Q My scalp feels tingly and prickly — what exactly is going on?
A Scalp tingling happens when the scalp's sensory nerves become irritated or compressed, causing a prickling, numb, or 'crawling' sensation. It's often related to neck and shoulder tension or reduced scalp blood flow, and frequently comes with a headache.
Detailed Answer
The scalp is densely covered with sensory nerves, so when they are compressed or blood flow is reduced, it can show up as tingling, numbness, or a tight sensation. The most common cause is tight neck and shoulder muscles pressing on nerves and vessels at the back of the head, often alongside stress-related tension headaches.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine looks beyond the local symptom, seeing scalp tingling as connected to a pattern where heat rises to the upper body while the lower body cools (stress-driven imbalance), combined with tight neck and shoulders blocking circulation. Lowering the heat that has risen to the head and releasing the blocked circulation often eases the tingling as well.
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