Everyone experiences a headache at some point in their life. Almost all headaches typically go away on their own and are not an indicator of a serious health problem.
They can be caused by sleep deprivation; drinking too much alcohol; stress or emotional distress; a medical condition like anxiety, high blood pressure, migraine, depression; and more.
Depending on the cause, they can range from a mild headache to a raging pain.
About 45 million people suffer from chronic headaches, and 28 million suffer from migraines in the U.S. alone.
Once a headache occurs, you may find it difficult to practice your everyday tasks.
Most people reach for a pain killer to alleviate their headache.
Instead of Reaching for a Pain Killer, You Should Try Acupressure
Have you ever found yourself instinctively rubbing your head when you experience a headache?
Acupressure is actually a technique from traditional Chinese medicine, which helps alleviate pain and fight stress. It is similar to acupuncture. Acupressure uses gentle firm touch, whereas acupuncture uses needles to access energy pathways.
Moreover, acupressure sends signals into your body by using an external force to boost vital energy. You should apply pressure along energy pathways in order to fight illness, provide pain relief and restore balance.
Additionally, a Taiwanese study has shown that acupressure is more effective compared to muscle relaxer medications at alleviating pain and lowering the frequency and severity of chronic headaches.
Top 6 Acupressure Points to Alleviate Headaches Almost Instantly:
Start by sitting in a comfortable position and then close your eyes. Next, take deep breaths.
Start applying deep, firm pressure to every pressure point and then massage in a small circular motion. This will boost blood flow below your skin’s surface.
Make sure you massage every pressure point for about one minute. In case the headache persists about ten minutes after massaging the last point, then you should repeat the same procedure.
Get Rid of Your Headache by Applying Pressure to These Points:
– Yintang
This acupressure point is known as “the third eye”. It is located between your eyebrows where the bridge of your nose meets your forehead. Applying pressure to this point will not only provide headache relief, but it can also fight vertigo, eye fatigue, and insomnia. Yintang is considered to be a key point for those that do not get enough sleep or work on the computer.
– Shuai Gu
Shuai Gu is found one inch above the beginning of the front curve of your ear. Furthermore, you need to feel a slight indentation in the bone, which confirms the location of this point. Applying pressure to this acupressure point helps provide migraine relief, alleviate vomiting, and fight tinnitus and vertigo. Simply apply pressure to this point on both sides of your head for maximum benefits.
– Tian Zhu
They are the 2 points on both sides of your spine where it meets the base of your skull. These acupressure points are beneficial for relieving headaches, shoulder and back pain, stiff neck, and other body aches. That’s not all, they can also reduce fever, soothe sore throat, clear nasal congestion, fight dizziness and poor concentration, and improve memory.
– Yingxiang
These 2 points are found on either side of your nostrils below your cheekbone, where your nose meets your cheek. Applying pressure to these points can alleviate headaches; fight nosebleeds, sinus problems, congestion, or allergies. This can also alleviate nasal congestion even in those suffering from acute respiratory tract infections.
– Zan Zhu
They are located at the base of your inner eyebrows. You should apply pressure to these points to relieve stiff neck, psychosis, hay fever, dizziness, blurred vision, repeated sneezing, and eye disease.
– He Gu
He Gu is located at the highest point of the muscle of your hand when your thumb is held against your index finger. Simply open your hand and feel the point in the meaty part of your muscle between your thumb and your hand. Applying pressure to this point helps alleviate sinusitis, dizziness, tension headache, migraine, stomach ache, jaw pain, congestion, diarrhea, and constipation.
In fact, acupressure helps reduce stress, boost energy, and stimulate lymph and blood circulation within your body.
A 2-year trial that involved 500 patients suffering from migraine, cluster and tension headaches showed that auto-acupressure served as an effective substitute for steroids, analgesics, methysgeride, propanolol, or ergotamine preparations.
So the next time you experience a headache, apply gentle pressure to these points for instant headache relief.
Source: dailyhealthpost.com