-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
nervous system
headache: vascular
psychospiritual approaches

metaphors and correlations

• Migraine: individual feels that something has to be accomplished or achieved or some goal reached. The person then relaxes after the effort is exerted. (Gentry, p. 43)
• Dislike against being driven; resisting the flow of life; sexual fears. Can usually be relieved by masturbation. (Hay, 1988, p. 49)
• Migraine headache involves anger. (Korn, p. 109)
• Chronic pain syndrome develops as a result of having chronically negative attitudes and/or unconscious emotional response mechanisms that keep a person continually in stress. Chronic attitude problems are so much a part of a person's self-image that he or she does not recognize them as separate from the personality. Nothing is more difficult to identify than our assumed 'natural' ways of being in the world that are essentially patterns we have developed to help us cope. Certain body parts susceptible to chronic negative patterns include the spine, the stomach (as in ulcers), and the head (tension and migraine headaches). (Shealy, p. 256-266)
• Migraine is always a displacement of sexuality into the head. Whereas sufferers from tension headaches are trying to separate their heads from their bodies, migraine patients are transferring one particular bodily theme, sexuality, into their heads and trying to live it out at this level instead. Sexual expression exists on both of the possible poles: either patients have banished their sexuality from
their lives ("I don't have anything to do with such things"), or they are anxious to
impress on everybody what a marvelous sex life they have. (Dethlefsen, p. 158)
• Physiologically, a migraine attack is in some ways like an orgasm in the head, as
tension reverts to relaxation (dilation of the blood vessels) at climax. Sometimes several orgasms are necessary for relaxation to set in and the attack to come to an end. It is also relevant that digestive disturbances and constipation are high on the list of migraine patients' side-symptoms; in other words such people are 'closed up' at the lower level. Married couples tend to use their 'migraines' as an excuse for not having sex. (Dethlefsen, p. 160)

Chinese psychophysiology:
Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); reflects emotional harmony and movement; opens into the eyes; and expresses itself in the nervous system. Vertex and parietal headaches are commonly related to the Liver.
» Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement.
» Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry eyes, skin, and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. Liver Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) predisposes to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). Liver Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to the Shi (Excess) conditions of Liver Wind, Liver Yang Rising, and Liver Fire Blazing.
» Liver Shi (Excess)
signs include discontent; anger; pain in lumbar region and genitals (Seem, p. 28); muscular tension; excessive sex drive; insomnia; moodiness; excitability; genital diseases; red, tearing eyes; compulsive energy; and bitter taste in the mouth. Chronically suppressed anger can implode and give rise to Fire in the Liver and Gall Bladder with symptoms of irritability, bitter taste, headaches, etc.
»
Liver Wind derives from Liver Yin Xu (Deficiency) and/or Liver Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) and their subsequent inability to embrace the Yang, and can manifest as joint stiffness, dizziness, tremor, paralysis, convulsions, rashes, itching, and neurological problems.
» Mental signs of Liver channel disorders include irritability; difficulty developing ideas; depression; and lack of energy. (Seem, p. 28)

Gall Bladder ~ Dan is the source of courage and initiative, and is responsible for decision-making as the bodily Minister of Justice; controls circulation of the nourishing and protecting energies [Ying Qi and Wei (Protective) Qi]; and opens into the eyes. Its channel purifies Yang energy in the body. Temporal and frontally radiating headaches are often related to the Gall Bladder.
» Healthy expressions are kindness, decisiveness, control, and spirit of initiative.
» Gall Bladder Shi (Excess) signs include tiredness; sighing; irritability; bitter taste in the mouth in the morning; pain in all joints; edematous knees and legs (Seem, p. 29); tinnitus; lateral headache; heaviness in head and stomach; muscular spasms; and limbs slightly cold. Chronically suppressed anger can implode and give rise to Fire in the Liver and Gall Bladder.
» Anger, frustration, and resentment can cause Liver Qi Stagnation which, in turn, can produce Heat which affects the Gall Bladder.
» Mental signs of Gall Bladder channel disorders include bitterness; lack of control; irritability; unfaithfulness; lack of courage; timidity; and hypochondria. (Seem, p. 28)


therapies

imagery:
• hand warming (Korn, p. 177)
• beaver dammed (Chavez)

affirmation:
• I relax into the flow of life and let life provide all that I need easily and comfortably. Life is for me. (Hay, 1988, p. 49)

process paradigm: (experientially oriented)
• What is the symptom preventing me from doing? What is the symptom making me do? (see process interview: psycho/neurological system)

related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
body reveals: the spirit
converting a symptom to a signal
imagery: precautions
imagery: techniques
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
process paradigm


footnotes