Research shows that acupressure may help relieve headaches. Learn more about which specific pressure points of the body may provide relief.

Experiencing the pain and discomfort of a headache is incredibly common. If you’re looking for a more natural way to treat your headache, you may want to consider acupressure.

Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves applying pressure to specific points of the body. These parts of the body are believed to stimulate relief in the body. Research shows that acupressure may help to:

  • lower stress levels
  • increase relaxation
  • improve sleep quality
  • improve pain and muscle tension

If you want to learn more about treating your headache this way, it’s important to understand how to do so correctly. We explain what science says and give you some pressure points to try next time your head hurts.

If you are experiencing severe and frequent headaches, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional. They can check for any underlying conditions and suggest suitable medical treatment.

There is limited research that supports the use of reflexology to treat headaches, and the studies we have are small and need to be expanded.

However, there are a few studies that have looked into how acupressure can relieve headaches.

A 2024 study that explored the use of acupressure on college students with headaches and anxiety found that it may help to improve the management of symptoms. The study authors found that it could increase relaxation, reduce stress levels, and improve sleep quality, which may help with headache management.

More research is needed to understand the long-term effectiveness of acupressure for headaches.

Because reflexology is a noninvasive, nonpharmaceutical way to treat headaches, it is considered a safe option. Just remember it’s a complementary treatment. It’s important to speak with a healthcare professional if you have recurring or very intense headaches.

You should also speak with a healthcare professional before trying reflexology if you are pregnant.

There are some well-known pressure points in the body believed to relieve headaches. Here are a few and how you can use them:

Union valley (Large intestine 4)

The union valley (LI4) points are located on the web between your thumb and index finger. To treat headaches:

  1. Start by pinching this area with the thumb and index finger of your opposite hand firmly — but not painfully — for 10 seconds.
  2. Next, make small circles with your thumb on this area in one direction and then the other, for 10 seconds each.
  3. Repeat this process on the union valley point on your opposite hand.

This type of pressure point treatment is believed to relieve tension in the head and neck. Tension is often associated with headaches.

Drilling bamboo point (Urinary bladder 2)

Drilling bamboo (UB2) points are located at the indentations on either side of the spot where the bridge of your nose meets the ridge of your eyebrows. To use these pressure points to treat headaches:

  1. Use both of your index fingers to apply firm pressure to both points at once.
  2. Hold for 10 seconds.
  3. Release and repeat.

Touching these pressure points are thought to relieve headaches that are caused by eyestrain and sinus pain or pressure.

Gates of consciousness pressure points (Gallbladder 20)

The gates of consciousness (GB20) pressure points are located at the base of the skull in the parallel hollow areas between the two vertical neck muscles. To use these pressure points:

  1. Place your index and middle fingers of either hand onto these pressure points.
  2. Press firmly upward on both sides at once for 10 seconds, then release and repeat.

Applying a firm touch to these pressure points may help relieve headaches caused by tension in the neck.

Third eye pressure point (yin tang)

The third eye (yin tang) point can be found between your two eyebrows where the bridge of your nose meets your forehead.

  1. Use the index finger of one hand to apply firm pressure to this area for 1 minute.

Firm pressure applied to the third eye pressure point is thought to relieve eyestrain and sinus pressure that often cause headaches.

According to Chinese medicine, acupressure may help relieve headaches.

However, there is limited research that supports the use of acupressure to treat headaches, and studies are small and need to be expanded.

If you are experiencing severe and frequent headaches, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional. They can check for any underlying conditions and suggest suitable medical treatment.