Q Does herbal medicine help with migraine? What kinds of herbal medicine are used?
A Herbal medicine is prescribed differently according to the migraine pattern type (Ascending Liver Yang, Blood Deficiency, Phlegm-Fluid, Blood Stasis). Brain-clearing decoctions containing Cheonma (Gastrodia) and Jogudeung (Uncaria) are used to reduce attack frequency.
Detailed Answer
Herbal treatment for migraine is recognized as an adjunctive therapy in the Korean Medicine clinical practice guidelines for primary headache. For the Ascending Liver Yang type, prescriptions oriented toward clearing the upper body and draining fire are used; for the Blood Deficiency type, Samul-tang (Four Substances decoction) family; for the Phlegm-Fluid type, Banha-baekchul-cheonma-tang; and for the Blood Stasis type, Hyeolbu-chukeo-tang family, all adjusted to the patient's condition.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, our customized brain-clearing decoction uses Cheonma (Gastrodia), Jogudeung (Uncaria), Galgeun (Pueraria), Cheongung (Cnidium), and Baekji (Angelica) as its base herbs. Cheonma calms cerebral vascular excitation and Jogudeung lowers the heat of Ascending Liver Yang. For those with a flushed face and severe stress, we focus on heat-clearing herbs; for those who are pale and easily fatigued, we center the formula on blood-supplementing herbs, lowering both the number and intensity of attacks.
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