Headaches are pretty high on the list of reasons several of my clients see me on a regular basis. Their headaches are usually combine with sinus or neck pain and most times they can be alleviated 15 minutes into an hour long massage.

I often give these clients a little homework to try on their own to diminish the throbbing pain when I’m not around. I’ve posted before on one very effective technique. Below is another way to address headaches on your own. It does not compare to receiving treatment from a professional massage therapist, but it certainly can reduce the pain significantly in a pinch. This technique was found at Massagetherapy.com:

Tension headaches can feel as though there is a tight band around your head. By massaging the band, you can often relieve the muscle spasms that produce the pain.

1. Press your fingertips against your temples.

2. Without sliding your fingers over the skin surface, move the scalp back and forth.
3. After a few seconds, move your fingertips farther back around the headache band and repeat the back and forth movement.

4. When your fingers meet at the back of your head, reverse direction until you’ve massaged the entire headache band, including your forehead. Then relax your arms and hands with your eyes closed for a few minutes.

5. Finish by gently squeezing each eyebrow between your thumb and index finger. A few hints as you perfect this self massage:

–Only move the scalp a half-inch at the most. Don’t rub it.

–This doesn’t require a lot of pressure. You don’t want to exhaust your hands and arms in the process.

–Try gently massaging your entire scalp if necessary, taking rest breaks as your hands and arms tire.

Ed. note: Self-massage can certainly help in a pinch. But for best results, seek a qualified massage therapist, so you can relax while she/he erases your head pain. Regular bodywork can also prevent or lessen future migraines and headaches.

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