Occipital Stiffness in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different occipital stiffness patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Occipital stiffness, a common symptom, refers to the stiffness or tightness experienced in the back of the head. This condition, often linked with Occipital neuralgia, can lead to discomfort and limited mobility in the affected area. Understanding this symptom is essential for effective treatment and management.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perceives occipital rigidity through the lens of energy imbalances and disharmony within the body. TCM suggests that such symptoms are not isolated issues but reflections of deeper imbalances in the body's Qi (energy), Yin and Yang. Identifying and treating the underlying disharmony is crucial in TCM's approach to alleviating occipital rigidity.
TCM Patterns for Occipital Stiffness
Wind
Causes: Occipital stiffness
Damp-Wind
Occipital stiffness
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Body pain, Muscle pain, Feeling of heaviness, Swollen joints
Wind-Cold
Occipital stiffness
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache, Congested nose, White and watery sputum
Wind-Heat
Occipital stiffness
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache, Excessive sweating, Sore throat, Yellowish phlegm
Dampness
Causes: Occipital stiffness
Damp-Wind
Occipital stiffness
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Body pain, Muscle pain, Feeling of heaviness, Swollen joints
Cold
Causes: Occipital stiffness
Wind-Cold
Occipital stiffness
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache, Congested nose, White and watery sputum
Heat
Causes: Occipital stiffness
Wind-Heat
Occipital stiffness
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache, Excessive sweating, Sore throat, Yellowish phlegm
Herbal Formulas for Occipital Stiffness
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address occipital stiffness
Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Induces sweating
- Dispels Dampness
- Expels Wind-Cold
- Clears Interior Heat
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Damp-Wind
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Body pain...
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Xiao Feng San
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind
- Eliminates Dampness
- Clears Heat
- Cools the Blood
- Nourishes the Blood
- Relieves skin itchness
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Damp-Wind
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Body pain...
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Cong Chi Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Unblocks the Yang Qi (Defensive Qi) in the Exterior
- Induces sweating
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Huo Ren Cong Shi Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Unblocks the Yang Qi (Defensive Qi) in the Exterior
- Induces sweating
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Expels wind and dampness
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Damp-Wind
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Body pain...
Cang Er Zi San
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind
- Relieves pain
- Unblocks the nose
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Damp-Wind
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Body pain...
Ku Shen Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Wind
- Dries Dampness
- Kills parasites
- Relieves itching
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Damp-Wind
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Body pain...
Hai Tong Pi Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Disperses swelling
- Dispels Wind, Dampness and Cold
- Removes Stagnation and relieves pain
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Damp-Wind
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Neck gland swelling, Nausea, Excessive sweating, Body pain...
Jing Fang Bai Du San
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior by sweating
- Dispels Wind and Dampness
- Augments Qi
- Reduces pain
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Ma Huang Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases exterior cold
- Treats wheezing
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Jia Wei Xiang Su San
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Promote sweating
- Releases the Exterior
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Shi Shen Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases pathogens from the Exterior
- Regulates Qi
- Descends the Lung Qi
- Relieves coughing
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Jin Fei Cao San
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind-Cold
- Descends Lung Qi
- Transform Phlegm
- Stop cough and calms wheezing
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Wu Ji San
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior
- Warms the Interior
- Smoothes the flow of Qi
- Transforms Phlegm
- Invigorates the Blood
- Reduces Stagnation
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Yin Qiao San
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind Heat
- Clears Heat
- Resolves Toxicity
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Sang Ju Yin
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind
- Stops coughing by invigorating Lung Qi
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Wind
- Clears toxic-Heat
- Disperses Stagnation
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior
- Vents rashes
- Clears
- Generates Body Fluids
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind
- Releases the Exterior
- Drains Heat
- Unblocks the bowels
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Bing Peng San
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Toxic-Heat
- Dispels putrescence
- Reduces swellings and relieves pain
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Toxic-Heat
- Clears Wind-Heat
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan
Addresses these occipital stiffness patterns:
Main Actions
- Clear Heat by releasing the Exterior
- Clears the Toxic-Heat
Addresses These Occipital Stiffness Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital stiffness
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...