Corydalis (primarily Corydalis yanhusuo) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of pain, including headaches, particularly those classified as tension-type. It is commonly used in herbal formulas aimed at "moving qi" and alleviating various forms of pain, such as dysmenorrhea, chest pain, and headaches. The plant’s primary active compound, tetrahydropalmatine (THP), is believed to have analgesic effects and has been studied for its potential to modulate pain pathways, primarily in animal models and small-scale human studies targeting general pain, not specifically tension headaches.

Despite its established use in TCM and limited pharmacological evidence suggesting pain-relieving properties, high-quality clinical trials specifically evaluating Corydalis for tension-type headaches are lacking. Most available scientific data address its general analgesic or sedative effects, rather than targeted headache relief. As such, the use of Corydalis for tension headaches is justified mainly by traditional practices and anecdotal reports rather than robust scientific validation. More rigorous, condition-specific research would be necessary to elevate its evidence rating and support its efficacy and safety profile for this particular indication.