Occipital Neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia is a condition in which the greater occipital nerve (C2), lesser occipital nerve (C3), and greater occipital nerve—which ascend from the base of the skull to the scalp—are mechanically compressed or inflamed, resulting in pain resembling an electric shock. Direct causes include abnormalities in the facet joints of the first and second cervical vertebrae, tension in the posterior neck muscles (semispinalis capitis and longissimus capitis), dural irritation, and post-traumatic scarring. Forward head posture resulting from prolonged use of smartphones and computers is the most common trigger for this condition in modern people. From the Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic: In Korean medicine, this area is considered a major pathway for Qi and blood flowing along the neck and back. Therefore, it is believed that pain arises when cold energy permeates the body or when the energy of the kidney and bladder systems weakens due to prolonged overwork, causing circulation in this pathway to become blocked. If the kidney energy's role in strengthening bones diminishes, the structure of the cervical spine itself becomes vulnerable; furthermore, if liver function—which nourishes muscles and tendons—is disrupted, the elasticity of muscles and tendons decreases, exacerbating nerve compression. At Dongjedang, we approach the problem by using needles with fine blades to detach fascia attached to the back of the neck, and by injecting acupuncture needles and bee extract pharmacopuncture into key points along the neck and back lines to reduce local inflammation and restore circulation.