3 Acupressure Points That Can Relieve a Migraine Headache Fast

Before reaching for that expensive and possibly harmful bottle of painkillers you may want to give acupressure a try the next time you experience a migraine headache. It's totally safe and can often be a very effective method of reducing pain.

Acupressure is a type of massage which uses finger, thumb, or palm pressure on specific areas of the body in an effort to promote healing, reduce pain, stimulate and regulate bodily functions, and bring about other beneficial results. Acupressure concentrates on the same bodily areas that acupuncture does, but it uses pressure instead of pins.

Migraine Remedies

With the techniques we will be talking about in this article we will use either the pads of the thumb or first two fingers to apply the pressure. When applying pressure you should start out by pressing directly and gently on an area and then gradually increasing the amount of pressure until you have reached a comfortable, but firm amount. Never put enough pressure on any one area that will cause pain, especially in the more sensitive areas such as the face and head. Generally, you will want to keep the pressure on each area until some relief is felt, but usually not more than 60 seconds.

There are many different acupuncture points that can be used to relieve migraine pain. Since everyone is different, an area that will benefit one person may not benefit another. For this reason it is good to experiment and find the points that work for you. Once you know which areas work for you personally, you can then perform the same routine on the same acupressure points each time you develop a migraine headache.

One acupressure point that has shown good results from applying pressure is the fleshy web part of the hand located between the first finger and thumb. Squeeze this area with your thumb and first finger of the opposite hand and maintain the pressure until relief is felt or 60 seconds has passed. Once you are finished with one hand repeat the process with the other hand.

Another good acupressure point for migraine headache pain is located at the base of the skull at the top of the neck. There are two points here, one on each side. To find these points, start at the center of the neck at the base of the skull and then move about one to two inches to each side. You will find an indentation on each side of the neck just below the skull where pressure can be applied with your thumbs.

A third place that has shown good results for reducing headache pain is in the top center of the head. This point is found as follows. Draw an imaginary line from directly in front of one ear, over the top center of the head, and down to a point directly in front of the opposite ear. Next, start at the center of the forehead and draw another imaginary line directly up to the center top of the head. The point where these two imaginary lines meet is your next acupressure point. By applying direct pressure on acupressure points it's often possible to reduce the pain of a migraine headache.

3 Acupressure Points That Can Relieve a Migraine Headache Fast

Migraine Remedies

Ways of Treating Visual Migraine

Visual migraine is a type of migraine known also as ocular migraine and ophthalmic migraine. Similar to the common migraine, its cause is vascular; that is, it involves the blood vessels. Whereas the typical migraine affects the arteries located in the surface of the brain, it affects the veins that supply blood to the vision center.

During a visual migraine episode, the sufferer experiences visual disturbances that typically last for fifteen to thirty minutes. It usually starts as a shimmering light with a semi-circular shape and jagged edges, seen in the peripheral vision and later expands to become more central. The ability to see is obscured within the jagged area. A headache may accompany the disturbance but does not occur in all cases. The more common symptoms that come with this are nausea and vomiting and a heightened sensitivity to light. Although the root cause of this particular migraine is not known, some of its common triggers are identified as fatigue, depression, dehydration, eyestrain, stress, alcohol, certain foods, and a shift in estrogen levels.

Migraine Remedies

Diagnosing visual migraine may require visits to the ophthalmologist and neurologist. This is to make sure that the visual disturbances are not caused by an underlying eye condition such as a detached retina or a blood clot in the brain. Once this has been established, then proper treatment can be provided.

Certainly, this is not fatal nor does it cause any damage to the brain or eyes. And since no pain comes with it, treatment is usually unnecessary unless a headache arises during an episode. However, if the attacks are frequent, medications may have to be administered. If the visual migraine occurs with a headache, over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen and naproxen can be taken to relieve the pain. In addition, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and aspirin are known to prevent these migraine attacks because they help keep the arteries in their normal size. Medications should be taken as soon as the first sign of the aura is felt. During the attack, the vision may be so hampered that doing other activities could be impossible. In these times, the patient should relax and wait for the said migraine to end. Bright lights and sounds should be avoided because they could potentially worsen the symptoms.

Having a visual migraine attack, though most of the times painless, can be frightening, especially for those who experience it for the first time. If anyone encounters any of the symptoms associated with this type of migraine, he should consult his physician immediately. This migraine, by itself, usually requires no treatment but the symptoms could be signs of a more serious condition. Knowing about a disease and how to deal with it is the best treatment of all.

Ways of Treating Visual Migraine

Migraine Remedies