When To See A Doctor
While pressure points can work to relieve headaches, there are some cases where its important to see a doctor. Headaches are a common problem, but sometimes they can be indicative of a more serious health issue.
For regular headache pain, use the pressure points. However, see a doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Severe and debilitating headache pain
- A sudden and unusual onset of headache pain
- Headache accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, or other symptoms and
- Headache causing blurry or distorted vision.
Headaches are one of the most common types of pain. Most people will experience a headache at some point in their life, but for some people, headaches can be a reoccurring, chronic problem. Headache pain can range from annoying to severe, and can have a negative impact on our life.
Pressure points are effective for reducing headache pain. There are a number of headache pressure points throughout the head, face, neck, hands, and feet that can help us alleviate pain, relieve tension, and improve circulation. So if you have an aching head, make use of the benefits of acupressure!
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The Best Pressure Points To Treat Headaches
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Experiencing the pain and discomfort of a headache is incredibly common. If youre looking for a more natural way to treat your headache, you may want to think about acupressure and pressure points.
Pressure points are parts of the body believed to be extra sensitive, able to stimulate relief in the body. Practitioners of reflexology, a discipline of Chinese medicine, believe that touching pressure points in a certain way can:
- Improve your health
- Ease pain
- Restore balance in the body
Reflexology is the study of how one part of the human body is connected to another. This means you might have to massage a different location like your hand to treat a different area, like your head. Youll reach for the right pressure points to ease your pain.
If you want to learn more about treating your headache this way, its important to understand how to do so correctly. We explain what science says and give you some pressure points to try next time your head hurts.
Pain In The Back Of The Head When Lying Down
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are rare but extremely painful. They get their name from the cluster periods in which they occur. People with . These periods or patterns of attack may last weeks or months.
Cluster headache symptoms
Cluster headaches may cause pain in the back of the head or the sides of the head. They may get worse when lying down. Other symptoms to watch for include:
- sharp, penetrating, burning pain
The symptoms of many headaches can be reduced with over-the-counter pain relief medications such as acetaminophen . Some medications, like Extra-Strength Tylenol, can help if you have chronic headaches.
Treatment is most effective when its based on the exact cause of your headache.
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What Cause Headaches In General
To understand headaches after massage, lets recap some general info about headaches. Headaches range in intensity from mild to very severe pain. The pain can be described as sharp, shooting, throbbing, dull, squeezing, or aching.
The most common type of headache is a tension headache. It often feels like a band being tightened around the head and may be accompanied by neck pain. If youre experiencing a headache after a massage, its most likely a tension headache.
Here are some common causes of headaches in general:
- Blood pressure changes. One mechanism that may produce various types of headaches is the rapid constricting or dilating of blood vessels in the head. This can be the result of dehydration, hormonal changes, stress, eating certain foods, muscle tension, sex, extreme heat or cold, exercising, or sleeping too much.
- Irregular schedule, stress, and less sleep. Contributing factors for tension-type headaches include stress, emotional and mental conflict, irregular diet, an irregular meal schedule, strenuous exercise, depression, and disrupted sleep patterns.
- Hormone changes. Another common cause of headaches are hormone changes. Although big hormone changes are most often thought of in association with menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, or use of hormone replacement and oral contraceptives, hormone levels naturally change in both men and women.
- Not enough water.Dehydration, or not drinking enough water, is another common cause of headache.
Secondary Trigger Points That Cause Headaches
Trigger points in two other muscle groups can contribute to headaches: the Temporalis and Suboccipital muscle groups. Clinically, it is extremely rare that trigger points in these muscles are the sole cause of headache pain. They are typically secondary or satellite trigger points that form in response to active trigger points in the Trapezius and Sternocleidomastoid muscles. They resolve naturally when the trigger points in the primary muscles are properly treated.
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Role Of Myofascial Trigger Points In Tension
Myofascial trigger points are assumed to play a role in the pathophysiology of pain disorders, including headache disorders however, there is little evidence to back this up. The researchers looked at the research on the involvement of myofascial trigger points in tension headaches and migraines.
In multiple investigations, the rate of myofascial trigger points was observed to grow with age, implying that their accumulation occurs over time due to tension-type headaches rather than being implicated in their pathophysiology.
Self Massage And Trigger Point Therapy For Headaches And Migraines
Scientists have found that a high proportion of headaches result from pain coming from the muscles and joints of your head and neck. They refer to these as tension or cervicogenic headaches. One of the main causes of these is tension and trigger points in the muscles.
Clinical trials have shown that these headaches can often be relieved by simple, easy to apply home therapy where gentle massage is performed, and pressure temporarily applied to the trigger points.
