If you're looking for a more natural way to treat your headache, acupressure and pressure points may be the answer. To start, find a quiet place with a comfortable chair where you won't be distracted. Take slow, rhythmic breaths for five seconds each, inhaling and exhaling. This will help reduce muscle tension.
The source of a severe headache can vary, and sometimes over-the-counter pain relievers don't work. Fortunately, there is a treatment that takes only 10 seconds and doesn't require any drugs or equipment. Exercise is an effective way to release tension in the jaw, which can help alleviate headaches. To do this, locate the masseter muscle on each side of your face and apply gentle pressure with your fingers.
Make a chewing motion to feel the muscle and locate it better. Repeat this until you feel your muscles relax. If you tend to clench your teeth when stressed, do this several times a day. This technique can help with tension headaches as well as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain.
Cluster headaches are painful and occur in groups, while migraines are moderate to severe headaches. A study by the University of Kiel in Germany found that peppermint oil applied to the forehead can numb the headache. Massage therapy on the head and shoulders has also been shown to reduce headaches. Firm pressure applied to the third point of eye pressure is believed to relieve eye fatigue and sinus pressure, which often causes headaches. In a study, 10 sessions of intense massage led to fewer headaches in subjects, with an average decrease from seven per week to two per week. While the use of pressure points to treat headaches is not well studied, there is some limited research that suggests head and shoulder massage may help relieve headaches.
If massaging the masseter muscle doesn't work, it may not be the source of the headache after all. In older people, a headache with sensitivity in the scalp or temple may be due to temporal arteritis, in which the blood vessels in the head become inflamed. Tension headaches tend to occur frequently and cause moderate pain, particularly in the back and front of the head. Poor posture or routine can cause muscle tension that leads to headaches. It turns out that tension headaches often start with a clenched jaw, and a masseter muscle massage could help eliminate them. If you're looking for an easy way to get rid of a headache in 10 seconds or less, acupressure and pressure points may be your best bet.
Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed and take slow breaths for five seconds each. Then locate the masseter muscle on each side of your face and apply gentle pressure with your fingers until you feel your muscles relax.
