Corydalin (AC)™

TCM herbal formula for acute headaches — analgesic; anti-inflammatory; muscle-relaxant; improves peripheral and micro-circulation; relieves pain; invigorates qi and blood circulation; removes qi and blood stagnation; drug-screen safe

⚠️ Contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing. Designed for short-term management of acute pain — once acute pain subsides, discontinue and initiate a maintenance formula. Patients with persistent pain not relieved by this formula should seek further examination to rule out structural or functional abnormalities. If diminishing eyesight or vomiting accompany the headache, refer to a medical doctor immediately for CT scan or MRI to rule out intra-cranial pressure from tumor, aneurysm, or cerebral stenosis. Contains Dan Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae), which invigorates blood circulation — patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapies such as Coumadin (warfarin) should use with caution or not at all due to higher risk of bleeding and bruising.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Acute headache — Western types: sinus, vascular, stress, supraorbital, orbital, tension, menstrual-related, and migraine headaches

* Acute headache — TCM types: vertex, occipital, frontal, wind-cold, wind-heat, damp-phlegm, jueyin, Liver yang rising, and blood stagnation headaches

Background: Headache is pain in any part of the head, including the scalp, face, and interior of the head. Causes vary widely — hypertension, stress, anxiety, injuries, infection, glaucoma, hematoma, tumor, and others. Proper diagnosis requires careful review of medical history and physical exam. Optimal treatment combines elimination of cause and relief of pain. In addition to treating the acute symptom of pain, efforts should be made to identify the underlying cause — for optimal results, another formula should be prescribed to target the cause while using Corydalin (AC) to address the symptoms.

Corydalin (AC) vs. Corydalin (CR): Corydalin (AC) is best for acute headaches with severe pain and is most effective for symptomatic relief. Corydalin (CR) is most effective when taken on a long-term basis to control and prevent the recurrence of headaches.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Yan Hu Suo (Rhizoma Corydalis / Corydalis): principal herb — activates qi and blood circulation; removes blood stasis; relieves pain; analgesic effect directly on the central nervous system; works synergistically with acupuncture; inhibits histamine and pro-inflammatory mediators in both acute and chronic inflammation; analgesic potency comparable to morphine — satisfactory anesthetic effect in 98 of 105 patients (93.4%) undergoing surgery; analgesic effect significantly increased with concurrent electro-acupuncture; safer than morphine — fewer side effects, less risk of tolerance, no physical dependence even with long-term use; clinically: angioneurotic headache in 47 patients (24 complete relief, 22 partial relief, 1 no effect); drug screen study (Rhode Island Clinical Research Center): 6 capsules of Corydalin (AC) — both subjects completely negative on 7-drug panel (opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, etc.)

— Bai Zhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae / Angelica Dahurica): channel-guiding herb — leads formula effectiveness to the head; strong effect to dispel wind and exterior pathogenic factors; analgesic and anti-inflammatory — inhibits nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and TNF-α via MAP kinases and NF-κB in macrophages; clinically: vertex headache, sinus headache, orbital headache, wind-heat and wind-cold headache; occipital headache (73 patients: 69 complete relief, 3 partial, 1 no relief); chronic headache (62 patients: 54 satisfactory results after ~2 weeks); vascular headache (130 patients: 84 complete recovery, 25 significant improvement, 21 moderate improvement)

— Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong / Ligusticum Chuanxiong): activates blood circulation in peripheral parts of the body; removes stasis; anti-inflammatory — inhibits TNF-α production and bioactivity (phthalide lactones, NF-κB); clinically: various headache types — 95.1% success rate (Chuan Xiong + Dang Gui as chief herbs); 50 patients treated with great success; vascular headache in 54 patients — 96.3% effective (40 complete recovery, 12 improvement, 2 no effect)

— Ge Gen (Radix Puerariae Lobatae / Kudzu / Pueraria): relieves pain in the upper body; dispels wind-cold and wind-heat from the exterior; isoflavonoid compounds with significant analgesic and muscle-relaxant activities; relaxes neck and shoulder muscles; clinically: migraine headache — 83% effectiveness; 44 patients (83%) reported significant reduction in pain after taking 3x daily for 2–22 days

— Dan Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae / Salvia / Danshen): improves peripheral blood circulation; improves microcirculation and increases blood perfusion to the brain; protects against cerebral ischemia — increases cerebral perfusion, reduces ultra-structural abnormalities; reduces neurological deficits and repairs cellular damage

