How to Use Pressure Points to Get Rid of Your Headache

What Are Pressure Points?

Pressure points are considered to be very sensitive areas of the body, according to some methods of natural medicine. Applying specific pressure to these areas will help to relieve pain. The overall health of the body is improved with the proper use of pressure points. At least, this is what some followers of alternative medicine believe. Reflexology and acupressure are two areas of natural medicine which use these sensitive points. These two practices are not well studied. However, there is little to no risk or negative side effects for a patient whose pressure points have been affected. Patients are better off when they seek out trained professionals. There are schools of accredited reflexology or alternative medicine where reflexologists can learn.¹

Where Are Pressure Points Located?

The hand is the location of the most powerful pressure points in the body. The hand contains eight of the most noteworthy pressure points. The heart, neck pain, earaches, anxiety, cold symptoms, digestion, nausea, and breathing problems could be affected by pressure points on the hands. These sensitive areas are located all over the front and back of the hand. The wrist and forearm contain some of these pressure points.²

Are You Experiencing Regular, Painful Headaches?

Chronic headaches and migraines are some of the most common ailments which afflict everyone. Some patients suffer from headaches or migraines every day. The pain from the headaches can remain at a bearable level, but the pain could also disrupt the patient’s regular daily activities. Headache relief becomes a top priority for patients who suffer from these more regular and distracting headaches. At some point or another, almost everyone wants to know how to get rid of a headache. Fortunately, there are natural headache remedies which patients may try at home.³

Here Are Some Natural Headache Remedies

One of the most common causes of both tension headaches and migraines is chronic dehydration. Patients should start by drinking a glass of water. If dehydration was the cause, the headache symptoms should be relieved within a half hour to three hours. Another potential remedy would be to take magnesium. When taken in the proper dosage, daily supplementation of magnesium might reduce the effects of migraine headaches, both in frequency and severity. Patients who do not get the proper amount of sleep are more susceptible to developing headaches. On the other hand, too much sleep also leaves patients vulnerable to headaches. Generally, those who are able to get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night will receive the maximum benefits.⁴

Beware of Headaches Caused by Alcohol

Alcohol is a vasodilator, which means that it allows blood to flow more freely by widening blood vessels. Blood pressure medications are also vasodilators. Vasodilation has the potential side effect of causing headaches. Another reason that alcohol causes headaches is because it is a diuretic, which dehydrates the body. As previously mentioned, dehydration both causes and worsens headaches. In addition to these, alcohol also degrades the patient’s quality of sleep. Patients who consume alcohol before bed are more likely to experience frequent awakenings. Too much alcohol will leave the patient with a hangover the next morning. Hangovers increase the patient’s sensitivity to light, sound, and other forms of stimulation. This overstimulation will also contribute to the development of headaches.⁵

How to Get Rid of Headaches Using Pressure Points

The use of pressure points is a safe and free method of relieving headaches. This method of treatment is especially helpful for patients who do not have easy access to tea, pain medication, or other remedies. For example, a patient who is working at the office when they feel the sudden onset of a headache could apply pressure to the sensitive points for easier and more accessible relief. Deep, massaging pressure is used to performed acupressure. Patients may use their fingers, knuckles, or similar soft-pointed object to apply pressure. If the patient does not experience relief when using acupressure on a pressure point, they could try applying pressure to the same point on the opposite side of the body.⁶

Locations of Pressure Points for Relief

One point is located in a small depression on the wrist, in line with the position of the thumb. The point is on the outer wrist, which is on the opposite side of the arm from the palm. Another point can be found by squeezing the thumb and pointer finger together to form a ridge. Just above the end of this crease is where this point is positioned. There is another point in line with the thumb. This time, it is located on the inside wrist along the crease where the hand and arm meet. Not all headache-relieving pressure points are located on the hand. Behind the jawbone and just below the ear is the location of one such pressure point. These are just a few examples of the many pressure points on the body that might relieve headache.⁷