bubble_chart Concept

Scalp numbness refers to a symptom where the skin of the head feels no pain or itch, and is numb.

Ancient medical texts rarely discussed this condition. Yixue Rumen once mentioned: "From the neck upwards, in the areas around the ears, eyes, and eyebrows, there are places that feel numb and insensitive... or the scalp is thick and unfeeling without self-awareness." Another reference can be found in "Yilin Shengmo - Recurrent Headache," which also records "scalp numbness and insensitivity."

The ancients believed that numbness and woodenness were distinct. Yixue Zhengzhuan states: "Numbness is neither itchy nor painful... it feels as if one is unaware of pain or itch, like the sensation when a tightly bound rope is first loosened." Yixue Rumen describes: "Woodenness is neither itchy nor painful, pressing it feels nothing, scratching it feels nothing, like the thickness of wood. Constant woodenness is due to static blood, intermittent woodenness is due to damp phlegm." Danxi Xinfa - Jue: "Numbness is due to qi deficiency... woodenness is due to damp phlegm." It differentiates the symptoms and causes of numbness and woodenness. Clinically, numbness and woodenness often occur together, hence they are generally referred to as numbness.

Headaches that persist for a long time can sometimes also present with scalp numbness, which has been discussed in the section on headaches. This section only discusses symptoms and signs primarily characterized by scalp numbness.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Blood Deficiency︰Scalp numbness is primarily characterized by tingling, a dull complexion, dizziness, palpitations, pale lips, tongue, and nails, a pale tongue with thin coating, and a thin, weak pulse. It is often caused by excessive blood loss, insufficient spleen deficiency in generation and transformation, or prolonged illness leading to deficiency of qi and blood. "Yingqi deficiency results in numbness." Blood deficiency leads to the skin losing its nourishment, hence the symptom of scalp numbness. It is usually dominated by tingling and accompanied by signs of blood deficiency such as a dull complexion, pale lips and nails, dizziness, palpitations, and a pale tongue. The treatment should focus on nourishing blood and dispelling wind, with the recommended formula being Four Ingredients Decoction combined with suberect spatholobus stem, earthworm, and notopterygium.
2. Damp Phlegm︰Scalp numbness is primarily characterized by numbness, vertigo, fatigue of the limbs, chest and epigastric fullness, nausea and vomiting of saliva, a thick and greasy tongue coating, and a wiry and slippery pulse. It is often caused by overstrain damaging the spleen, leading to impaired spleen function, internal retention of water-dampness, and the accumulation of phlegm. When phlegm-dampness obstructs the meridians, it disrupts the circulation of qi and blood, resulting in skin numbness. The head is the convergence point of all yang qi, and when phlegm-dampness obstructs it, clear yang fails to ascend, hence scalp numbness is particularly severe. In diagnosis, numbness is often the main symptom, accompanied by signs of internal dampness-turbidity obstruction such as vertigo, limb fatigue, nausea, and a greasy tongue coating. These two syndromes—one deficiency and one excess—have distinctly different clinical presentations and are easily distinguishable. Treatment should focus on resolving phlegm, dispelling dampness, and unblocking the collaterals, with options such as Dispersing Phlegm Decoction. If there is concurrent blood stasis, herbs like Peach Kernel and Carthamus can be added to dispel stasis and unblock the collaterals.

The condition of scalp numbness has not been specifically discussed in medical texts throughout history. This book describes two common syndromes of scalp numbness: blood deficiency scalp numbness and phlegm-dampness obstructing the collaterals scalp numbness, listing their typical symptoms and signs. Additionally, scalp numbness caused by qi deficiency, wind pathogens, and other factors may also occur. During clinical diagnosis, differentiation should be made based on the disease mechanism and characteristic symptoms.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Lanshi Micang．Zabing Gate: "Numbness in the skin is due to the stagnation of liver qi."
2. 《Chinese Medicine Clinical Essentials》: "Numbness in one area, exacerbated by pudendal coldness, is due to internal blockage of phlegm and blood stasis. Use white mustard seed ground into powder, mixed with scallion and ginger juice for topical application."