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Analgesic — Yan Hu Suo (morphine-comparable, 93.4% surgical anesthesia, CNS direct action); Bai Zhi (occipital, sinus, vascular, chronic headache); Ge Gen (isoflavonoids, migraine 83%)

* Anti-inflammatory — Yan Hu Suo (histamine↓, pro-inflammatory mediators↓); Bai Zhi (NO↓, PGE2↓, TNF-α↓, NF-κB↓); Chuan Xiong (TNF-α↓, NF-κB↓)

* Muscle-relaxant — Ge Gen (isoflavonoids; neck and shoulder relaxation; migraine relief)

* Improves peripheral and micro-circulation; prevents cerebral ischemia — Dan Shen (cerebral perfusion↑, neurological deficits↓, cellular damage repair)

* Synergistic with acupuncture — Yan Hu Suo + electro-acupuncture significantly increases analgesic effect

* Drug-screen safe — Yan Hu Suo: negative on 7-drug panel (opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates) at standard dosage

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Relieves pain; removes qi and blood stagnation (Yan Hu Suo, Chuan Xiong, Dan Shen)

* Invigorates qi and blood circulation (Yan Hu Suo, Chuan Xiong, Dan Shen)

* Dispels wind and exterior pathogenic factors; guides formula to the head (Bai Zhi)

* Relieves pain in upper body; dispels wind-cold and wind-heat (Ge Gen)

DOSAGE

Standard: 3–4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach. Severe pain: 6–8 capsules every 4–6 hours as needed. Discontinue once acute pain subsides and initiate a maintenance formula.

Supplementary formulas: Migraine headaches — add Corydalin (CR). Recent traumatic or musculoskeletal injury headache — add Flex (TMX). Severe long-term headache from previous trauma or blood stagnation — add Circulation (SJ). Excess heat headache — add Gardenia Complex. Stress and tension headache — add Calm, Calm (ES), or Calm ZZZ. Liver fire headache — add Gentiana Complex. Migraine with Liver wind rising — combine with Gastrodia Complex. Wind-heat headache — add Lonicera Complex. Sinus congestion headache — add Pueraria Clear Sinus or Magnolia Clear Sinus. Neck and shoulder stiffness headache — add Neck & Shoulder (AC). Environmental or toxic poisoning headache — add Herbal DTX. Damp and phlegm with Spleen qi deficiency headache — add Pinellia Complex.

Nutrition: Avoid ice drinks or cold food — they constrict vessels, channels, and collaterals. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Eat adequate fruits, vegetables, grains, and raw nuts and seeds. Caffeine withdrawal is one of the most common causes of headache — gradually decrease and stop caffeine-containing foods (coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks). Avoid foods containing tyramine, which can trigger headaches: alcohol, chocolate, banana, citrus fruits, avocado, cabbage, potato, cakes, coffee, dairy products (except yogurt), processed or packaged foods, tobacco, and junk foods. Avoid MSG (found in canned soups, TV dinners, some meats, and restaurant foods) if sensitive.

Tao of Nutrition (Dr. Maoshing Ni and Cathy McNease): Make tea from ginger and green onions, boiling for 5 minutes — drink and try to sweat. Steam the aching portion of the head over mint and cinnamon tea, then dry the head afterwards avoiding drafts. Drink tea made from chrysanthemum flowers and cassia seeds. Make buckwheat meal into a paste and apply to the painful area until it sweats. Drink green tea. Make rice porridge with garlic and green onions — eat while hot then get under covers and sweat. Avoid spicy food, lack of sleep, alcohol, smoking, excessive stimulation, eye strain, and stress.

Lifestyle: Avoid allergens as much as possible if headache is triggered by allergy — an air purifier will minimize allergens in the air. Avoid direct exposure of the head or neck to air conditioning, fans, or wind. Avoid stressful situations and environments — ease tension with massage, warm baths, and exercise. Tension headaches can be relieved by gentle massage of the neck and shoulders; a hot Epsom salts bath is also helpful. Headache due to poor circulation responds to vigorous scalp massage. Regular exercise, adequate rest, and normal sleeping habits are essential for optimal health.

CASE STUDIES

— 42-year-old female (M.M.): Chronic jaw pain left side for 10 years — grinding teeth at night; nodules at ST 6, jaw visibly misaligned, difficulty opening mouth; Liver qi stagnation, blood stasis, Liver and Kidney yin deficiencies; TMJ (Western). Corydalin (AC) as needed + acupuncture + self-massage. Result: decreased tension, circulation returned, able to open mouth easier immediately after taking herbs; nodules disappeared.

