Head and Neck Pain Lecture Notes

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical muscles of the head, Western headache classifications, and TCM etiologies, symptoms, and point prescriptions for various headache syndromes.

Cancer Pain - TCM Role

Sedation treatment aiming to deal with primary and secondary causes simultaneously, applicable during conservative treatment, surgical intervention, chemotherapy, or radiation.

Orbicularis Oculi

A ring-shaped muscle that encircles the eyelid and functions to close the eye.

Orbicularis Oris

A ring-shaped muscle encircling the mouth that functions to close the lips.

Levator palpebrae superioris

The antagonist for the orbicularis oculi; it originates in the posterior orbit and functions as the lifter of the upper eyelid.

Buccinator

Also known as the 'trumpeter's muscle,' this fleshy part of the cheek flattens the cheek and helps in eating, whistling, and blowing wind instruments.

Mastication Muscles

Four pairs of muscles that insert on and move the mandible, including the temporalis and the masseter.

Temporalis

A muscle located above and near the ear that closes the jaw.

Masseter

A muscle located at the angle of the jaw that functions to close the jaw.

Intrinsic Tongue Muscles

A group of muscles located entirely within the tongue that contribute to its flexibility.

Extrinsic Tongue Muscles

A group of muscles that originate outside the tongue and contribute to functions like speaking, chewing, and swallowing.

Sternocleidomastoid

A muscle along the lateral neck to the mastoid process that flexes the head and rotates it toward the opposite side.

Primary Headaches

Classification including migraine, tension, and cluster headaches; tension headache is the most frequent type.

Secondary Headaches

Headaches caused by an underlying structural problem such as cerebral bleeding, tumour, meningitis, or encephalitis.

Sea of Marrow

A TCM term for the Brain; it is produced by the Kidney, which is the most important organ for producing Marrow.

TCM Spleen (in headache)

Organ that transforms the Essence of food into Qi and Blood to nourish the brain.

TCM Heart (in headache)

Organ that dominates Blood circulation and is in charge of mental activity; Blood is the basic energy source for the brain.

Wind (TCM Pathology)

The most common cause of exogenous headache that exists in every season and often combines with Cold, Heat, or Damp.

Liver-Qi Stagnation

A common cause of endogenous headache caused by mental upsets or stress, which may eventually induce Liver-Fire or hyperactivity of Liver-Yang.

Damp-Phlegm Formation

Results from the Spleen failing to transport and transform food, often due to a diet high in fat, sweet, or salty food, causing blockage of Qi circulation.

Invasion of Wind-Cold Symptoms

Headache with a contracting sensation, aversion to wind/cold, absence of sweat, and a superficial and tense pulse.

Invasion of Wind-Heat Symptoms

Distending headache with a hot or burning feeling, red face/eyes, sore throat, and a red tip of the tongue with a yellow coating.

Invasion of Wind-Damp Symptoms

Headache with a heavy sensation (as if wrapped in cloth), fullness in the chest, poor appetite, and a white, greasy tongue coating.

Attack of Toxic Fire

Severe headache with burning feeling, high fever, red nodules on the head, or even coma/delirium; treated with points like Du-20, LI-11, and SP-10.

Blood Stasis (Headache)

Characterized by a stabbing headache at a fixed location, aggravated at night, often with a purplish tongue and a thready or choppy pulse.

Hyperactivity of Liver-Yang

Severe frequent headache with distension, dizziness, shaking of the head/hands, and a wiry pulse.

Accumulation of Heat in Yangming

Headache located mainly in the forehead, accompanied by profuse sweating, foul smell from the mouth, and painful gums.

Deficiency of Qi (Headache)

Chronic headache with a sensation of lightness, aggravated by physical exertion, with tiredness and a pale tongue with tooth marks.

Deficiency of Blood (Headache)

Headache with a hollow sensation, dizziness, poor vision, listlessness, and a thready, weak pulse.

Deficiency of Kidney Essence

Headache with a hollow sensation/emptiness, lower back pain, weakness of knees, and tinnitus; treated by tonifying Kidney and Marrow.

Top of the Head (Location)

Pain location usually associated with Liver disorders (Blood deficiency or Yang hyperactivity) or the Bladder channel.

Back of the Head (Location)

Pain location associated with external factors (Wind/Cold/Damp) or chronic conditions like Damp-Phlegm or Kidney Essence deficiency.

Forehead (Location)

Pain location usually caused by a disorder of the Stomach (Yangming) or Gallbladder channels.

Behind the Eyes (Location)

Pain location usually due to Liver disorders, often occurring during migraine attacks on one side.