|
Massage
is a technique often used to alleviate pain from migraine headaches. An effective massage can either be done by a professional,
or if you learn the right technique, you can do it yourself. You
just need to learn about the relevant pressure points to give yourself
the most relief.
First,
let's understand what a pressure point is. This refers to
a point on the body which, when pressed, lessens pain in the head. It might surprise you to learn that a pressure point is not
always the point which hurts the most. Once you find the migraine
pressure point, you simply press and release it in a slow, rhythmic
manner, massaging it deliberately to achieve some relief. This
process releases congested blood and energy from your head, thus
easing your pain.
Let's
discuss now the precise massage technique. Use these basic
steps for each pressure point:
- Remember
never to use the ends of fingers and thumbs, but rather the pads.
- As
you apply pressure, do so gently, applying light to moderate pressure,
depending on the sensitivity of the point.
- However,
you should press hard enough to feel the tension between fingers
and thumb.
- Use
less pressure if the migraine pressure point hurts so badly that
it's difficult to take a deep breath.
- As
you apply gradual pressure, allow your fingers to sink into the
pressure point. Let your fingers and thumb go deeper and
deeper.
- When
you get the thumb or finger as deep as needed, massage that point
in small circular movements.
- Keep
the finger or thumb on the migraine pressure point as long as
it takes to feel a change or movement there.
- Gradually
and slowly now release the pressure point until your finger or
thumb leaves the skin.
- Repeat
this process as many times as needed at that point, then move
to the next migraine pressure point.
Where,
then, are these migraine pressure points? Here's a list of
the most significant ones. Start at the top of the list, working
your way through each of them, making an effort to relax on each
one.
- Base
of skull. Find the bony base in back of your skull. Place
both thumb pads beneath the skull base, with both thumbs an inch
from the spinal column. Keep the thumbs against these two
point and tilt the head back a bit. Now press gradually
upward, counting up to ten. As you count, breathe deeply. When your thumbs reach the deepest point, massage it in
small, circular motions, making sure to hold the pressure.
- Mid-forehead. This one is found in the middle of your forehead, directly
between the eyebrows. Using the same technique described
above, press gradually inward with your thumbs and your index
finger, counting to 10, and again breathing deeply. Once
again massage in small, circular motions once you reach the deepest
point.
- Eye
Corners. With your fingers find the outermost corners of
both eyes. Just behind the bone as you move away from the
eyes are the spots. Using the same technique described
above, press gradually inward with your thumbs and your index
finger, counting to 10, and again breathing deeply. Once
again massage in small, circular motions once you reach the deepest
point.
- On
the Hand. Most people are surprised to hear there is a migraine
pressure point on both hands. It's the fleshy area between
the index finger and thumb. Use your opposite hand's index
finger and thumb and squeeze the upper portion gradually, counting
to 10. Remember to breathe deeply, and when you reach the
spot's deepest point, massage with small, circular motions.
- Equally
surprising is the pressure point on the foot, right on the top. Find where the foot bones come together between the first
two toes. Now press down gradually with finger or
thumb pads, and count to 10, being careful to breathe deeply. Once you find that deepest point, use small circular motions
and massage.
Self-massage
is one of the best ways to attain fast relief from the pain of migraine
headaches. |