Fighting Pressure with Pressure
AcuPressure for Headaches and Migraines
1. What are pressure points and how are they tied to headaches?
Pressure points are areas of high reactivity which can affect change in specific locations. These points have been found to be situated near peripheral nerves and blood vessels, and are areas of higher electrical conductivity than their surroundings. By manipulating these points, either with pressure from a finger or by a needle, you can activate the nerve pathways and elicit a response from the central nervous system.
The causes of headaches are myriad; vasculature, blood pressure, electrical, muscular... Since acu-points galvanize the parasympathetic nervous system - which is responsible for many of these systems - most physiological causes of headaches can be moderated by their use.
2. What's the best way to relieve tension at the pressure points that cause tension headaches?
An integral part of addressing headaches is determining type and location. When someone claims they have a tension headache they may actually mean a frontal headache, or an occipital headache, or something else entirely. The locations of pain help diagnose referral patterns, and thus which acupressure points are best used. For instance:
- Headaches which begin at the base of the skull and refer up into the temples are what most people think of as 'tension headaches.' They can also wrap around the head. These are typically caused by postural issues or stress. Correction requires lifestyle adjustment. Self-treatment at home can involve applying pressure to acu-points Gallbaldder 20 (behind the mastoid process at the base of the skull), Bladder 10 (behind the skull on either side of the cervical spine), Liver 4 (in the muscle belly between the thumb and forefinger), and extra point Tai Yang (the temples). Apply moderate pressure to these points and rub in a circular motion for thirty seconds per point.
- Headaches at the top of the skull are called vertex headaches and can either be due to blood deficiency or frustration. If deficiency is suspected, then points around the head are helpful to promote blood flow: Du 20 (at the crown of the head), extra point Si Shen Cong (four points in front of, behind, and on either side of Du 20), Stomach 8 (slightly behind the hairline at the frontal-tempoal angle). If instead excess frustration is the cause, you want to bring things away from the head. Liver 4 above is indicated, as well as Kidney 1 (between the second and third toes, in the depression at the sole of the foot when the toes are pushed forward). Apply pressure as above, or for Kidney 1 you can roll a small medicine ball, golf ball or tennis ball under your foot.
- Frontal headaches are often caused by issues of the gut, like poor diet or not eating enough. These are usually resolved once dietary adjustments are made, but the following points can also be helpful: Bladder 2 (at the medial border of the eyebrows), extra point Yin Tang (between the eyebrows), Stomach 36 (about three inches below the lower border of the kneecap, lateral to the tibia in the belly of the muscle).
In addition to the body points listed above, auricular points (points in the ear) can also be useful. They are too small and specific to mention, but sufferers can give themselves gentle ear massages, working their fingers along the outside to the inside.
While acupoints can be very beneficial in combating headaches, their root cause must be addressed to achieve meaningful improvement. An acupuncture physician is trained to diagnose these root causes and offer holistic strategies for correcting them.
