Acupressure for the Head

Massaging the head and scalp areas can be incredibly soothing. This relaxation may be due in part to the fact that various acupressure points exist in the scalp. According to Chinese medicine theory, these points correspond to organs of your body, and when manipulated, can help to restore balance to the body. The "Journal of Clinical Nursing" featured a study in April 2010 that found acupressure can help reduce anxiety. Talk to your doctor about acupressure, and if you are interested, find a certified acupressure practitioner.

Acupressure

In Chinese medicine theory, the body is made up of energy, or qi, which flows along channels that correspond to the organs in the body. These channels, or meridians, have specific areas, points, where the energy concentrates near the skin. According to the Henry Spink Foundation, these points act as valves for the flow of qi, and can become blocked or deficient in energy, causing imbalances. When these points are manipulated, by needles, pressure or heat, qi can flow and symptoms like pain can be alleviated.

Bladder Point 3

The bladder meridian begins near the eye and travels up over the head, down the back, ending in the foot. According to Peter Deadman's book "A Manual of Acupuncture," bladder point 3is the first of the bladder points in the scalp area. Manipulating this point can help with headache, dizziness, nasal congestion and agitation. The point is in line with the inner-most point of your eyebrow, approximately half an inch inside the hairline. If you no longer have hair, your practitioner will ask you where your hair used to begin in order to find the point.

Bladder Point 9

The bladder meridian has several more points on the head, including point 9. This point is located near the slight, bony projection in the middle of the back of your head, called the occipital proterberance. Acupuncture.com states the point is located a little over an inch from the midline on both sides of the head, at the upper border of the occipital proterberance. It can be used to alleviate headache, neck pain and nasal congestion.

Bladder Point 10

This point is located near the meeting of the scalp and cervical spine. It is technically on the trapezius muscles, making it an ideal point to massage. Your practitioner will find it approximately half an inch downward from the depression below the occipital proterberance, a little over an inch from the midline. Pressing this point on both or either sides of the head can help to relieve dizziness, pain in the head and neck and blurred vision states "A Manual of Acupuncture."

Du Point 20

The Du, or Governor's vessel, channel runs along the midline of the body and, according to "A Manual of Acupuncture," mediates between the heart and the brain. Many of its points can be used for a variety of psychoemotional disorders and discomforts of the head. Yin Yang House recommends point 20 for headache, low energy, prolapse and dizziness. Your practitioner will find it by drawing a line from the middle of both ears to the top of the head; Du 20 is located at the meeting of those lines.

Gall Bladder Channel

The gall bladder channel also has points on the head that can be helpful in relieving tension and headache. A string of points are located around each of the ears. Point eight begins the series of points. "A Manual of Acupuncture" states it is located approximately an inch above the apex of the ear. Your practitioner may fold your ear forward to determine the apex. Gall bladder nine is level with point eight, but about half an inch towards the back of the head. Most acupuncture textbooks advise finding gall bladder 12 in order to find points 10 and 11. Acupuncture.com lists 12's location as being just behind and below the mastoid process, which is the last part of the skull bone beneath the ear. Points 10 and 11 are located running parallel to the curve of the ear, two-thirds and one-third, respectively, of the distance between points 9 and 12.