Definition

Pain or aching sensation in the head. The pain or ache can be either sharp, well-defined or dull, unspecific and discomfort.

Accompanying signs & symptoms

Key symptoms: Aching sensations in the frontal, or temporal or even at the back (occipital) areas of the head

Headache of different areas can have different causes

Possible Causes

Frontal Headache
Headaches around the forehead
Often associated with sinusitis
Often associated with chronic inflammation of the sinus

Temporal Headache
Headaches around the temporal areas
Often associated with stress or caffeine withdraws
Can be the warning of high blood pressure, in severe case, signal of PRE-STROKE!!

Occipital Headache
Headaches at the lower back of the head
Often associated with colds and flu
Can associate with stress, stiff neck and shoulders
One Sided Headache
Can occur either on the left or right side
Can be caused by excessive usage of mobile phone
Can be a migraine headache

Note: Headache that is persistent and progressive. Further investigation is highly recommended.

Physiological Mechanisms

Physiological mechanisms involved are very much depending on the type of the headache. For example, tension headaches such as temporal headache, occipital headache, as well as one sided headache such as migraine, are often related to stiff neck and shoulders. This is possibly because tense muscles around head, neck and shoulders affect the blood supply and blood flow to the head and resulting in constriction of the blood vessels. This type of the headache is often associated with elevated blood pressure, tension in the body and stress.

Other type of headache such as frontal headache is often associated with sinus conditions such as sinusitis, or inflammation of the sinus.

Frequent headaches can serve as important warnings for serious health condition such as stroke. And therefore, it is important to have health investigation such as a blood pressure check for this health condition.

Treatment Modalities

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine

Mechanism of action of the herbs used

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine treats the condition by doing the following:
Reducing tension
Stimulating the body defence
Reducing inflammation
Reducing harmful hormones in the body
Reducing physiological stress in the body
Promoting deep relaxation of the body
Calming the mind and body

Health Advice

Reducing the intake of caffeine and cigarette smoking
Eat a balance diet
Establishing a regular eating habit
Encouraging moderate, regular and outdoor exercises

References

Longman concise medical dictionary, 1994

Chinese-English Manual of Common-Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ou Ming, 1995