If you’ve ever been the victim of migraine attacks, you’ve likely utilized traditional medication, countless visits with your healthcare provider, and maybe even treatment with a physical therapist to find relief from migraine pain. If those methods haven’t worked for you, and even if they have, be careful that you don’t overlook alternative treatments!
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I experienced migraine pain on a daily basis for over seven months.
With limited prescription medication options available to me due to my pregnancy, I scheduled a massage therapy session out of pure desperation. If my head had to pound all day, at least my body could feel relaxed, right?
But when I informed the massage therapist of my migraine symptoms, she went straight to work using pressure points for migraine relief.
As she moved along my hands, feet, and the back of my head, I felt my head and neck pain melt away. Heck, I felt the muscle tension releasing all over my body from acupressure points alone!
I was an instant believer.
While using pressure points for migraine relief might feel a little too new age for your tastes, the world is full of people who swear by it. And considering all it requires is an index finger, a middle finger, and some firm pressure, it seems like a no-brainer to give at least a few acupressure points a whirl!
Understanding Migraine and Pressure Points
Migraine headaches are severe headaches that exhibit a wide variety of terrible symptoms. Wonderful, right?
Luckily, acupressure can provide relief by targeting a few specific points on your body. Let’s dive into the basics of migraine attacks and the key pressure points that can help reduce migraine headache pain.
The Basics of Migraine Attacks
Migraine attacks are more than just bad, chronic headaches.
Triggers might include stress, certain foods, or changes in the weather. The resulting migraine attacks can cause intense throbbing, pulsating, or stabbing pain, often on one side of your head.
Additional migraine symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sound that can last from a few hours to several days and often interfere with daily activities.
Treatments can involve prescription medication, lifestyle changes, and natural remedies like acupressure and its complementary therapy, acupuncture.
Key Pressure Points for Relief
Several acupressure points are believed to help alleviate migraine pain.
One well-known point is LI-4 (Hegu, sometimes called Union Valley), located where your thumb and index finger meet. Applying firm pressure on Union Valley may reduce headache pain and is often recommended for migraines.
LV-3 (Taichong, sometimes referred to as the Great Surge), between your big toe and second toe, is another useful point to help manage migraine symptoms and promote relaxation. When you properly apply firm pressure to the Great Surge, you may experience a reduction in migraine intensity and frequency.
Another point is the Gates of Consciousness (GB-20), found at the base of the skull in the hollow areas on both sides of your neck. Stimulating the Gates of Consciousness can help relieve migraine symptoms like neck stiffness and headache pain.
Techniques for Applying Pressure
But just knowing where pressure points for migraine relief are located doesn’t mean much if you don’t also know proper pressure point technique! It’s important to know how to apply firm pressure and follow specific massage therapy guidelines for both safety and effectiveness.
Correct Methods for Using Firm Pressure
When applying firm pressure to specific points, focus on applying a consistent force.
Use your thumb, the tip of your index finger, or the tip of your middle finger to apply pressure to the point. Press down firmly but without causing pain.
Maintain the pressure for about 30 seconds to 2 minutes. You can also utilize a circular motion to increase effectiveness.
Start with gentle pressure and gradually increase it as needed. Pay close attention to your body’s feedback to avoid discomfort.
For even better results, ask a physical therapist or licensed acupuncturist for guidance. They can show the best techniques and prevent any possible harm while applying pressure on these specific pressure points.
Massage Therapy Guidelines
Applying massage therapy to specific pressure points offers another useful method for migraine relief.
When massaging accupressure points, ensure your movements are slow and controlled. This helps in reducing tension and promoting relaxation.
Begin by warming up the area with gentle strokes before applying deeper pressure.
Use the heel of your hand or thumb to massage the pressure points. Use both circular motion and back-and-forth motions, switching between them to find what feels best for specific points.
Aim to massage the acupressure points for 1-3 minutes.
Similar to above, you can seek assistance from a licensed acupuncturist or a physical therapist, as they have specialized training in these techniques. This ensures you use proper methods and get the most benefits from your massage therapy sessions.
Comprehensive Relief Strategies
As you probably already know, effective migraine relief often requires a multifaceted approach. By incorporating acupressure into your migraine management routine, you can potentially reduce the frequency and severity of chronic headaches and tension headaches.
Incorporating Acupressure into Migraine Management
Acupressure is a technique based on the traditional Chinese medicine practice of acupuncture. It involves applying pressure to specific points on your body to promote both headache relief and general pain relief.
For acupressure to be more effective, consider using it alongside other treatments. It can complement prescription medication, offering a balanced approach to managing your symptoms.
If you find using pressure points for migraine relief at home to be effective, you might want to consider exploring acupuncture treatment with a licensed acupuncturist for an even more impactful pain management plan. Acupuncture treatment involves applying acupuncture needles to specific pressure points for more pronounced and longer-lasting pain relief.
Consulting with your healthcare provider before starting any new therapy ensures that it is suitable for your condition. Integrating acupressure into your migraine and pain management plan can provide a useful complementary therapy to help you achieve pain relief.
Exploring Auxiliary Treatments
Combining acupressure with other therapies can even further enhance your migraine relief.
For instance, acupuncture and massage therapy are great complementary therapies. They work on similar principles of stimulating pressure points and improving blood flow.
While many people utilize prescription medication, some also find relief through supplements like magnesium and riboflavin. But as always, make sure to check in with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplements.
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation can also help. They’ve been shown to not only relieve stress but also reduce migraine frequency.
Other interventions include using cold or hot packs on the base of the neck and temples. This can improve blood flow and reduce pain.
And as always, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular sleep, hydration, and balanced meals will help to support migraine and pain management.
Precautions and Additional Therapies
Applying pressure to specific points can have side effects, like temporary discomfort or bruising. You might also experience dizziness or fatigue, especially if you’ve never tried using pressure points for migraine relief before.
Certain pressure points can affect blood flow and might cause neurological side effects. If you feel unusual numbness or tingling, you should stop immediately and consult with your healthcare provider.
Always avoid pressing on areas with burns, infections, or rashes. Don’t use acupressure if you have a recent history of radiation therapy or stitches.
You’ll also want to be careful before using any trigger point injections. They can help loosen tight muscles, but they also come with risks like infection and nerve damage.
As always, it’s important to check in with your healthcare provider before starting any new complementary therapy for migraine relief.
So…will you try using pressure points for migraine relief? Be sure to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
P.S. Are stress levels exacerbating your migraine pain and frequency? Download A Practical Guide to Stress | 17 Tricks to Take Control of Stress Today to help you develop a game-changing stress management plan. It’s free! Get yours HERE.
*DebPreston.com is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, medical treatment, or therapy. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding migraine pain management. Never disregard professional medical advice nor delay in seeking professional advice or treatment because of something you have read on DebPreston.com.
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