sound
Sometimes, aura (visual or sensory changes before the pain starts)

🧠 What Causes Migraines? (Western Medical View)

Migraines are believed to be caused by a series of events in the brain and nervous system, triggered by things like stress, hormonal changes, poor sleep, or certain foods.

🧩 Step-by-Step Mechanism:

Triggers: Stress, hormones, lack of sleep, hunger, weather changes, etc.
Brainstem Activation: Early signals begin in deep brain areas (like the hypothalamus) that regulate sleep, hormones, and appetite.
Nerve Activation: The trigeminal nerve (which senses pain in the face and head) becomes activated.
Chemical Release: Nerves release chemicals like CGRP, which cause inflammation and swelling of blood vessels in the brain.
Pain Sensitization: The brain becomes more sensitive to pain, making normal stimuli (like light or touch) feel painful.

🧬 Other Factors:

Hormones: Estrogen changes around periods can trigger migraines.
Genetics: Migraines can run in families.
Neurotransmitters: Imbalance in brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.

🌿 What Causes Migraines? (Traditional Chinese Medicine View)

In TCM, migraines are understood through energetic imbalances in the body. Common patterns include:

⚖️ Common TCM Patterns:

Liver Yang Rising: Stress, anger, or overwork causes energy (yang) to surge upward, leading to head pain.
Liver Qi Stagnation: Emotional stress causes blocked energy flow, resulting in tension and headaches.
Blood Stasis: Poor circulation of blood causes sharp, stabbing headaches.
Phlegm-Damp Accumulation: Digestive weakness leads to heavy, foggy headaches, often with dizziness or fatigue.
Qi and Blood Deficiency: Weakness or fatigue leads to dull, lingering headaches that worsen with exertion.

🌿 Healing from the Root

Western medicine often focuses on stopping or preventing the pain with medications (like triptans or CGRP inhibitors).TCM focuses on balancing the body, identifying the root cause, and restoring harmony using: