Asarum heterotropoides (commonly known as wild ginger or "Xi Xin" in Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM) has a long history of use in East Asian herbal medicine. Traditionally, it has been prescribed to "dispel wind," alleviate pain, and treat headaches, particularly those associated with external wind-cold syndromes or tension-type headaches. Ancient texts such as the Shennong Bencao Jing and subsequent pharmacopoeias cite its use in formulas like "Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San," which is commonly used for headaches. The herb is thought to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties in TCM theory, and it is believed to open the nasal passages, which can also address headache symptoms.

However, scientific evidence to substantiate these traditional claims remains limited. While some laboratory studies have explored the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of compounds found in Asarum, clinical trials specifically evaluating its efficacy for tension headaches are lacking or of poor quality. Most modern reviews and pharmacopeias continue to list its use for headache based on historical and empirical use rather than robust clinical validation. Therefore, the justification for its use in treating tension headaches is primarily traditional, with a moderate level of traditional evidence, but weak scientific validation.