Pressure Points for Headaches: Discover Headache Relief through Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a unique approach to headache relief, helping you understand and address the causes of your headaches. This guide takes the mystery out of headache pain and provides practical tools to stop or prevent discomfort, whether you're dealing with a tension headache or migraine.
Reading Time: 12 Minutes
Types of Headaches and What They Mean
Each type of headache tells a different story about your body, and TCM has identified the causes and pressure points for each type. Here’s how to address common headache types:
- Headache on Your Temples
- Headache on the Top and Side of Your Head
- Headache on Your Face
- Headache on the Back of Your Head
- Muscle Strain Headaches of the Neck and Shoulders
A Personal Journey: Finding Relief from Headache Pain
I grew up with debilitating migraines. I remember lying in a dark room, lights flashing painfully before my eyes, unable to escape the throbbing. A glimmer of hope came when I was 11 and learned meditation. Guided visualization brought a sense of calm that surprised me, easing my pain completely one day during camp.
Later in life, TCM revealed the root causes of my headaches. Pressure points and the practice of unblocking qi changed everything. Now, I rarely get headaches, and when I do, I know exactly why and how to treat them. This experience inspired me to share these transformative tools so you can find relief too.
Understanding Headaches through TCM
Centuries of practice and thousands of documented case studies have allowed TCM to map the body’s energy flow and reveal what each headache means. According to TCM, headaches stem from two primary sources:
- Local muscle strain and tension
- Blocked qi along specific organ meridians
By recognizing the type of headache you have, you can target specific pressure points to stop the pain and prevent future discomfort. Let’s dive into each type and learn how to address it.
Research in TCM supports acupressure massage to alleviate headaches
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupressure is emerging as a powerful, natural way to beat headaches. Studies show that acupressure can ease pain and reduce the frequency of headaches, making life feel lighter and brighter.
From calming down tension headaches with simple pressure points to lessening the intensity of migraines and soothing neck-related headaches, acupressure offers a refreshing, drug-free solution. Though more research will deepen our understanding, these findings are highlighting acupressure as a go-to, holistic tool for lasting headache relief. Trying it may bring a sense of calm and comfort.
Shao Yang Headache: Headache on Your Temples
Shao Yang headaches suggest that external factors—such as stress, diet, or seasonal changes—are beginning to affect the body’s internal systems but have not yet penetrated deeply. These headaches are commonly felt on the sides of the head or temples and are linked to imbalances in the Gallbladder and Stomach meridians in TCM.
Early intervention is key, as Shao Yang headaches serve as a warning signal that the body is struggling to manage these influences, potentially causing further disruptions if not addressed promptly.
HOW TO TREAT A SHAO YANG HEADACHE
- Local: Gently massage your temples.
- Distal: Massage points like Triple Energizer/San Jiao 3 and 5, Gallbladder 34 and 40, to release tension.
Jue Yin Headache: Headache on the Top and Sides of Your Head
Jue Yin headaches indicate a deep imbalance within the body, often linked to a weakened immune system and insufficient body fluids or blood, which can cause poor nourishment to the head and brain.
These headaches are frequently accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, irritability, and fatigue, pointing to a more complex underlying health issue that affects overall vitality. In TCM, Jue Yin headaches are associated with disturbances in the Liver and Pericardium meridians, signaling the need for immediate attention to restore harmony and prevent the imbalance from worsening.
HOW TO TREAT A JUE YIN HEADACHE
- Local: Massage the top and sides of your head.
- Distal: Focus on Pericardium points 6 and 8 to relieve pain.
Yang Ming Headache: Headache on Your Face
These headaches often result from external wind and cold transforming into internal heat. Weak immune function can make these headaches more intense.
These focused massages can help alleviate the intensity of facial headaches and encourage energy flow through the affected meridians, helping to reduce pain and prevent recurrence.
HOW TO TREAT A YANG MING HEADACHE
Local: Massage these areas for 2-3 minutes each:
- Forehead: Use the fleshy part of your palm below the thumb to massage the forehead in gentle, circular motions.
- Eyes: Gently sweep the pad of your opposite thumb from the inner to the outer corners of your eyes.
- Cheeks: Use the pad of your opposite thumb to sweep up and outward along your cheeks.
Distal: Massage the corresponding organ meridian points for 2-3 minutes, choosing one combination for each session and alternating between sessions:
- Combination 1: REN/CV-12 with ST 36 & 44
- Combination 2: LI-4 with SJ-2
Add HT-8 (Heart 8) to each massage session to support relief from Yang Ming headaches.
Tai Yang Headache: Headache on the Back of Your Head
Tai Yang headaches often stem from external factors impacting the body at the surface level. These factors include exposure to environmental elements like wind, cold, and heat, as well as seasonal allergens that irritate the body’s exterior.
Physical causes, such as eye strain, prolonged screen time, or tension from poor posture, can also trigger Tai Yang headaches by overloading the muscles around the head and neck.
HOW TO TREAT A TAI YANG HEADACHE
- Local: Massage the back of your head and neck.
- Distal: Massage points like Liver 3 and 4 to ease symptoms.
Muscle Strain Headaches of the Neck and Shoulders
Muscle strain headaches are often the result of external factors such as poor alignment while sitting or sleeping, prolonged eye strain, or dehydration. These factors contribute to muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, which can radiate upwards, leading to headaches.
In TCM, opening up the Small Intestine and Bladder channels is key to keeping muscles flexible, resilient, and less prone to strain. When these channels are free-flowing, the muscles remain supple, reducing the likelihood of developing strain-based headaches.
PRESSURE POINTS FOR HEADACHES - MUSCLE STRAIN HEADACHE
- Local: Massage your neck and shoulder muscles.
- Distal: Open up the Small Intestine and Bladder channels, focusing on points like Small Intestine 3 and 4, and Urinary Bladder 40 and 62.
Take Charge of Your Health
Now you know what each type of headache is telling you and how to address it with targeted pressure points. TCM offers a wealth of effective tools for managing headaches and overall health.
For additional resources and techniques, download your free headache massage e-book below to gain even more insight into treating headaches and maintaining wellness naturally.
Get Your Free e-Book: Pressure Points for Headaches
Experience relief and better understand your body’s messages through TCM
Another great energetic tool for headaches is yoga mudras. Enjoy Mahashirsha mudra for headache relief.
References
Images from the Manual of Acupuncture
