Having a headache or discomfort in the head is a very common thing. There are various natural ways available to treat the pain and discomfort caused by headaches. It includes acupressure and pressure points. 

What Are Pressure Points?

Pressure points are specific points of the body that are considered to be extra sensitive. If these body points are manipulated, it may promote healing from pains or discomfort in various parts of the body. In physical therapy treatments, these points help in providing relief to the body. 

The practitioners of reflexology which is considered to be a discipline of Chinese medicine believe that touching or putting pressure in the pressure points of the body can help in:

• Improvement of various health conditions.
• Let’s ease the pain.
• Helps in restoring the balance of the human body

The Science Behind Pressure Points and Headache

As mentioned by Healthline, science supports the use of reflexology in the treatment of headaches. Reflexology is the study that shows how one part of the human body is connected to other parts of the body. Some studies have shown that if massage therapy is given to the head and shoulder, it can provide significant relief from headaches. 

A study was conducted where the scientists tried to investigate how massage therapy may help four persons experiencing chronic headaches about two to three times a week from the last six to seven months. The study showed that massage therapy was beneficial for reducing headaches of each person within the first week of their treatment. 

Areas of Pressure Points

Pressure points of the head, neck, and shoulders help relieve the pain and discomfort. Following are some of the pressure points that help reduce the headaches:

• Suboccipital Trigger Point– 

The suboccipital trigger point lies at the back of the human skull and connects the head and neck. It helps control the head movements in extension and flexion as well as in the rotation of the head. 

These muscles are tiny in size and are also sometimes overused. One can easily cause strain in their suboccipital muscle by looking upward and even looking too much sideward. 

Tension in the trigger point in that region can cause strain behind a person’s ears and in the side of the head, which can lead to a headache. 

• Temporalis Trigger Point– 

Temporal muscles lie on one side of the head, which helps control the jaw. It is a more significant muscle than expected and has four trigger points in it. There is a temporalis that leads to pain in the teeth and also in the front and back. 

The trigger point can also contribute to the aggravation of vertigo and pain in the jaw, including TMJ syndrome. 

Many people with temporalis trigger points experience tension headaches on one side of the head over the brow. Chewing of gum, clenching of teeth, and prolonged stress contribute significantly to the temporalis trigger point. 

Focussed massage and various lifestyle changes can be beneficial for releasing the tension in the neck and the shoulders. 

• Upper Trapezius Trigger Point– 

The trapezius muscle extends from the shoulder blades and goes across the shoulder to the neck. The muscle is involved in almost all neck, head, and shoulders movements because of its size. It is the area where the bad posture of the body happens. 

One most common trigger point is the upper trapezius muscle, which is located above the collar bone. Massaging in those points can provide great relaxation to the tensed trapezius muscle. One of the best ways to prevent the trigger point of the trapezius muscle is by correcting the poor posture. 

Ways To Massage Trigger Points

As mentioned by PTProgress, The kinks located in the upper trapezius, temporalis, and suboccipital are the best tools for the hands. You can apply slight pressure to a trigger point. It can help to loosen up and can make you feel relaxed. It’s essential to keep your neck and head in a relaxed state as you massage. 

Lying on your back is the best position for massaging your suboccipital. It helps in providing support to the head and the tiny muscles in the neck. While lying down, you can also massage your temporalis by keeping the jaw in a loose and relaxed state. 

A foam roller can be another very effective tool that helps apply steady pressure to the body’s trigger points. As the trapezius is much larger and has a thicker muscle, massage tools can be very beneficial. A tennis ball or a lacrosse ball can be beneficial in providing relief to that area. 

After you are done with loosening up with your knots and releasing the trigger points, it is always a good time to follow up with some gentle stretching exercises.