How to use pressure points to relieve headaches

There are some well-known pressure points in the body believed to relieve headaches. Here’s where they are and how you can use them:

Union valley

he union valley points are located on the web between your thumb and index finger. To treat headaches:

1. Start by pinching this area with the thumb and index finger of your opposite hand firmly — but not painfully — for 10 seconds.
2. Next, make small circles with your thumb on this area in one direction and then the other, for 10 seconds each.
3. Repeat this process on the Union Valley point on your opposite hand.

This type of pressure point treatment is believed to relieve tension in the head and neck. Tension is often associated with headaches.

Drilling bamboo points are located at the indentations on either side of the spot where the bridge of your nose meets the ridge of your eyebrows. To use these pressure points to treat headaches:

1. Use both of your index fingers to apply firm pressure to both points at once.
2. Hold for 10 seconds.
3. Release and repeat.

Touching these pressure points can relieve headaches that are caused by eyestrain and sinus pain or pressure.

The gates of consciousness pressure points are located at the base of the skull in the parallel hollow areas between the two vertical neck muscles. To use these pressure points:

1. Place your index and middle fingers of either hand onto these pressure points.
2. Press firmly upward on both sides at once for 10 seconds, then release and repeat.

Applying firm touch to these pressure points can help relieve headaches caused by tension in the neck.

The third eye point can be found between your two eyebrows where the bridge of your nose meets your forehead.

1. Use the index finger of one hand to apply firm pressure to this area for 1 minute.

Firm pressure applied to the third eye pressure point is thought to relieve eyestrain and sinus pressure that often cause headaches.