— 48-year-old female (F.R.): Tension cluster headaches 5–7 per week; qi and blood stagnation with Liver blood and yin deficiencies. Corydalin (CR) 3 capsules 3x/day + Corydalin (AC) as needed + acupuncture. Result: weeks 1–2: 4–6 headaches/week; week 5: reduced to 1/week; week 8: seldom experienced headaches.

— 55-year-old female (M.V.): Acute pounding headaches with no known cause; Liver overacting on Spleen. Corydalin (AC). Result within 24 hours: onset of headaches delayed or absent; later discovered triggers were lack of sleep and increased processed food consumption.

— 51-year-old perimenopausal female (N.P.): Hot flashes, joint pain, difficulty sleeping, headaches lasting 2–3 days; heavy menstrual bleeding with clots; qi, blood, and yin deficiencies; perimenopausal hormonal headaches (Western). Corydalin (AC) at first sign of headache for a few days following. Result: prevented headaches from occurring; continues taking 4 days before menstruation.

— 43-year-old female nurse: Severe menstrual cramping with nausea and vomiting — unable to work; tenderness LR 4 and LR 5; qi and blood stagnation in abdomen and Liver; uterine fibroids (7.3 cm) and ovarian cyst. Corydalin (AC) 6–8 capsules 2–4x/day. Result: controlled pain, reduced missed work; severity and intensity of cramping subsided; duration reduced from 1–2 days to a few hours; vomiting resolved.

— 31-year-old male (migraines since age 6): Treated with Imitrex (sumatriptan) with limited success; qi and blood stagnation with Liver qi stagnation stirring up wind. Corydalin (AC). Result: almost immediate and positive results; stopped Imitrex completely; reduced rebound headaches.

— 47-year-old female acupuncturist: One-sided severely debilitating weekend migraines; Kidney yin deficiency leading to Liver yang rising. Corydalin (AC) — relieved pain when Imitrex was unsuccessful. Result within 2 weeks: free from headaches; supplemented with Gastrodia Complex + acupuncture; no migraine episodes for more than 6 months.

— 44-year-old female police officer: Chronic occipital and temporal headaches aggravated by stress; acute tenderness at GB 20 and cervical spine; zygoma pain; qi and blood stagnation in GB, UB, and SI channels; myofascial syndrome (Western). Corydalin (AC) + Neck & Shoulder (AC) + Calm (ES). Result: replaced Imitrex (sumatriptan) completely.

— 64-year-old female retired editor: Severe sinus headaches and acute/chronic sinusitis; severe sinus pain above and below eyebrows; reddish tongue tip, thin whitish-yellow coat; slightly elevated Lung pulse; damp-heat in upper jiao. Corydalin (AC). Result: excellent results; most immediate relief from sinus headaches with Corydalin (AC) exclusively.

— 50-year-old female public information specialist: Shoulder, neck, thoracic, lumbar, and foot pain; herniated discs L4–L5; migraines, constipation, anxiety, depression, insomnia from multiple pharmaceuticals; qi and blood stagnation with Liver depression. Corydalin (AC) + Schisandra ZZZ. Result: significantly reduced pain; oxycontin and Duragesic (fentanyl) patches reduced by 75%; ~90% of patients responded favorably, especially those with digestive side effects from ibuprofen.

— 85-year-old retired female: Excruciating neck and shoulder pain causing difficulty sleeping; limited neck ROM; psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, hiatal hernia, hypertension, depression, constipation, leaky gut, sciatica, insomnia. Neck & Shoulder (AC) + Corydalin (AC) 3 capsules each 3x/day between meals + Calm (ES) at night. Result: effective in reducing acute neck and shoulder pain; switched to Gan Mai Da Zao Tang + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang after acute phase.

— 42-year-old female (L.N.): Sinus headache for 2 days following migraine; orbital pain with photophobia, neck and shoulder pain; qi and blood stagnation. Corydalin (AC) 3 capsules 3x/day + acupuncture. Result: all symptoms resolved after treatments.

Related Reading

Also see: Corydalin (CR) – for chronic and migraine headache prevention | Gastrodia Complex – for Liver wind rising migraines | Neck & Shoulder (AC) – for headache with neck and shoulder stiffness | Calm – for stress and tension headache | Calm (ES) – for stress headache with anxiety | Gentiana Complex – for Liver fire headache | Gardenia Complex – for excess heat headache | Lonicera Complex – for wind-heat headache | Pueraria Clear Sinus – for sinus headache | Circulation (SJ) – for blood stagnation headache | Flex (TMX) – for traumatic injury headache | Herbal ANG – for general acute pain | Brain Health & Neurological Support Collection.