How To Get Rid Of Head Aches

This information explains how to use acupressure to reduce pain and headaches.

Acupressure is an ancient healing art that's based on the traditional Chinese medicine practice of acupuncture. With acupressure, you put pressure on specific places on your body. These places are called acupoints. Pressing these points can help release muscle tension and promote blood circulation. It can also relieve many common side effects of chemotherapy.

You can do acupressure at home by using your fingers to apply pressure to different acupoints. Watch this video or follow the steps below to learn how to do acupressure to reduce pain and headaches.

This video will show you how to perform acupressure for headaches and generalized pain.

Video Details

Pressure Point LI-4 (Hegu)

Pressure point LI-4, also called Hegu, is located between the base of your thumb and index finger. Doing acupressure on this point to relieve pain and headaches.

Find pressure point LI-4 by placing your thumb in the space between the base of your thumb and index finder (see Figure 1).
Press down on this point for 5 minutes. Move your thumb in a circle while applying pressure. Be firm, but don't press so hard that it hurts.
Repeat the process on your other hand.

You can do acupressure several times a day, or as often as need for your symptoms to go away.

Figure 1. Finding the space between your left thumb and index finger

To learn about other therapies available at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK), call the Integrative Medicine Service at 646-888-0800 or visit our website: www.mskcc.org/IntegrativeMedicine.