Headache is a subjective symptom that can occur in various acute and chronic diseases. It is a common clinical symptom. Any disease or condition that causes headache as the main symptom can be referred to as headache. Below, I will teach you some massage techniques for headaches.
Clinical manifestations of headache
1. Wind-cold headache: headache that worsens with wind, pain extending to the neck and back, aversion to wind and cold, worsens with exposure to wind, no thirst, thin white coating on the tongue, floating pulse.
2. Wind-heat headache: throbbing headache, severe pain as if it is splitting, fever or aversion to wind, red face and ears, thirsty and desire for drinks, red and swollen throat, yellow coating on the tongue, floating pulse.
3. Wind-damp headache: headache feels like being wrapped, limbs feel heavy, poor appetite, chest stuffiness, white greasy coating on the tongue, slippery pulse.
4. Liver yang headache: dizziness with headache, irritability, restless sleep at night, red face and bitter taste in the mouth, thin yellow coating on the tongue, dizzy pulse.
5. Kidney deficiency headache: empty headache, often accompanied by dizziness, lumbago, fatigue, spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge, tinnitus, insomnia, red tongue with little coating, thin weak pulse.
6. Blood deficiency headache: headache with dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, pale complexion, pale tongue, thin white coating, weak thin pulse.
7. Phlegm turbidity headache: hazy headache, chest and epigastric fullness and stuffiness, nausea and phlegm saliva, white greasy coating on the tongue, slippery or wiry slippery pulse.
Massage techniques for headache
1. The patient sits upright. Use the "One Finger Zen" technique to massage the bladder meridian on both sides of the neck up and down for 3-4 minutes, then knead the Fengchi, Fengfu, Tianzhu and other acupoints, and then use both sides of Fengchi; Operate the bladder meridian on both sides of the neck from top to bottom 4-5 times.
2. The patient sits upright. Use the "One Finger Zen" technique to start from the Yintang acupoint, push upwards along the hairline to the head vertex, Taiyang, Yuyao, Zanzhu, and then return to the Yintang acupoint, back and forth 3-5 times.
3. Knead the Fengfu, Yuyao, Zanzhu, Taiyang, Baihui acupoints, and then rub the forehead using the "Big Fish Border" technique, with emphasis on the Yintang acupoint and the bilateral Taiyang acupoints.
4. Use the wiping technique on the forehead 5-8 times, and on the last stroke, switch to the palm wiping technique and move towards the back of the head on both sides to the Jingming acupoint and then to the Fengchi acupoint.
5. Use the five-finger holding technique to hold from the top of the head to the Fengchi acupoint, then switch to the three-finger holding technique, hold along the bladder meridian to both sides of Dazhui, and repeat the operation 4-5 times.
Massage techniques for headache with different patterns
1. Wind-cold headache: first use the wiping technique on the shoulder and back for 2-3 minutes, with accompanying kneading of the Feishu and Fengmen acupoints, then hold both sides of Jianjing acupoints, and then use the "Small Fish Border" technique to rub the bladder meridian on both sides of the back, with the aim of dispelling wind and dispersing cold.
2. Wind-heat headache: knead Dazhui, Feishu, Fengmen acupoints for 1 minute each, then hold both sides of Jianjing acupoints, and then knead both sides of Quchi acupoints and Hegu acupoints, then use the "Empty Palm" technique to tap the bladder meridian on both sides of the back, with the aim of slightly reddening the skin.
3. Wind-damp headache: press Taiyang, Toubi acupoints, then knead Dazhui, Quchi acupoints, and accompany with holding Hegu, Jianjing acupoints, then use the "Empty Palm" technique to tap the bladder meridian on both sides of the back, with the aim of reddening the skin.
4. Liver yang headache: use the sweeping technique to operate along the gallbladder meridian on the side of the head, alternating between both sides for 5-8 times, with accompanying kneading of the Toubi, Jiaosun, and Shuai Gu acupoints, then push and rub the Bridge and Bow technique, first left then right, 10-15 times each, and finally knead both sides of Taichong, Xingjian, with the aim of relieving soreness and fullness, then push and rub both sides of Yongquan, with the aim of dispelling wind and dispersing heat.
5. Phlegm turbidity headache: use the "One Finger Zen" technique and rubbing technique to treat the abdomen for about 10 minutes, with a focus on Zhongwan and Tianshu acupoints. Then knead both sides of Pishu, Weishu, Dachangshu, Zusanli, Fenglong, Neiguan, Zhongfu acupoints, and finally press the acupoint Tianchu with the middle finger.
6. Blood deficiency headache: rub the abdomen for 10 minutes, with a focus on Zhongwan, Qihai, and Guanyuan acupoints, then knead both sides of Xinshu, Geshu, Xuehai, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, with aim of slight soreness and fullness, and then use the palm rubbing technique to rub the back along the Du meridian, with the aim of dispersing heat.
7. Kidney yang deficiency headache: rub the abdomen for 10 minutes, with a focus on Zhongwan, Qihai, and Guanyuan acupoints, then directly rub the back along the Du meridian, horizontally rub both sides of Shenshu, Mingmen, obliquely rub both sides of Baliao acupoints, with aim of dispersing heat.
8. Kidney yin deficiency headache: knead Xuehai, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Shenshu, Guanyuan acupoints, then knead Yongquan and rub with aim of dispersing heat.
Principles of massage treatment for headache
The massage treatment for headache focuses on harmonizing qi and blood, and promoting meridian flow to relieve pain. For wind-cold headache, it aims to dispel wind and dispel cold; for wind-heat headache, it aims to disperse wind and clear heat; for wind-damp headache, it aims to dispel wind and overcome dampness; for liver yang headache, it aims to regulate liver and subdue yang; for phlegm turbidity headache, it aims to transform phlegm and descend counterflow; for blood deficiency headache, it aims to tonify spleen and nourish blood; for kidney yang deficiency headache, it aims to warm kidney and strengthen yang; for kidney yin deficiency headache, it aims to nourish yin and tonify kidney.
Daily care for headaches - Do's and Don'ts
1. The causes of headache are complex. Although massage has a good effect in relieving headaches, it is necessary to diagnose and treat the cause of the disease based on the principles of treating the disease from its root cause.
2. For headaches caused by external factors, attention should be paid to keeping warm, avoiding wind and cold, and taking appropriate rest.
3. For liver yang headache, blood pressure should be measured, and attention should be paid to the effects of blood pressure fluctuations on the heart. At the same time, for patients with liver yang headache and phlegm turbidity headache, they should avoid eating fatty, sweet, and spicy foods.
4. For headaches caused by qi and blood deficiency or kidney deficiency, attention should be paid to moderate sexual activity.
