Headaches are pain and tension felt in a person's head. Most headaches are related to muscular tension and trigger points in muscles which can refer their pain to various points on the head. The headache pain from trigger points is very real are are sometimes resistant to oral pain relievers.
Massage has a long history - back to the Greeks, the Romans, the Egyptians, the ancient Chinese. Not surprisingly, then, it has evolved into many different methods. The best known, perhaps, is Swedish massage which was developed by Per Henrik Ling, a Swedish gymnast, but there are also Oriental types, sports massage, trigger point therapy, and others.
During the migraine attack the massage should be very light and the areas addressed may be limited to neck, shoulders, head and face while lying in the supine position (on the back).
Tension headaches can be frustrating - and debilitating! And taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol can be effective in relieving pain. But taken regularly, these medications can cause an increase in headaches in the form of a rebound headache, which is often worse than the original headache.
Let your fingers sink into the migraine pressure point as you apply pressure gradually. Feel your thumb or finger going gently, gradually deeper and deeper.
Keep your thumb or finger on the migraine pressure point until you feel a movement or change there. It may feel softer or warmer.
The pressure was maintained until the referral pain ceased, or for a maximum of two minutes, and then slowly eased to produce a vascular flushing. In a typical session, six active trigger points were treated, and the procedure was repeated three to five times on each point.
Continue to massage your scalp in this way until you've covered your entire head. For areas that feel tense, try this acupressure technique: Grasp your skin between your thumb and forefinger and squeeze for 20 seconds. Release pressure for 10 seconds but do not remove your hand. Repeat this four times.
Press in the middle of the cheek, directly under the cheekbone, and then apply a line of pressures up the center of the forehead, from between the eyebrows to the hairline.
The massage initially takes place with you, the client positioned on an On-Site Massage Chair. The treatment covers the whole back from upper shoulders, arms to lower spine using a base oil or Aromatherapy oil whilst you, the client are seated forward on the massage chair. The treatment continues over the neck, scalp and hair finally finishing with a face massage.
Close your eyes. Place your thumbs under your eyebrows, starting at the inside corner of each eye socket. Press and gently move the thumbs in tiny circles, working slowly towards the outsides of your eyebrows and continuing this movement all around your eyes, ending back at the bridge of your nose.
The type of massage you use depends on the intensity of the headache and what your partner prefers. You can use very gentle feather stroking or deep firm pressure. It is generally best to start with slow, superficial stroking and then as the pain subsides and your partner relaxes and feels confident of your touch, you can apply firm press.
