Occipital Neuralgia

Psychological stress causes the posterior neck and trapezius muscles to contract continuously through sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, and lowers the nerve impulse threshold by inducing local ischemia through vasoconstriction. Cold exposure directly triggers hyperactive muscle spindle responses and vasoconstriction, stimulating the already sensitized laryngeal nerve. Night work creates a vicious cycle of sleep deprivation → elevated cortisol → increased muscle tension, causing symptoms to become chronic. In Korean medicine, stress is interpreted as a state where vital energy (Qi) is unable to release and becomes congested; this blocked energy travels along pathways to the head and face, causing pain. Cold is a situation where cold energy invades the neck and back lines, causing the Qi and blood in the back of the neck to contract and stagnate. At Dongjedang, we relieve pressure on the back of the neck using standard and micro-blade needles, while simultaneously using herbal medicine tailored to your body condition to promote the circulation of blocked energy and release cold energy, thereby correcting your body to be less reactive to external stimuli.