In this article
In this article we will go over the basis of this pain, the types of headaches most likely to benefit from this therapy, and the other possible causes of headache you need to be aware of. Well then give you a guide for home therapy. For the most it will be based upon the combined results of several clinical trials, but for some of the muscles involved well give you alternative techniques that from our experience and knowledge will be easier and more effective.
CONTENTS
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Trigger Point : The Suboccipitals
The suboccipitals are 4 tiny muscles located below the base of your skull near your two large neck muscles. They help move your head up and down. People who spend a long time looking down at their smartphones or hunched over their computer screens most of the day almost always have tension in their suboccipitals.
Similar behaviors can also cause your psoas muscle to shorten which leads to lower-back pain.
When I was in college, I had to complete most of my work on a computer. As a result, I often had problems with suboccipital tension until I learned how to work on the trigger points and improve my posture.
Wind Mansion Pressure Point
Tucked in the hollow at the base of your skill, the wind mansion pressure point can help combat stress headaches, as well as reduce feelings of anxiety. Holding the back of your head with one hand, position your palm so that your thumb is pointing downwards. Press your thumb into the hollow at the skulls base, then hold pressure.
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Where Can I Find Trigger Point Massage Near Me
Self-care is so important, especially during this stressful year were living in. To reap the most benefits from trigger point massage, however, its best to see a professional.
If you live in the Vail Valley or Glenwood Springs , our team of skilled therapists is ready to make you feel amazing.
to learn more about our pricing and packages or give us a call at 970-748-1600 to schedule your next massage!
Top Five Pressure Points To Treat Headaches
No one is immune to the occasional headache, for many, chronic headaches or migraines are unfortunately a lifetime ailment. Key West Wellness Center provides multiple services to assist you with preventing headaches and with alleviating the pain during an attack. You are welcome to contact our office to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
Headaches and migraines can strike at any time and since we are not with you 24/7, we want to share some tips on how to apply pressure to five top pressure points in hopes to relieve head pain, these are great techniques to use in between your Key West Wellness Center appointments.
Experiencing the pain and discomfort of a headache is incredibly common. If youre looking for a more natural way to treat your headache, you may want to think about acupressure and pressure points.
Pressurepoints are parts of the body believed to be extra sensitive, able tostimulate relief in the body. Practitioners of reflexology, a discipline ofChinese medicine, believe that touching pressure points in a certain way can,improve your health, ease pain and restore balance in the body.
Reflexologyis the study of how one part of the human body is connected to another. Thismeans you might have to massage a different location like your hand totreat a different area, like your head. Youll reach for the right pressurepoints to ease your pain.
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Can I Massage My Own Trigger Points
Yes! Even if youre not an expert in trigger point therapy, there are some basic techniques you can try at home to ease tension between massage sessions.
Start by downloading a trigger point chart or trigger point map. This will help you identify the points that might be causing your pain, whether its tension headaches, tennis elbow, or low back pain.
Use the chart to find those trigger points on your body. Youll know youve found the right one because its likely to be tender. It might even refer pain to other parts of your body.
Apply consistent pressure to each point, pressing as firmly as you can without making the muscle tense. Hold each spot for 3-5 minutes and repeat up to 5 times a day.
Third Eye Pressure Point
The third eye point can be found between your two eyebrows where the bridge of your nose meets your forehead.
Firm pressure applied to the third eye pressure point is thought to relieve eyestrain and sinus pressure that often cause headaches.
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The Gates Of Consciousness Pressure Point Gallbladder 20
The gates of consciousness pressure point for headaches is located at the base of either side of your skull in the hollow areas between the two vertical parallel neck muscles.
The gallbladder 20 point is one of the best migraine pressure points, as it also addresses blurred vision, low energy, and fatigue. It is also beneficial for easing anxiety and stress. If you deal with insomnia or frequent sleep disturbances, you may also find relief in using this point. Most notably, it can help soothe tension and pain in the neck.
How to stimulate the gates of consciousness pressure point:
Place the fingers on the points, using your index and middle finger . Press firmly upward for 10 seconds and repeat.
How Do You Self
Its a bit tricky to effectively massage your own suboccipital muscles without a tool like the Knobble massage tool, which is just perfect for this particular location, but if you dont have one it is also awfully nice to just lie down with this muscle group resting on a tennis ball. To some extent you can roll back and forth on that and get some satisfaction. A smaller, more accurate ball might work even better for you, or you could rest the centre point on the pointy end of a Kong-style dog toy .
Another good therapeutic exercise for this muscle group is Neck Circles, and heat is usually more helpful than cold .
Stretching is not all its cracked up to be, in general or as a treatment for trigger points, and for biomechanical reasons its tough to stretch the suboccipitals firmly: the chin can only drop so far. But you can elongate them, some people will get more out of it than others, and it is worth a try.
