Acupressure Techniques For Headaches

Acupressure is thought to reduce headache discomfort, in part, by stimulating your body to produce endorphins, the body's endogenous painkillers. Vanderbilt University reports that acupressure's seeming ability to encourage correction in chemical and energetic imbalances in the body has led to many pain patients claiming that they have a decreased need for narcotic and over-the-counter analgesics. Although acupressure remains an alternative therapy, extensive clinical testing has shown that stimulation of acupressure points results in significant benefit for those suffering from a myriad of painful conditions. Other conditions, like certain types of heart and digestive disease, may be alleviated by acupressure as well.

Feng-chi Point

The Feng-chi point is located along the base of your skull, just underneath the occipital bone. The point is mirrored on both sides of the body and is about 1.5 inches from the center point of the upper vertebrae. Although it is significantly easier for another person to perform acupressure in this area, it can be self-administered by sitting down, bending the head forward and placing the thumbs firmly on the feng-chi points. At this point, the area is massaged steadily in a circular motion for up to five minutes.

Ho-ku Point

The Ho-ku point is located on the web, or dorsum, of the hand, between your thumb and pointer finger. It is located by running your thumb up the middle point between the metacarpal bones until you reach the muscle the attaches them together. The circular acupressure stroke is applied in the center of the muscle for up to five minutes. The Ho-ku point is thought to be especially effective for stress-induced headaches and can be self-administered easily during tense situations. Do not use the Ho-ku point if you are pregnant; it can stimulate uterine contractions.

Zhong-zhu Point

The Zhong-zhu point is found on the hand, as well, between your pinky and ring finger. It is located approximately halfway between where your fingers connect to your hand and the beginning of your wrist, in the groove that is made by the two bones. It is thought to be more effective if you move and stretch your neck gently from side to side as the point is massaged. The Zhong-zhu point is thought to be especially effective for headaches that are accompanied by stiffness in the neck.

Eye Strain Routine

A series of acupressure points that address eye strain can help alleviate headache pain, especially if facial muscles are part of the etiology of the discomfort. Circular acupressure massage is first applied with the finger tips at the hair line and the thumb tips at the corner of the eyebrow. The routine continues by closing your eyes and kneading an acupressure point located right above the inner corner of each eye. Next, the orbital acupressure points, located directly under your pupils on the bone that forms the eye socket, are massaged. The last part of the exercise is a relaxing stroke, which is performed by running the knuckle of the forefinger lightly along the facial meridian lines.