Migraine Headache and Acupressure

Migraine headaches are caused by muscular and vascular tension. Many self-help acupressure techniques can be useful in providing relief without assistance from a professional. Below are a set of acupressure points and a method for you to stimulate them.

There are specific acupressure points that must be stimulated to achieve a great deal of relief from a migraine headache. Each of the points has a unique coordinate which you must locate on your body and then stimulate, typically using one or both of your thumbs.

Read more details about Acupressure.

Acupressure can be administered by a physician such as an acupuncturist or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, a massage therapist with knowledge of acupressure, or you can do it yourself.

Below are a few acupuncture points you can stimulate yourself for migraine relief.

• GB20: With your thumbs, firmly press underneath the base of your skull into the hollow areas on either side. Depending on the size of your head, these will be located two to three inches apart from each other. With your eyes closed, slowly tilt your head back and apply pressure up from underneath the skull for one to two minutes. While applying pressure, take long deep belly breaths (through your diaphragm). Release
• GV16 with B2: The GV16 point is located in the center hollow of the base of the skull. Press your right thumb into this point. The B2 point is located in the upper hollows of your eye sockets near the bridge of your nose. While using your right thumb on the GV point, use your left thumb and index finger to press the B2 point. Tilt your head back and take long deep belly breaths for one or two minutes. Release.
• LI4: This point is located in the webbing between the thumb and the index finger. Use your right thumb to press this point on your left hand, angling the pressure toward the bone that connects with the index finger. Hold for one minute and release. Next, repeat using the left thumb on the right hand point. Hold for one minute and release.*

(* Caution: This point should not be used by pregnant women.)