Can Massage Really Help Relieve Headaches?
At the end of a long day, a tension headache rearing its ugly head can be a familiar occurrence that many of us are all too accustomed to.
Perhaps you have a high-stress job, looming deadlines, or screaming kids you’ve been dealing with, or you decided to take on a way-above-your-skill-level home renovation project...
Regardless of what causes your tension headaches, trying to find fast relief is key.
Reaching for painkillers regularly isn’t addressing the problem, and just masks the pain temporarily. Not to mention, they come with a whole host of other health risks from long-term use of pain relief medicines.
If you’ve found yourself wondering if there are any other options, you’re not the only one. No less than 45 million adults in the U.S. suffer from chronic headaches.
Tension headaches are alarmingly common, and they can be the result of a variety of issues.
Poor spinal alignment, nearby muscle aches, daily stress, hormonal changes, TMJ and muscle spasms can all contribute to headaches, among other causes.
If you’ve experienced tension headaches, and felt that awful sensation of pressure and tightening in your head that you just can’t seem to shake;
The answer might be just around the corner for you, in the most surprising of places.
Massage therapy can actually be quite helpful in combating headaches!
And we’re not just talking about the occasional scalp rub at the salon when you’re getting your hair washed…
Full-body massage techniques can indeed hold the key to your freedom from tension headaches, for good.
Here’s 6 reasons why:
6. Massage Can Relieve Headaches by Reducing Stress
One of the biggest causes of tension headaches is stress. Massage releases feel-good endorphins while decreasing the stress hormone, cortisol.
Endorphins can decrease your sensitivity to pain, and the release of serotonin and dopamine during a massage cause a relaxing effect.
Massage is a natural way to prevent and treat headache pain without all those over-the-counter pills!
5. Massage Improves Circulation Throughout the Body
Blood flow is crucial for getting oxygen to our organs and for muscle recovery.
Poor circulation can actually cause pain in the neck and head, as well as arms and legs.
Massage can improve blood flow and help to alleviate headaches caused by circulation issues.
4. Massage Can Access Trigger Points
Trigger points, (or hyper-irritable spots) are located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. They're basically super sensitive and painful areas in muscle fibers.
Massage can help target and treat trigger points, subsequently unknitting tightly wound neck muscles to reduce headaches.
Massage can help target and treat trigger points, subsequently unknitting tightly wound neck muscles to reduce headaches.
3. Massage Opens Constricted Channels
Chronically tight muscles and muscle spasms can also cause headaches.
Tight muscles in the neck and base of the skull can constrict blood flow to the brain and head. This blood vessel constriction can lead to pretty painful headaches, especially over time.
Massage can work through these tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, and base of the skull to alleviate pain and decrease your chance of headache.
Massage further works to reduce the chance of muscle spasms, which can also spark a headache.
2. Massage Harnesses Therapeutic Time-Honored Techniques
Acupressure techniques, including Shiatsu and Reflexology, are based on the idea that pressure points in the body are linked to particular organs or other parts of our physiology.
Maybe you’ve heard the old trick of pressing between your thumb and index finger to get rid of a headache? That indeed is acupressure!
These pressure-applying techniques can effectively target pain and address blockages in particular areas. Many people have found considerable relief from migraines and tension headaches with these shiatsu and reflexology methods.
The great news?
You too can experience these traditional holistic therapies, right from the comfort of your home, and all without an appointment.
The Slabway Full Body Massage Chair brings the wisdom of ancient Eastern philosophies into our modern times, and straight into your living room.
To learn more about how these two therapies can combine to help your pain management efforts, check out our article, The Ultimate Pain Relief Therapy: Shiatsu and Reflexology Combined, here.
1. Massage Releases Sleep-Supporting Hormones
Massage release hormones for relaxation, which helps you sleep! Sleep is magical, of course, and it is no surprise that lack of it can cause headaches.
Massage helps you get consistent and high-quality sleep, which in turn is a major player in helping to keep those pesky, tired tension headaches away.
Of course, if you suffer from enduring headaches and you suspect they might be caused by something more than just a little stress or muscle tension, be sure to consult your doctor for advice without delay: This will rule out any serious underlying issues.
For the rest of us who experience stress headaches; next time you feel that tension start creeping in, take the holistic route and try a massage instead of reaching for the bottle of pain reliever pills! Or better yet, get the jump on headaches before they strike by having a restorative massage every day.
You’ll be doing your whole body a favor, and will notice improvements in all areas of your health and how your body feels.
Relief can be right around the corner, so why not try out massages to prevent and treat your tension headaches?
Wishing you freedom from headaches and pain,
Fefe
Slabway Wellness Contributor
Nevada, USA
Slabway Full Body Massage Chair
"Worth it's Weight in Gold"
Imagine what frequent full body Massages could do for you.
Your Full Body Massage Chair will be a source of healing and comfort.
You'll feel like a whole new person.
Because you'll be a whole new person.
Are you ready to Elevate Your Life?