My dear friend is suffering from migraines so this week I’m going to share acupressure points for migraine.
Migraine is a severe case of headache and it often shows up one side of the head and accompanied by blurred vision, pounding sensation, nausea, and physical activity will make it worse. Press these points for one minute as you breathe deeply.
合谷 (LI 4) – The first one is on your hand. If you are pregnant do not press this point until after the due date because it can cause labor. You can press all the other ones in this video. Close your thumb and index finger. It’s at the end of the crease. This is called Large Intestine 4 or LI 4. Press this point towards the index finger bone. This point is good for any kind of pain because it produces endorphins also known as a natural pain killer hormone.
頭維 (ST 8) – The next one is in the corner of the forehead where the forehead and hairline meet. This is called Stomach 8 or ST 8. Some instructions say half the thumb width from the hairline. To be exact it’s 4.5 thumb widths or 4.5 cuns from the center where the nose line and the hairline meet. You can also use four fingers which is the same as 3 thumbs or 3 cuns and two fingers which is the same as 1.5 thumb or 1.5 cun. I think it’s simpler to imagine you have a straight hairline across and down and it’s in the corner.
風池 (GB 20) – Find the depression in the center at the base of the skull. Move to the side and go over the big ropy muscle which is trapezius and there is a depression. These are called GB 20 or Gall Bladder 20. You can press or circle to stimulate these points using hooked thumbs, fingertips, overlapped fingertips, or with free thumbs by weaving fingers.
足臨泣 (GB 41) – The last one is on the top of the foot. Go up the valley between the pinky and 4th toe and it’s where the finger stops. This is called Gallbladder 41 or GB 41. If you have a hard time reaching your foot, use a tool such as a pencil eraser to press these points.
Massage Monday #378 – Acupressure for Migraine Headache http://bit.ly/mm-012218