Sore limbs and migraines have become the norm for most people chained to a desk. While we can always medicate or exercise the pain away, it might not always cut it. Getting a massage is also a good way to reduce aches and pains, but it depends on the type of massage.
Acupressure, acupuncture’s less invasive sibling, is a type of therapeutic practice that targets specific points of the body to relieve pain and tension. It uses the same points as acupuncture does, but without the needles. Instead, it uses manual stimulation—like massaging a certain spot—to address pain or discomfort.
Common complaints like headaches, nausea, and muscle soreness can be addressed using acupressure.
Both acupressure and acupuncture are forms of traditional Chinese medicine that’s supposed to help manage the body’s natural flow of energy (or qi) responsible for overall health. When left unchecked, blockages can form and create pain and other health-related problems.
If you’re not a fan of needles or going to the doctor for everyday pains, you can actually perform acupressure on yourself. But of course, before getting started on any course of self-treatment, it’s always best to seek the help of a doctor.
Here are some common complaints and the acupressure points you can massage to help relieve them.
Headaches
To help soothe headaches, you’ll want to massage the space that connects your index finger and thumb in slow, circular motions.
Nausea and vomiting
Place your three middle fingers on your opposite wrist, with your ring finger touching the base of your hand. Massage the center point of where your index finger lands on your wrist.
Eye strain
Massage the area of where the inner corners of your eye meets your nose bridge. You can also massage the center of both your eyebrows, your temples, where your cheeks and the crease of the bottom of your eyes meet, and the two points at the back of your head that connect on each side of your neck.
Stuffy nose
Locate the space right beside each nostril and massage gently. You can also massage the areas right where your brows start.
Lower back pain
Place your thumbs at the top of your hips and rest your hand so it encircles the rest of your trunk. Move your fingertips in and up and down motion to massage the area.
Period cramps
Massage the space between the base of your index and ring fingers with a firm pressure. Press hard enough to feel an ache, but not hard enough to hurt yourself.
