Occipital Neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia and migraines have a high co-occurrence rate (27–50% depending on the study), and the neurosensitivity associated with occipital neuralgia can trigger migraine attacks through the Trigeminocervical Complex (occipital-trigeminal reflex). Conversely, the vasodilation and nerve inflammation associated with migraines can make the occipital nerve more sensitive. Therefore, treating the two conditions together rather than separately is more efficient, and upper cervical stabilization benefits both.

Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic

In Korean medicine, while occipital neuralgia and migraines differ in type—occipital neuralgia caused by cold energy and migraine caused by liver energy surging upward, respectively—they both share a common underlying basis of stagnation of Qi and blood in the head and face regions. When liver energy surges excessively upward, blood vessels in the head become unstable, leading to frequent migraines, while stagnation along the back of the neck perpetuates occipital neuralgia. At Dongjedang, we approach both conditions simultaneously by combining treatment to release and calm the upward-surging liver energy with micro-blade acupuncture and standard acupuncture along the back of the neck. In many cases, both symptoms stabilize when the balance of the liver and kidneys is restored through herbal medicine tailored to the body's condition.