To stretch these tiny muscles as well as you can, slowly and respectfully pull your head downwards with your hands, but gently straighten your lower neck at the same time that is, only tilt the skull forward . Add a little bit of rotation to add some tension to one side or the other.
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The Trapezius Trigger Points That Cause Headaches
The Trapezius is the large, diamond shaped muscle group that forms the base of the neck and upper back region. It has attachment points at the base of the skull, along the spine, on the shoulder blade, and on the collar bone.
When this muscle contracts it typically moves the shoulder blade, but it also plays a part in moving the neck and head. Trigger points in this muscle refer pain to the back and side of the neck, to the temple region, behind the ear or back of the head, to the shoulder joint, and in the upper back region.
Trigger points in this muscle develop for a number of reasons, including
poor posture, emotional stress, whiplash injuries, falls, and poor sleeping positions . Additionally, hypoglycemia and dehydration may activate trigger points in this muscle.
Treating Headaches And Migraines With Trigger Point Therapy
Tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches account for 90% of all headaches. Tension headaches are the most common and people who experience migraines typically also have tension headaches in between their migraines. Studies have shown that patients who have headaches are almost twice as likely as healthy control subjects to have postural abnormalities, including head-forward posture and also have trigger points in the back of the neck, particularly in the suboccipital muscles.
Patients who suffer from both migraines and tension-type headaches are far more likely to have a greater number of active trigger points. The greater the number of active trigger points, the more frequent and severe the headaches. With one-sided headaches, a greater number of active trigger points are found on the same side as the headache.
Tension Headaches
The most common causes of tension headaches are trigger points, with underlying perpetuating factors including poor posture and ergonomics, emotional distress, fatigue, noise, glare, and jaw clenching. Tension headaches can also be associated with arthritis, disk problems, or degenerative bone disease in the neck or spine.
Migraines
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches primarily affect men 20 to 40-years-old. As with tension headaches and migraines, triggers such as alcohol, tobacco use, allergies, and sleep apnea also cause and perpetuate trigger points.
Post-traumatic Headaches
Treating Trigger Points
Trapezius
Temporalis Muscle
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Obicularis Oculi Trigger Point
The obicularis oculi muscles are found around the eyes. They control movements such as blinking, squinting, and closing the eye. Eyestrain and poor eyesight can cause problems with this muscle.
To treat trigger points of the obicularis oculi muscle, rub just under each eye and just above the cheekbone. Be careful to avoid the eye socket.
Treatment For Trigger Points And Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Treatment for trigger points and myofascial pain syndrome spans from basic at-home therapies to injections administered by your doctor. Because the medical profession is continuously learning about myofascial pain syndrome, no one miracle treatment will always work. To get pain relief, you may need to try a few different approaches.
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Bright Light Pressure Points
Another couple of pressure points that are effective for relieving headache pain and sinus congestion are the Bright Light pressure points. These are located just beneath the tip of your eyebrows. There is one of these pressure points for each eye, just above the eye and below the eyebrow tip, in the fleshy area surrounding your eye. Both pressure points can be stimulated using one hand. Apply pressure for one minute, and then release. This will help relieve tension.
Facial Beauty Pressure Point
For relieving sinus pressure, pressure points such as the facial beauty pressure point can prove highly effective. With the potential to reduce congestions, pressure in the sinuses, and even toothache pain, the facial beauty pressure point is a popular starting point.
First, place each of your index fingers near your nostrils. Gently pushing in, trace a path down underneath your cheekbones. Once your fingers are resting on the base of your cheekbones, either maintain pressure or softly massage the area for additional relief.
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Headache Massage Reduces Stress
Repeated headaches are often brought on by stress and anxiety in your daily life. Massage therapists will typically use Swedish massage techniques on a headache sufferers entire body, rather than focusing exclusively on the head. After seeing your massage therapist for several sessions, you should see your stress levels decrease as your muscles become less tense and more relaxed. Your massage therapist will also work with you to identify external sources of stress and anxiety in your life. Diet, sleep schedule, commute, alcohol consumption, career, and family problems can all increase your stress levels, and make headaches worse. While some stress inducers cant be solved by massage, you may find that as you address stress through massage, diet, and exercise, the other problems in your life become less stressful as well.
Gates Of Consciousness Pressure Point
When youre trying to figure out how to get rid of a headache, pressure points provide a variety of methods for relief. Headaches that are possible stress-related may be resolved by stimulated the gates of consciousness pressure point. Located behind the head, this pressure point can specifically help treat headaches stemming from the back of the neck and head.
Place both of your hands behind your head, cradling it gently while pointing your thumbs in a downward direction. Then, using your thumbs, add pressure to both side of the base of your skull. Massage the area with soft, circular motions to loosen tension.
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