An Exploration of the Pathogenesis and Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment of Migraine Based on the Theory of “Luo Yi Xin Wei Xie”

Abstract

As a common disabling neurological disorder, migraine presents with recurrent attacks and severely impairs patients’ quality of life. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it falls under the category of “Headache”, and TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment has demonstrated unique advantages in its diagnosis and management. Based on the core principle of TCM Collateral Disease Theory “Luo Yi Xin Wei Xie” this study deeply analyzes the TCM pathogenesis characteristics of migraine and develops targeted syndrome differentiation and treatment strategies accordingly. The study concludes that collateral deficiency, qi stagnation with collateral stasis, and collateral impairment in chronic conditions constitute the core pathogenesis underlying the onset and progression of migraine. These three pathomechanisms interact with each other, further inducing wind invasion and developing into a mixed pattern of phlegm and blood stasis, which eventually result in persistent, intractable pathogenic stagnation. In response to these pathogenic characteristics, this study proposes a therapeutic principle centered on pungent medicinals. By applying pungent dispersing, pungent unblocking, and pungent attack methods, it achieves the goal of treating both root and branch concurrently. This research provides novel insights into TCM diagnosis and treatment of migraine and offers a valuable complement to Western symptomatic therapies.