The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Heavy sensation in the head can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like heavy sensation in the head here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here heavy sensation in the head is often associated with dizziness, abdominal pain that worsens with cold and deep aching and heaviness in the extremities in the pattern “Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of heavy sensation in the head we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Zhen Wu Tang can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
In Chinese Medicine heavy sensation in the head is a symptom for the pattern "Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Tooth-marked, Swollen
In addition to heavy sensation in the head, other symptoms associated with Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency include dizziness, abdominal pain that worsens with cold and deep aching and heaviness in the extremities.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Intermenstrual Bleeding.
Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency is often treated with Zhen Wu Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). Zhen Wu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that warm and transform water and dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms and tonifies the Yang and Qi of the Spleen and Kidneys".
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies the Yang and Qi of the Spleen and Kidneys. Eliminates Dampness.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which heavy sensation in the head is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Spleen Or Kidney Yang Deficiency include dizziness, abdominal pain that worsens with cold and deep aching and heaviness in the extremities.
Because it is a key herb in Zhen Wu Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency' (a pattern with heavy sensation in the head as a symptom)
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Raises the collapse of Yang. Warms the meridians and relieves pain caused by Cold. Reduces Damp caused by Deficiency in Yang.
Dizziness Abdominal pain that worsens with cold Deep aching and heaviness in the extremities Edema Loose stools Palpitations Coughing Vomiting Sweating that doesnt reduce fever Palpitations in the epigastrium