The treatment of migraine headaches with Chinese medicine

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Jan, 2005 by Bob Flaws

Keywords: Chinese medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, headache, migraine

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When it comes to pain and Chinese medicine, most Westerners immediately think of acupuncture, and there is no doubt that acupuncture can be a very effective treatment for many acute and chronic pain conditions. However, within professional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is seen as an adjunctive modality somewhat akin to physical therapy, while internally administered Chinese herbal medicines are the main modality of Chinese medicine. As the following clinical trials suggest, such internally administered Chinese herbal medicines can be very effective for the treatment of migraine headaches, a common cause of chronic, recurrent pain.

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Study 1: From "The Treatment of 32 Cases of Migraine Headache by Yang Xue Chu Feng Tong Luo Tang (Nourishing the Blood, Dispelling Wind & Freeing the Flow of the Network Vessels Decoction)" by Huang Qiao-zhi, Shan Xi Zhong Yi (Shanxi Chinese Medicine), #5, 2003, p. 19-20

Cohort description:

All 32 out-patients enrolled in this study met the diagnostic criteria for migraine headaches as set forth in Shen Jing Jing She Bing Xue (A Study of Neurological & Psychiatric Diseases) published in 1988. In addition, all presented a pattern of vacuity plus wind and stasis manifest by recurrent, ones-sided or bilateral, paroxysmal, severe, possibly piercing, fixed head pain accompanied by a pale or pale yet dark tongue with possible static spots or macules, and a deep, choppy or bowstring, fine pulse. Other signs and symptoms included nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, insomnia, and vexation and agitation. Blood analysis was normal, and brain rheology tests and CT scan of the cranium excluded systemic infection, poisoning, high fever, cervical vertebral disease, and other organic pathological changes. Among these 32 patients, there were 18 males and 14 females aged 17-65 years, who had suffered from migraines for from 1-12 years.

Treatment method:

Yang Xue Chu Feng Tong Luo Tang consisted of: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) and Ge Gen (Radix Puerariae), 15g each, Bai Shao (Radix Albus Paeoniae Lactiflorae), Chuan Xiong (Radix Ligustici Wallichii), Qiang Huo (Radix Et Rhizoma Notopterygii), and Tu Yuan (probably Eupolyphaga Seu Ophistoplatia but, in any case, a medicinal which quickens the blood, transforms stasis, and frees the flow of the network vessels), 30g each, Sheng Di (uncooked Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae), 20g, Jing Jie (Herba Schizonepetae Tenuifoliae), Fang Feng (Radix Ledebouriellae Divaricatae), Bai Zhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae), Tao Ren (Semen Pruni Persicae), Hong Hua (Flos Carthami Tinctorii), and Di Long (Lumbricus), 10g each, and Xi Xin (Herba Asari Cum Radice), 6g. If there was accompanying nausea and vomiting, Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae) and Wu Zhu Yu (Fructus Evodiae Rutecarpae) were added. If there were heart palpitations and insomnia, Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori Graminei) and stir-fried Suan Zao Ren (Semen Zizyphi Spinosae) were added. If the modd was disturbed and there was tension, agitation, and irritability, uncooked Long Gu (Os Draconis), Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri), and Tian Ma (Rhizoma Gastrodiae Elatae) were added. If there was scanty qi, bodily vacuity, and lack of strength, Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranacei) and Dang Shen (Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae) were added. One packet of these medicinals was decocted in water and administered per day in two divided doses, morning and evening. Ten days equaled one course of treatment, and outcomes were analyzed after three successive courses (i.e., 30 days).

Study outcomes:

Cure was defined as complete disappearance of the headaches and all accompanying symptoms with no recurrence within half a year. Marked effect was defined as basic disappearance of headaches and accompanying symptoms with 1-2 recurrences within half a year. However, the duration of these headaches was short. Improvement was defined as a decrease in the severity of the headaches and 3-5 recurrences within the next half year. No effect meant that there was no improvement in the headaches or cranial rheology. Based on these criteria, 24 cases were judged cured, six cases got a marked effect, and two cases improved. Therefore, the total effectiveness rate was 100%.

Study 2: From "The Chinese Medicinal Treatment of Premenstrual Migraines" by Mu Cui-ying, Shan Xi Zhong Yi (Shanxi Chinese Medicine), #3, 2004, p. 7

Cohort description:

There were 68 patients 16-38 years old enrolled in this study. Twenty-four had suffered from premenstrual migraines for one year or less, 28 had suffered from 2-5 years, and 16 cases had suffered for more than five years. All these women experienced paroxysmal, throbbing, one-sided headaches before menstruation. These headaches were accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Some of them also had visual displays or disturbances preceding the other, above-mentioned symptoms. Electroencephalography, CT scan, and other tests had ruled out the possibility of brain disease or traumatic injury as well as any other organic disease of the intra-cranial contents, cervical vertebrae, ears, eyes, and or nose that might result in headache.