Tension Headache

40–60% of patients with tension headaches experience sleep disorders, and 30–40% experience anxiety disorders. Chronic stress overactivates the HPA axis, elevating cortisol levels; this serves as a common pathway that triggers cervical muscle tension, sleep disturbances, and amplified anxiety. When insomnia and anxiety improve, the headache threshold rises, creating a virtuous cycle that reduces attacks.

Dongjedang Oriental Medicine Perspective

In Oriental medicine, the complex pattern of tension headache, insomnia, and anxiety corresponds to a state where Mind-Skin Disharmony and Liver Qi Stagnation overlap. Heart fire rises upward, heating the back of the neck and head while simultaneously disrupting sleep and intensifying anxiety. At Dongjedang Oriental Medicine Clinic, we incorporate mind-body stabilizing herbs such as Sanjoin, Boksin, and Wonji into Cheongsang herbal medicine, and alleviate all three conditions simultaneously through acupuncture on the wrist, inner wrist, and crown areas. This integrated approach improves quality of life much more broadly than simple headache painkillers.