5 Points to Relieve Headaches

Chinese Medicine brilliantly points out that there are many different types of headaches. Here are 5 points to relieve headaches. It’s easy and effective to massage the associated points, even without diagnosing the type of headache your client is suffering from. Work each one of these points until your client says, “Wow, I feel so much better.” That’s when you know you found the right point! Or you may need to work all of these points until relief is felt.
1.    LI 4 (Large Intestine)
2.    LV 3 (Liver)
3.    GB 20 (Gallbladder)
4.    DU 20 (Governing Vessel)
5.    DU 16 (Governing Vessel)
Still no relief? I’d go to the feet and get to work. I massage the big toe because it is associated with the head according to foot reflexology. I’ll also massage the whole foot and all the other toes.
All that bunched up energy in the head needs a reminder that there is plenty of space down in the torso, arms, hands, legs and feet. Once the energy spreads out of the head down into the rest of the body, Qi gets flowing, harmony is returned, and the headache “disappears.”
Where are those points?

LI 4

Located in the web between the thumb and first finger. Squeeze around until the client squirms – that’s the point!

In the web between the thumb and first finger.

LV 3

It has a similar location to LI 4, except on the foot, located between the big toe and first toe. Lightly slide your finger from between the toes toward the ankle, you will fall into a dip just proximal to the big toe joint. Apply pressure, and your client will likely wince a little, that is the sign that you have found the point.

In the web between big toe and first toe.

GB 20

Located at the base of the skull, on the back of the head. This point feels more like two blobs about an inch and half to left and the right of the top of the spine, right along the base of the skull.

Lateral to DU 16

DU 20

Located at the top of the head. Draw your fingers from the tip of both ears to the center of the head. Find the point by applying pressure in the area. Clients usually let out a sigh of relief when you find the point. Ask about the amount of pressure, as your  client might appreciate more pressure than you imagine.

High point in the center of the top of the head.

 Du 16

Located in the center of the base of the skull. Follow the spine up to the head, and feel for a big notch. The notch is a large area. Apply pressure to the center as well as around the edges of the notch. Just like Du 20, communicate about the amount of pressure – again, your client might appreciate more pressure than you imagine.

Located in the notch at the center of the base of the skull.