The March spring breeze is like a pair of scissors, but for some people, the moment this wind blows, their head feels as if it is being pricked by needles. While others are still wearing light clothing, they have already dug out their hats, and the slightest lapse in vigilance brings on a headache. What exactly is going on? Could it really be that they are "too frail to withstand the wind"?
Why Does Your Head Become an "Alarm" the Moment the Spring Wind Blows?
In spring, temperatures rise, but the earth's qi remains cold. Wind pathogens carry lingering cold and are most likely to invade the human body. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is said that "wind is the chief of a hundred diseases." It seeps in everywhere, with a particular preference for the head—the meeting place of all yang meridians, where yang qi is most abundant yet also most vulnerable. In spring, liver qi rises and expands. If a person constitutionally lacks yang qi, or if their qi and blood are relatively weak, once the pores and interstitial spaces open, wind pathogens rush straight to the vertex of the head, causing headache. Clinically, this group of people often presents with aversion to cold, stiffness of the neck and nape, and aggravation upon exposure to wind, representing a common state of "wind-cold binding the exterior" or "insecurity of yang qi."
Which Meridian Does Headache Favor? The "Noon Time Secret" of the Shaoyang Meridian
"The foot shaoyang gallbladder vessel begins at the outer canthus, ascends to the corner of the head, descends behind the ear, follows the neck, runs in front of the hand shaoyang, reaches the shoulder, then crosses behind the hand shaoyang, and enters the supraclavicular fossa." —Huangdi Neijing Lingshu, Meridians
This meridian sets out from the outer corner of the eye, curves around behind the ear, passes through the side of the head and the shoulder, like a winding highway. Wind pathogens love to take a "shortcut" along it, which is why migraines are often related to the shaoyang meridian. Its duty hours are zi time (23:00–1:00) and wu time (11:00–13:00). At wu time, yang qi is at its peak, but if the qi and blood of the shaoyang meridian are not flowing smoothly, headaches may actually intensify at this time, because the "qi mechanism" is blocked between the exterior and interior.
One Acupoint Is the "Traffic Controller" of This Route
On the shaoyang meridian, there is a key acupoint called Fengchi. Fengchi, also known as Refu, is located below the back of the head, in the depression on the outer side of the two large tendons. It belongs to the foot shaoyang gallbladder meridian and is the meeting point of the gallbladder meridian and the yangwei vessel. Its name suggests "the pool of wind pathogens," a place where wind pathogens easily gather. The Yulong Song says: "When Fengchi and Fengfu are found, a hundred diseases of cold damage vanish at once," highlighting its property of being adept at treating wind disorders. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that it has the effects of dispersing wind pathogens and dredging meridians. But note: a specific plan must be determined by a licensed TCM physician based on individual constitution, because some people are primarily "wind-cold," while others are "wind-heat" or "liver yang rising," and the method and intensity of stimulation are entirely different. Clinically, if a person with simple wind exposure is treated by a doctor with manual techniques after pattern identification, they often feel relief; whereas those with qi and blood deficiency need to be treated in conjunction with supplementation, and cannot be lumped together.
Wearing a Hat Is Just "Blocking"—Better to Learn How to "Dredge"
"When upright qi is preserved within, pathogenic factors cannot invade." —Huangdi Neijing Suwen
Wearing a hat is a stopgap measure, equivalent to adding a "city wall" to the head, but wind pathogens can still sneak in from elsewhere. More importantly, the body should "build its own fence." At wu time, yang qi is at its peak, making it suitable for quiet rest or light activity, allowing the qi and blood of the shaoyang meridian to circulate. At zi time, the gallbladder meridian is on duty, and one must sleep at this time, because "all eleven organs depend on the gallbladder"—if gallbladder qi does not rise, the whole body becomes weak along with it. Clinically, people who stay up late for long periods and are under great stress often have stagnation of the shaoyang meridian; a little exposure to wind brings on headache, often accompanied by bitter taste in the mouth and insomnia. Such problems are often related to failure of the liver to govern free coursing—the Taichong acupoint of the foot jueyin liver meridian, located on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression anterior to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones, is the yuan-source acupoint of the liver meridian and is one of the key areas observed during TCM pattern identification. However, exactly how to regulate it still needs to be determined by a licensed TCM physician based on the comprehensive analysis of the four examinations.
Spring Care: From "Not Being Blown By Wind" to "Not Fearing Wind"
"Deficiency pathogens and thief wind should be avoided in accordance with the seasons." —Huangdi Neijing, Shanggu Tianzhen Lun
Wind is not something you cannot be exposed to; rather, it depends on "how" you are exposed. In spring, the temperature difference between morning and evening is large. Wearing a thin hat or wrapping a scarf when going out to protect the back of the head and neck is far more effective than simply wearing thick clothes. If headache has already appeared, you can try applying a warm towel to the back of the neck, or drinking a cup of ginger and jujube tea to warm the body. But note: if the headache is severe, accompanied by vomiting or limb numbness, be sure to seek medical attention promptly. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "treating the same disease differently"—for the same wind-induced headache, some people have insecurity of the exterior due to deficiency, while others have liver fire mixed with wind, and the direction of regulation is completely different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q3: Besides wearing a hat, what other preventive methods are there?
In spring, appropriately "keep covered in spring," focusing on protecting the back of the neck, the back, and the abdomen. In terms of diet, one may appropriately eat some pungent and warm dispersing foods, such as scallion, ginger, and cilantro, but those with a dry-heat constitution should be cautious. For exercise, mild sweating is best; avoid being exposed to wind after profuse sweating.
Q4: Is moxibustion useful when there is a headache?
Moxibustion can be somewhat helpful for deficiency-cold type headache, such as moxibustion at Fengchi acupoint. But note: moxibustion is an external treatment method in traditional Chinese medicine and must be determined by a licensed TCM physician after pattern identification; it is not suitable for all types. For example, in those with liver fire flaming upward or yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity, moxibustion may instead reinforce fire.