How to Use Reflexology For Headaches

 Do you suffer from chronic headaches or terrible migraines that you would like to treat without having to resort to medication? If so, you’ve landed on the right page, as reflexology might be just what you need! 

Headaches and migraines are among the most widespread nervous system disorders globally, with over 15% of adults suffering headaches every year. Unfortunately, 10% of people over 18 years of age suffer from headaches multiple times a week.

These disorders are more prevalent in women. While 43% of women use analgesics to relieve the pain, alternative therapies such as reflexology, can be just as efficient and are completely natural. Curious to know more? 

In this article, we’ll highlight what reflexology is before taking a deep-dive into the top reflex points you can use to relieve your headaches or migraines.

 

What is Reflexology?

 Reflexology is an ancient healing art originating from China, India, and Ancient Egypt, that has been used for thousands of years. It is a non-invasive alternative health therapy relying on the theory that different points of the feet and hands correspond to different organs and bodily systems. More precisely, reflexology is based on the philosophy that all the organs, glands, and parts of the body have corresponding reflexes on the feet, hands, face, and ears. As an example, the tip of the big toe on the left foot corresponds to the brain’s left hemisphere.

 Reflexology is generally used for relaxing purposes, as it can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and headaches while enhancing relaxation and sleep. By applying gentle pressure to specific reflex points, reflexologists can induce a deep state of mental and physical relaxation in their patients while healing the body’s corresponding area.

 Reflexologists work holistically with their clients, along with other medical, hands-on therapies.

 Note that this ancient healing art is divided into four specialties, including foot, hand, ear, and face reflexology.

  

Top Reflex Points to Relieve Headaches

  

Headaches can be caused by several factors, including depression, stress, poor posture, or muscle strain to name a few. The good news is, studies have shown that reflexology can help alleviate headaches and migraines by releasing muscle tension, reducing stress, and increasing blood circulation to organs and glands. Below, we’ve listed the top pressure points you should massage or stimulate in order to naturally relieve headaches.

 

●           LI4 or Hand Valley Point

 

Hand reflexology can be very efficient in helping to manage head tension, headaches, or migraines.

 

LI4 or Hand Valley is a reflex point on your hand that can be gently massaged in order to relieve frontal or stress-related headaches, migraines, and neck pain as well as boost your immune system. The LI4 point is situated in the fleshy part between your big thumbs and index fingers, where your thumb and pointer finger bones meet, forming a V shape. Once you’ve identified the area, gently press down on the pressure point while massaging in a circular motion for several minutes. If you’re dealing with a migraine or acute pain, repeat several times throughout the day for the best results.

 

 

 

 

 

Source; Modern Reflexology

 

 

 

 

 

●           BL2 or Drilling Bamboo Point

 

Facial reflexology can help manage sinus or stress-related headaches, along with migraines and allergy symptoms. When done regularly, facial reflexology can even prevent headaches from occurring.

The BL2 reflex point is located just below the start of your eyebrows, where your nose meets your eye socket. Use the tip of your index fingers to apply firm pressure for one minute while taking deep breaths. You can apply pressure on both sides at the same time or separately.

 

Source; Medical News Today

 

 

 

●           Yin Tang or Third Eye Point 

 

Similarly to the drilling bamboo point, the third eye point can be used to alleviate headaches and hay fever symptoms, along with fatigue and eye strain, sometimes responsible for causing tension headaches. The third eye point is located midway between the eyebrows where the bridge of the nose meets the forehead. Once located, apply gentle pressure to the point with the tip of your index finger for one minute. Repeat as many times as necessary until you feel better.

 

 

 

 

Source; Green Dragon Society

 

●           GB20 or Gates of Consciousness

 

The gates of consciousness pressure points are situated just underneath your skull base, in the depression areas. They’re a great reflex point to apply pressure to in order to alleviate headaches and migraines. Once you’ve identified the gates of consciousness, use your thumbs to massage the points in a circular motion for up to 2 minutes. 

 

●           GB21 or Shoulder Well

 

Shoulder and neck pain can lead to occipital headaches. Therefore, to help prevent or relieve shoulder or neck-related headaches, you need to massage your shoulder well point. To locate your shoulder well points, put your neck forward, and run your index down the back of your neck until you reach a bony prominence. Then, locate the bony prominence on the tip of each of your shoulders. Your shoulder well points are both located halfway between these two markers. Once you’ve identified the point, massage firmly in a circular motion with your thumb for one minute and repeat on the other side.

 

 

Source; Calm Sage

 

 

 

●           LR3 or Tai Chong

 

Foot reflexology has been used for thousands of years to help manage migraines and headaches, correct hormonal imbalances or alleviate neck and back problems.

 

Tai Chong is a great pressure point to massage in order to relieve tension and anger and alleviate stress, anxiety, and headaches. Your Tai Chong point is located in the webbing between the big toe and the second toe and is generally a tender area. Therefore you need to massage and stimulate it softly to avoid discomfort. Position your thumb between your big toe and your second toe, where the first and second bone of your foot meet, apply gentle pressure while massaging clockwise for 3 seconds, and switch to massage only for 2 minutes.

 

 

 

Source; Calm Sage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hope this article has given you some great insights into reflexology and how it can help you naturally treat your headaches. Have you ever used reflexology for headaches? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comment section below!