Bleeding in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Headache

Honora Lee Wolfe, Dipl. Ac., Lic. Ac, FNAAOM

Case 1: Static blood headache
The patient was a 60 year-old female retired worker who was first seen by Dr.
Luo on Apr. 6, 1994. Due to an external injury to the left side of the forehead
region of the head, the woman had experienced pain and swelling for 20
days. Gradually, this pain had evolved into a left-sided headache and
dizziness which were more severe in the afternoon and evening. The patient
had been treated already with the external application of trauma medicines
and the internal administration of blood-quickening, stasis-dispelling readymade Chinese medicines but, after several days of treatment, there was no
obvious effect. The patients Western physicians wanted her to have surgery,
but she was afraid that this would mar the beauty of her face. Therefore, the
woman came to see Dr. Luo. When Dr. Luo examined the woman, he saw that
the area of the injury was dark and purplish and there was a swollen lump the
size of an egg approximately 4.5 x 2.5cm. This was relatively hard to the
touch and resisted pressure. The edges of the patients tongue were dark and
her pulse was fine and bowstring. Based on this, Dr. Luo categorized the
patients pattern as static blood obstructing the network vessels which should,
therefore, be treated by quickening the blood and freeing the flow of the
network vessels. To accomplish this, he needled an ashi point, retaining the
needle for 20 minutes. Then he cupped this point in order to make it bleed. In
combination, he also needled He Gu (LI 4) on the health side and Feng Long
(St 40) on the diseased side with draining technique. The next day the
headache and dizziness were markedly less and the swollen lump was
markedly smaller. Therefore, he repeated the same treatment as above every
other day for five treatments, at the end of which time the woman was cured.
Case 2: Recalcitrant headache
The patient was a 37 year-old male cadre who was first examined by Dr. Luo
on Jul. 8, 1992. This patient had a recurring left-sided headache for five
years. This headache would recur any time this area of his head caught a
chill. The pain felt spasmodic and crampy and refused pressure. The man had
taken many analgesic formulas which would only remit the headache for an
hour or so. When examined, Dr. Luo found engorged greenish purple veins on
the patients left ear and upper back. His tongue was dark red, and his pulse
was bowstring and rapid. The patients blood pressure was 120/70mmHg. Dr.
Luo used a fine needle to pierce Qi Mai (TB 18) to let 3-5 drops of blood.
Immediately after this, the headache stopped. Dr. Luo then taught the patient
how to massage Tai Yang (M-HN-9) and Feng Chi (GB 20). Every night before
bed, the man was instructed to massage these points for 3-5 minutes apiece.
He was also counseled on regulating his emotions. On follow-up after three
months, there had been no recurrence.
Case 3: Occipetal nerve pain
The patient was a 45 year-old female who was initially examined by Dr. Luo
on Mar. 15, 1994. The patient complained that she had had occipital area pain
for half a year. The patient had already tried some medications for cervical
osteophytes which were supposed to treat occipital pain but to no effect.
Since occipital nerve pain is tai yang channel headache in Chinese medical
terms, Dr. Luo needled Hou Xi (SI 3), retaining the needles. This was in order
to course and free the flow of this channels channel qi. In addition, Hou Xi is
also a meeting point of the governing vessel which also runs through the
occipital region. Thus, Dr. Luo believes this point is essential for the treatment
of nape of the neck pain and occipetal pain. After withdrawing the needles, he
pressed the holes to make them bleed. He did this once every other day. At
the same time, he used a plum flower needle followed by cupping to bled the
area of the upper back and neck. After two treatments, the pain was
markedly decreased. After a half month, it was completely cured.