Treatment of headaches using acupressure

When I started this venture, I wasn't sure whether or not to call it a Blog or an Advice Line. Some blogs can be very boring, I really don't want to know who had what for breakfast. I guess it's a bit of both - I am used to running advice lines and I know that many of you are interested in our life in the Isle of Skye. Please email me for anything specific. Anyway, to carry on with the previous theme - touch therapy guide to holiday exceses.

Headaches fall into two main types at this time of the year, although, of course, there may be hundreds of causes generally. One type is due to eating too much rich food and the other is stress related. When we eat stuff that we may not be used to e.g. lots of sugar, chocolate, heavy carbohydrates, booze etc. the liver tries to rid itself of some of the toxins. This often materializes as a headache - it is one that typically settles behind the eyes and you feel muzzy and a bit groggy. I have already told you of the wonderful affects of Nux Vomica, but in touch therapy the ideal acupoint needs to be positioned on the liver meridian. The best point is the Source point of the liver (the point that has a direct influence on an internal organ). In the case of the liver it is LR 3. This point is situated in the web between the big toe and its neighbour. Find the web and take the finger towards the ankle and the point is found at the upper extremity of the web. It is best treated sitting up in bed and leaning forward with the knees bent. Try some very gentle circling massage of each of the points (left and right feet) and carry on for about 2-3 minutes until the headache eases. With excess fat intake, the best point is GB 41 which is located in the web between the little toe and the 4th toe. This type of headache is classically 'hemicranial' i.e. on the side of the head. You feel nauseas and are also irritable.

Stress headaches may be treated with the same two points, but one of the best combination of acupoints for stress headaches is to press both LI 4 and Yintang at the same time. LI 4 is located in the muscle between the thumb and forefinger and Yintang is located directly above the ridge of the nose in between the eyebrows in the central line. This acupoint is also the anterior ajna chakra. Sit in a chair or lie down and gently press Yintang with the pad of the middle finger. Then introduce the pad of the other middle finger to LI 4 of the hand that is holding Yintang - that sounds as clear as mud but hopefully you get the idea. If you are relaxed, this is a great combination of points to ease the mind and may be used in meditation techniques.