Headache Relief
Migraine Massage Therapy
When it comes to migraines, a little massage never
hurt. But then again, a little massage never hurt whether you suffer
from migraines or not. Seriously though, massage therapy has proven
quite helpful in relieving headache pain. In general, you don’t want to
rely solely upon massage as the method for relief from your madness, but
instead use it in conjunction with other therapies as well as medication
and changes in your lifestyle.
How can massage
help with migraines? Migraine sufferers generally suffer from stiff,
tender muscles in the back of the head, neck, and shoulders. The
pressure against these points in the muscle can be the cause of severe
pain, pain that is akin to migraine pain. These pressure points are
known as trigger points. By massaging the trigger points, one can
effectively reduce the pain and tightness in the muscles, which
decreases discomfort in some sufferers. Massage therapy is a terrific
method for reducing tension in the muscles, not to mention for reducing
stress. When beginning a massage program it is best to begin with one or
two sessions a week for about a month and a half.
Several studies have been done to determine whether massage therapy really helps relieve
migraine pain. The results of these studies have determined that massage
therapy at the very least helps migraine sufferers sleep better and at
best actually does manage to lessen headache pain. The following are the
most helpful methods of massage therapy yet found to deal with migraine
headaches.
Reflexology: General massage therapy based upon the
pressure and massage of points not on the head, but rather the soles of
the feet. Reflexology isn’t so much a therapy as an art; a massage art
used to relieve stress and pain throughout the body. The conceptual plan
is based on the idea of zones in the feet that correspond to all areas
of the body. By manipulating these zones, therapists hope to benefit the
corresponding areas throughout the rest of your body.
Craniosacral therapy: Simply lie back and enjoy the sensations of your massage
therapist softly massaging your skull and scalp. This method soothes the
nerves and lessens the waves of pain that those nerves send, which is
the cause of the actual pain.
Deep-tissue massage therapy: A deep-tissue massage is intended to help with the improvement
of circulation while reducing tension within the muscles by focusing on
specific body areas thought to relieve pain and stress when manipulated.
The deep tissue part of deep tissue massage is in reference to how the
therapists uses deep finger pressure and deliberate stroking of the
areas of the body that are suffering from muscle tension or aches.
Neuromuscular massage: This therapy, which is also known as trigger-point therapy, is
a muscle relaxing treatment that applies moderate pressure to your
body's trigger points (spots in a muscle that, when stimulated by
pressure or touch, are painful). Some believe that it can reduce nerve
compression and relieve pain in tense or overworked muscles.
Acupressure: Look again, that’s accuPRESSURE, not acuPUNCTURE! Acupressure techniques
are employed by applying pressure from the tips of the finger to points
on your head, not sticking needles into your skull. The theory is that
acupressure helps headache sufferers by calming muscle tension and
enhancing blood circulation. You can actually do acupressure on yourself
simply by applying moderate and constant fingertip pressure with just
two fingers for five minutes tops. The best method is to use one hand on
top of your head and the other to apply pressure between your eyes.
When engaging in massage therapy, be aware that even the lightest, gentlest
pressure from the most qualified therapist can cause at least mild
discomfort, but should the pain become unbearable immediately instruct
the therapist to quit massaging. To find a qualified therapist where you
live, if your town features a school of massage therapy you can check
with them and they will provide you with names and certification
information.