Head cold, also known as "brain cold," refers to the subjective sensation of coldness in the back of the head, with a preference for wearing hats or wrapping the head with a towel, and an intolerance to wind-cold.

Head cold is often accompanied by symptoms such as headache and vertigo. This section discusses cases where head cold is the primary symptom.

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1. Jueyin Cold Syndrome︰The head feels cold, with vertex headache and a desire to wrap oneself in clothing or blankets. The complexion appears bluish and dull, the limbs are cold to the touch, and there is vomiting of clear saliva and phlegm. The tongue coating is white, and the pulse is deep and tight. This indicates excess cold due to external contraction of cold pathogens, which directly attack the Jueyin channel. Alternatively, it may result from cold-damage disease progressing from the exterior to the interior and transmitting to the Jueyin channel. The Jueyin channel converges at the vertex, and the cold pathogens ascend along the meridians, reaching the vertex, hence causing cold sensation in the head and vertex headache. When cold turbidity disturbs the stomach, it leads to vomiting of clear saliva. Excessive cold obstructs yang, resulting in a bluish, dull complexion and cold limbs. The onset is acute, with severe cold sensation in the head and headache, a short course of illness, and accompanying symptoms such as frothy vomiting and a bluish facial complexion. The treatment principle is to disperse cold, direct qi downward, and harmonize the stomach. Recommended formulas include Angelica Cold-Extremities Decoction and Evodia Decoction.
2. Deficiency-Cold of the Governor Vessel︰The top of the head is cold, extending to the back, alleviated by warmth, fluctuating in severity, and persistent without cure. Limbs are cold with fear of cold, accompanied by soreness in the waist and weak limbs, a pale and lusterless complexion, a pale tongue with white coating, and deep, thin or slow pulse. This is a case of deficiency-cold, caused by overexertion, prolonged illness leading to malnourishment, or invasion of cold-dampness. Over time, the essence and blood become depleted, the Governor Vessel loses nourishment, and deficiency-cold arises internally. The Governor Vessel runs along the spine to the vertex; when it is deficient and cold, yang qi fails to spread, resulting in coldness of the head and areas along the Governor Vessel, accompanied by soreness and coldness in the waist and back, mental fatigue, cold limbs, relief with warmth, and a deep, slow pulse. The distinguishing features are a gradual onset, mild and intermittent head coldness, a prolonged course, and frequent accompanying symptoms of deficiency-cold such as mental fatigue, cold limbs, and soreness and weakness in the waist and knees. Treatment should focus on warming yang and tonifying deficiency, with Pilose Antler Pill as the recommended formula.

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1. Xuanming Lunfang．tremor disease syndrome: "Main wind qi, qi follows the wind mansion and rises to become tremor disease, the neck and back are afraid of cold, the back of the head is extremely cold."