Massage, a common method of relieving migraine headaches, can be done by a professional, or you can do it yourself using this technique.
A light massage combined with migraine pressure points will give you the most relief. You just need a few simple points on how to massage a migraine headache.
Definition of the migraine pressure point
It is important to learn the migraine pressure point or points that bring relief. A migraine pressure point is a point on your body that, when pressed, will decrease the pain in your head. Surprisingly, a migraine pressure point is not necessarily the point that hurts the most.
A migraine pressure point can be pressed and released in a slow, rhythmic manner and deliberately massaged for relief. This will release congested energy and blood from the head and relieve pain.
Migraine Pressure Point Technique
You’ll treat every migraine pressure point with these simple steps.
* Use only the pads of the thumbs or the first two fingers, never the tips.
* Keep the pressure light to moderate, depending on how sensitive the point is to your touch.
* Press hard enough that you can feel hardness or tension under your thumb or fingers.
* If a migraine pressure point hurts so much that you can’t take a deep breath, apply less pressure to that point.
* Let your fingers sink into the migraine pressure point while gradually applying pressure. Feel your thumb or finger going gently, gradually deeper and deeper.
* While your thumb or finger is as deep as you like, massage the point with small circular motions of your finger.
* Keep your thumb or finger on the migraine pressure point until you feel a movement or change there. It may feel softer or warmer.
* Now slowly gradually release the migraine pressure point until the thumb or finger leaves the skin.
* Repeat several times at the same point.
Migraine Pressure Point Locations
Remember to be firm, but gentle. Insufficient pressure on a migraine pressure point will not be effective; too much pressure will create tension in the surrounding muscles.
Here are some migraine pressure point locations to get you started. Start with the first one and work your way through each point, consciously relaxing as you do so.
1. Migraine pressure point at the base of the skull
Locate the bony base of your skull at the back. Place the pads of the thumbs under the base of the skull, each thumb approximately 1 inch from the spine. Holding your thumbs against the colon, tilt your head back slightly. Now press up gradually, counting to 10 and taking a deep breath as you do so. When you reach the deepest point, massage in small circular motions with your thumbs, maintaining pressure. When you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 again. Repeat 5 times.
2. Migraine pressure point in the middle of the forehead
This migraine pressure point is located in the center of the forehead, just between the eyebrows. Using the migraine pressure point technique described above, and your thumbs or one of the first two fingers, gradually press in for a count of 10, taking a deep breath as you do so. When you reach the deepest point, massage in small circular motions, maintaining pressure. As you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 as you do so. Repeat 10 times.
3. Migraine pressure point at the corners of the eyes
Feel the face at the outer corners of your eyes. Move your fingers away from the eyes until you find the spots just behind the bone. Using the migraine pressure point technique and one or two fingertips, gradually apply pressure inward, counting to 10 and taking deep breaths as you do so. When you reach the deepest point, massage in small circular motions, maintaining pressure. As you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 as you do so. Repeat 10 times.
4. Migraine pressure point on the hand
Surprisingly, you have a migraine pressure point on each hand. It is the fleshy part between the thumb and the index finger. Using the pad of the thumb and index finger of the opposite hand, gradually squeeze the top of this migraine pressure point, count to 10, and take a deep breath. When you reach the deepest point, massage in small circular motions, maintaining pressure. As you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 as you do so. Repeat 10 times.
5. Migraine pressure point on foot
The last point you will use to eliminate migraine headaches is on the top of each foot. Locate where the bones meet between the big toe and the second toe. Using your thumb or fingertips, press down gradually, counting to 10 and taking a deep breath as you do so. When you reach the deepest point, massage in small circular motions, maintaining pressure. As you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 again. Repeat 10 times.
Different bodies respond differently to pressure points. These should work for you. For information on other migraine pressure points, ask a local shiatsu practitioner. A professional can also give you a complete treatment for the relief or prevention of migraines.