Reflexology techniques for headache relief

Reflexology techniques for headache relief

Essential oils that have a beneficial effect on headaches include lemon balm, cardamom and ginger, while the gemstones amethyst, garnet or dumortierite (the take-it-easy stone) have been demonstrated to work particularly well.

by Ewald Kliegel  —

Reflexology provides easy techniques for one of the most common human ailments — the headache. The information here will help you banish headaches for good.

The head is prone to different problems — from throbbing temples with the sensation of being trapped in a vice while a jackhammer is busy at work in the background, to having a brain that feels as though it is full of cotton. Fortunately, most of these nasty sensations can go away on their own.

The symptoms are as varied as the causes that may underlie them: a stiff neck, problems with the spine, metabolic disturbances, allergies, medicine, unstable blood pressure, too much stress, long periods spent sitting at the computer and many others. Essentially, any organ in the body can have a detrimental effect on the head.

Most people suffering from a headache think only of reaching for the usual analgesics, but these medicines are often bad for the head. Until the cause has been identified, you are better off using remedies that cause no side effects. These include reflex zone massage, which generally works just as quickly as the usual pain pills.

Neck and hand reflex zones

A typical place to treat a tension headache is on the neck. It seems the natural place to reduce the muscle tension that causes it, even with no knowledge of the reflex zones. Important control centers for many of the functions of the brain and sensory organs are also located here, just beneath the point where the muscles of the spine meet the muscles of the neck.

For this technique, take the back of your head in your hands, with your fingers to the sides and your thumbs in the middle. From this position, make circular strokes with both thumbs to massage the central area gently but thoroughly. After basic unblocking of the maximum release points, finish with a circular stroking movement from down the back of the neck out to the sides.

Headaches are annoying and unpleasant — they can stop us from thinking clearly and seem impossible to shake off.

Two areas of the hand reflex zones may be of some help: the brainstem zones on the joint of the thumb enable you to influence the nerve supply to the head, while the reflex zones of the brain are in the pads of the fingers. Basic unblocking has proved effective for the brainstem zones and, even when used on its own, can often make a situation more bearable.

Rubbing the pads of the fingers together gently for a few minutes may often produce results, making a nagging stress pain disappear, or at least be eased considerably.

Complementary techniques 

For recurrent headaches, it is also worth considering the impact of possible mental strain, in addition to any medical considerations. The expressions “racking my brain” and the need to “wrap my head around” something hint at this type of underlying cause, and some honest self-appraisal may be required to pinpoint where a conflict of this kind may be proving too stressful and burdensome.

Essential oils that have a beneficial effect on headaches include lemon balm, cardamom and ginger, while the gemstones amethyst, garnet or dumortierite (the take-it-easy stone) have been demonstrated to work particularly well.

Ancient Indian medicine teaches the use of meditative finger positions (known as mudras) for many problems. One such mudra is also extremely effective against headaches. Using light pressure, just press the fingers of both hands together; then breathe deeply in and out over the joined fingers for one to three minutes.

Ewald Kliegel is a healer, teacher, author, masseur and alternative health practitioner. He gives seminars about reflex zones and gemstone treatment courses for use in therapy and professional wellness. findhornpress.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 34, Number 5, October/November 2015.