The treatment of headache with Radix et Rhizoma has been applied by many physicians for many generations and has accumulated rich experience. In recent times, its application in the treatment of headache is relatively rare. In this paper, we try to discuss the functions and combinations of Radix et Rhizoma in the treatment of headache.
Theories on the treatment of headache with Radix et Rhizoma
1.Shrubs are both descending and ascending
The head is the meeting of all the yang and the place where the clear orifices are gathered. It can be used for headaches caused by the loss of harmony in the middle jiao, unfavorable qi flow and congestion in the clear orifices.
2.Spirulina enters the sympathetic Yin meridian and reaches the pinnacle; it is pungent and moistens the channels.
The branch of liver vein goes up to the pinnacle, so Radix et Rhizoma is long enough to enter the Liver meridian of the Foot, so it can follow the meridian and go up to the pinnacle. Headache is closely related to the liver, “Su Wen Jin Kui Zhen Shu” said: “East wind is born in spring, the disease is in the liver, Yu in the neck”. “Those with spring qi, the disease is in the head”. Radix et Rhizoma can be used for headaches caused by stagnation in the liver meridian and disharmony of the liver and ligaments.
The combination of Radix et Rhizoma for headache
1.Tibetanus with Tribulus terrestris
Tribulus terrestris has a hard and thorny body and holds the most complete qi of the golden autumn, which can unblock liver qi, calm liver wind and open liver channels, and is good at stopping headaches. Combined with the whirling dandelion, into the liver meridian, not only can take the qi, but also can take the blood, calm the liver wind, pass through the meridians, stop headache.
2.Spirulina with asparagus
Tianma calms the liver and quenches the wind, softening the liver and relieving pain, and is a common medicine for the treatment of headache. Radix et Rhizoma is used in combination with asparagus to calm the liver and promote circulation, quench wind and relieve pain, which can be used for headaches caused by liver wind, phlegm, blood stasis and qi rebellion.
3.Corydalis with white silkworm
White silkworm eats mulberry leaves and grows stiff due to disease, and gets the qi of mulberry, so it can disperse wind-heat, move the head and eyes, calm the liver and stop spasms, and is commonly used for wind-heat of liver meridians, internal movement of liver wind, and sputum-heat blocking the ligaments. It can dispel wind-heat, pacify the liver, and open the ligaments. Therefore, it can be used in combination with liver-heat and headache caused by wind-phlegm blocking the ligaments.
4.Cyperus with aromatic herb
Aromatic Herb is good at relieving liver depression and promoting blood circulation. The pairing of Radix Aromaticus and Rhizoma Polygonatum is earlier seen in the “Discernment of Warm Diseases” of Radix Aromaticus Polygonatum and Rhizoma Polygonatum Soup. The two drugs can be used for headaches caused by liver qi stagnation and qi-blood stagnation; the former can be added to Yue Ju Wan, and the latter to Tong Qiao Wu Blood Soup.
5.Spirulina with Peppermint
Peppermint is pungent and cool, drains wind and heat, clears the head and eyes, and stops headaches; it can also invigorate blood and disperse blood. In combination with Radix et Rhizoma, it can not only disperse Qi and remove wind, but also moisten and invigorate Blood, enter the liver meridian and regulate both Qi and Blood, so the liver meridian Qi stagnation, blood stasis, occlusion of blood vessels can be used in combination.
6.Spirulina with chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum evacuates wind-heat, cools and drains liver heat and fire, and is good for treating headaches caused by wind-heat, liver-heat, liver wind, liver-yang and liver-kidney-yin deficiency.
7.Spirulina with angelica
Radix Angelicae Sinensis nourishes the blood and invigorates the blood, resolves blood stasis, and moistens the bowels. It is often used in treating headache as a wind medicine, and there are many headaches caused by wind evil. Angelica nourishes blood and invigorates blood, which is in line with the principle of “treating wind first by treating blood”; Angelica moistens the intestines, and Radix et Rhizoma is good for headache caused by blood deficiency, blood stagnation and stool obstruction. Ye Tianshi, a famous doctor in Qing Dynasty, advocated that “prolonged pain enters the luo”, and the treatment should be “pungent and moisten the luo”, and Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Radix Angelicae Sinensis are commonly used by him. The combination of the two ingredients softens the liver and invigorates blood, pungent and moistens the luo, disperses blood stasis and relieves pain, which is a good product for headache with prolonged illness and lingering pain.