Get Rid of that Headache!

About the Author

Carol Wiley

Carol Wiley is a licensed massage therapist. For information about massage, bodywork, somatic education, stretching, aromatherapy, and other wellness topics, visit Massage Therapy Information. To buy mas

More about Carol Wiley

If you feel a headache coming on, try one or more of the following headache-relief techniques. You'll probably find the earlier you stop what you’re doing and use one of these techniques, the more likely you will find relief.

Note: If you experience a sudden painful headache unlike anything you have experienced before, seek medical attention immediately.

• Use cold or hot packs. Put ice (or a bag of frozen peas) in a cloth and press it against the painful spot or against the back of your neck. If you don’t get relief, switch to a heating pad, hot water bottle, microwavable hot pack, or hot, wet towel, covered with plastic wrap and a dry towel or fleece to hold in the heat. Try each for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
• Massage your head. Use your fingers to make small circles on your forehead, temples, and scalp. Massage for up to 30 seconds in each spot. Use a comfortable amount of pressure.
• Use these acupressure techniques with firm but gentle pressure:
  
  1. With your thumb and first finger, squeeze the point near the base of your other thumb in the webbing between your thumb and first finger. Hold until the discomfort subsides. Repeat up to five times.
  
  2. Find the hollow areas at the base of the skull on both sides. Use your thumbs and press in toward the center of your head.
  
  3. Use your finger or thumb to press the Third Eye Point, which is directly between the eyebrows in a small indentation at the top of the bridge of your nose.
  
  4. Find the points at the bottom of the cheekbones, directly below the pupils. Use the first two fingers on each hand to press up into these points.
• Massage your neck. Reach around and cup the base of your neck with your palm. Using a comfortable amount of pressure, knead the muscle slowly from bottom to top.

To prevent headaches, consider increasing the frequency of your massage sessions, even if you must reduce the length of each session. The benefits of massage are cumulative and may act to prevent the development of tension that can lead to headaches.