Massage has several health benefits aside from the obvious benefit of physical relaxation. Massage is also effective for a wide range of health issues including but not limited to insomnia, anxiety and headaches as well as arthritis, lower back pain and sports injury recovery.
Yes, we did say headaches – truly, good news for the millions of kids and adults suffering from one of the many types of headaches including migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches! But you don’t need a professional massage therapist to chase your headaches away either – you just need your hands either on yourself or on your loved one.
Relief for Tired Eyes
Many headache attacks are brought by eye strain and sinus pressure. These steps should provide relief for tired eyes and reduce pressure on the sinus:
- Close your eyes.
- Place a thumb under each of your eyebrows specifically at the eye sockets’ inside corners.
- Gently move your thumbs in small circles while slowly working toward your eyes’ outside corners, under your eyes and then ending at the bridge of your nose.
- Repeat several times until your eyes feel more relaxed.
Relief for Head Tension
Head tension caused by physical or mental stimuli – or both, in a few instances – increases the risks for a headache attack. Relieving head tension even before the first sign of the attacks takes place is then important but you can still use these steps for pain relief from a headache.
- Place each of your thumbs on your left and right cheekbones near your ears.
- Use your fingertips to apply gentle pressure on your temples (i.e., the soft spots between your ears and your eyes’ corners)
- Gradually move your fingers in tiny circular motions from your hairline until the middle of your forehead so that you will be massaging your entire forehead and scalp. Be sure to use very firm pressure but be as relaxed as possible lest your shoulders become tense.
- Repeat for a few minutes until your pain eases significantly or disappears completely.
You may also ask a relative or a friend to perform these simple massage motions on your scalp and forehead when you cannot do it on your own.
Relief for Neck Tension
Many headache attacks also come from neck tension especially when you have been sitting in front of your computer for several hours. Relief from neck tension can be achieved by following these steps:
- Sit comfortably on a chair with a table on your front. Sitting in front of your office table will suffice.
- Place your hands over your shoulders, apply gentle pressure and inhale. While slowly exhaling, let your fingers make firm squeezing motions from your shoulders to your neck while your head drops back.
- Rest your elbows on the table, drop your head slightly forward, and then massage your neck starting from your shoulders to the base of your skull. Make small yet deep circles using firm pressure on your fingertips to massage either side of your cervical spine.
- Place both of your hand at the back of your head so that your fingers are interlaced. Drop your head forward, gently pull your head downward, and stretch your neck muscles.
How’s that for a relaxing self-massage?