Headaches can have many causes and the pain can be mild or severe. Some people suffer from headaches that are chronic and cause severe pain. These chronic, painful headaches sometimes have to be controlled with medications. Using pressure points can help to relieve muscle tension and relieve the pain of a headache. There are a number of pressure points that a person can try to help relieve the pain.
Minor Headaches
According to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, you can treat most headaches using pressure points on the first joints of the fingers. Try massaging the bottoms and sides of each finger. This technique helps relieve muscle tension in the neck and shoulders that can easily cause a headache. According to the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, using pressure points on the fingers can also help improve circulation so that blood gets to the brain easier. This can help reduce the pain that many feel with headaches.
Allergy Headaches
Allergy headaches can also be very painful. According to the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, you can relieve allergy headaches using pressure points on the foot. Start by using pressure on the pad of the foot, just under the big toe, and then work down along the middle of the foot. Look for sore spots because this will alert you that this area needs to be massaged and worked. In addition, the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts reports that you can relieve an allergy headache by using pressure points along the side of the hand and work downward to the padding on the heel of the hand. Again, you should look for sore spots because this will alert you that you need to massage and work these spots to release the headache.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are sometimes caused by neck pain. You can relieve neck pain by some very simple pressure points. One can be found in the soft, fleshy tissue between the thumb and forefinger. According to the University of California, placing pressure on the area can help to relieve stress, neck pain and reduce the overall pain of the headache. However, it can also induce labor, so don't use this method if you are pregnant. The University of California also reports that another pressure point can be found in the middle of the groove between the pinky finger and the ring finger. This pressure point helps to relax neck muscles and thus relieve the pain from the headache.
