Alleviate Headaches and Stress with Acupressure
Acupressure is one of the oldest alternative therapies and is applied to relieve various problems, such as headaches and stress.
In order to practice acupressure, you will need to learn how to identify and work the pressure points, which are where there are accumulations of nerves located in certain areas of the body, like your temples. When these areas of the body are worked properly, you can stimulate blood flow and relax tense muscles.
Most common headaches tend to occur as a result of stress and tension. In order to relieve this problem and minimize their effects, we’ll give you some acupressure techniques that you can easily put into practice at home.
How to Apply the Pressure
When applying pressure to any area in your body, you should make sure to apply the same pressure to the opposite side, so that there’s a balance of energy.
In order to stimulate this area, you can apply firm pressure, a slow and circular massage, or stronger friction, according to the kind of physical function that you want to have. Pressure can be applied with your fingers, knuckles, the palm of your hand, or your thumbs.
Acupressure to Fight Headaches and Stress
Massage Your Temples
Your temples are located on the sides of your head, at eyebrow level.
In order to know exactly where they’re found, put your thumbs on the outside of your eyebrows and move them about a centimeter and a half towards your head. When you’ve found them, press gently and massage your temples simultaneously, counterclockwise.
You can do this massage for at least a minute, breathing deeply while you do this.
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Between Your Eyebrows
Just above the bridge of your nose and between your eyebrows there are two pressure points that can also help relieve headaches and tension.
In this case, we don’t recommend applying much pressure, because it can bother you. It’s best to massage with your index fingers gently for 30 seconds.
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Try the Point Between Your Thumb and Index Finger for Total Relaxation
If you want to completely relax and alleviate stress and headaches, make a fist with your left hand, with your thumb on top of your index finger. The acupressure point is right where the thumb and index finger meet, above and left of this.
Apply pressure for 30 seconds once more and repeat the same process with the other hand.
Use Your Feet
The pressure points in the feet are connected with the organs in your body.
In order to stimulate them and relieve headaches, put pressure on the area between the big and second toe. You should use your thumb and press on the upper part for 30 seconds to a minute.
Another option to relieve headaches and stress with acupressure is to apply pressure on the lower part of your foot, behind the foot bone, for 30 seconds. Do this to both feet.
The Base of Your Skull
This point relieves headaches and certain cold symptoms. Put your index fingers on the base of your skull and separate an inch outward until you feel a release in this area of your body.
You should apply pressure to these two points and gently massage for 30 seconds to a minute.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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