If you ask your doctor if they think there’s a connection between headaches and gallbladder problems, they’ll probably tell you, “There’s not much of a connection.”
Headaches are not usually listed as a symptom of gallbladder problems, and the relationship between the two does not appear to be a popular research topic, judging by the absence of such articles in medical research databases.
But if you ask someone who practices Eastern medicine, a practitioner who looks at the body from a different perspective, you’ll get a completely different answer about the gallbladder and headaches.
Oriental medicine experts recognize “gallbladder headaches” and believe that certain headaches may be related to problems with something called the gallbladder meridian.
gallbladder meridian
In Oriental medicine, all internal organs, such as the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys, are believed to be connected to channels within the body known as meridians. And the gallbladder meridian runs along the side of the head. Gallbladder meridian problems can include emotions and headaches, but are not specifically related to pathology in the gallbladder organ itself.
According to David Canzone, a doctor of oriental medicine and acupuncturist in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the gallbladder is “a functioning organ within the system. [and the] Meridians are considered energy outlets for these organs. ”
Canzone says these meridians are similar to what Western experts call neural pathways. “So if you have a problem with your gallbladder and you have an energy blockage, it shows up in the corresponding neural pathways, or meridians,” he says.
Using acupuncture, “you can release tension built up in the gallbladder meridian,” says Canzone. “If you can relieve tension, you can also relieve headaches.”
Can acupuncture treat headaches and migraines?
Headaches and migraines can be treated with acupuncture if patients seek alternative medicine. During acupuncture, needles are inserted into the skin along meridian pathways to release blocked energies and restore balance.
“In this study, we targeted several points along the gallbladder pathway,” Canzone says. “Simple headaches can also be treated with the same acupuncture points.”
Related: 7 Potential Health Benefits of Acupuncture
How do I know if my gallbladder is malfunctioning?
- Sudden pain in the upper right or center of the abdomen
- Sudden pain between the shoulder blades or in the right shoulder
- nausea or vomiting
- jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes
- high fever
Canzone has found that the most common symptom of gallbladder meridian problems is pain in the upper back, where the gallbladder meridian passes through the area between the neck and shoulders. “If there’s something going on in that nerve pathway and you have muscle tension in that area of your neck or shoulders, you can think that’s what’s causing your headache,” he says.
But he also says that some people with gallstones (a buildup of bile in the gallbladder) don’t experience headaches, while others with gallstones develop gallbladder-related headaches.
Negative emotions, alcohol, and other substances of abuse can heat up the liver, and because the liver is located in the head and eye position, heat travels from the gallbladder through the meridian pathways and can cause headaches.
When and where to receive treatment
If you have a sudden, severe, or persistent headache, your first line of defense is to contact your doctor. In some cases, headaches can be a symptom of a serious illness that requires treatment.
Similarly, if you have symptoms of a gallbladder problem, such as severe pain on the right side of your abdomen or pain in your upper back, make an appointment to see your doctor to rule out a serious problem and seek treatment if necessary.
If your headaches persist and your doctor rules out other medical problems, a licensed acupuncturist may be able to provide pain relief.
Additional reporting by Calley Nelson.
