Headache Massage Therapy Techniques

Headache is a common clinical condition that can arise from various causes. External headache, cervicogenic headache, migraine, and internal injury headache are suitable for manual therapy.

Etiology and Pathogenesis

The causes of headache are complex and can be divided into external and internal factors. External headaches may be caused by wind-cold, wind-heat, or summer dampness. Internal headaches may result from liver yang hyperactivity, blood deficiency failing to nourish, phlegm and blood stasis obstructing the collaterals, or kidney deficiency failing to replenish.

Massage Therapy

Treatment Principle: Dredge the meridians, promote circulation, and relieve pain.

Basic Treatment Methods

(1) Head and Facial Manipulation: The patient sits or lies supine. The practitioner performs the one-finger meditation "small 8" and "large 8" pushing techniques, repeatedly dividing and pushing 3-5 times. This is followed by finger pressing and kneading of the Yintang, Shenting, Zanzhu, Yuyao, Taiyang, Baihui, and Sishencong points, each for about one minute. Combine with wiping the forehead 3-5 times. Perform the five-finger grasping technique from the hairline of the forehead to the Fengchi point, repeating 3-5 times. Perform the double-handed sweeping technique for about one minute. Use fingertip tapping from the forehead to the top of the head, repeating 3-6 times.

(2) Neck and Shoulder Manipulation: The patient sits or lies prone. Use the one-finger meditation pushing technique along the bladder meridian and governor vessel of the neck, combining with kneading, plucking, and pushing the above points for 3-5 minutes. Then grasp the Fengchi point, the muscles on both sides of the neck, and the Jianjing point for half a minute each. Apply the rolling technique to the neck, shoulders, and upper back for about two minutes.

Syndrome Differentiation and Modification

(1) Cervicogenic Headache: Apply finger kneading, plucking, and pushing techniques to the Ashi points on the neck, shoulders, and upper back for 3-5 minutes, gradually increasing the pressure, focusing on the affected side. Pay attention to combining point, line, and surface techniques, and use cervical adjustment techniques if necessary.

(2) External Headache: Apply the rolling and one-finger meditation pushing techniques along the Taiyang meridian of the neck and back, focusing on pressing and kneading the Fengchi, Fengfu, Jianjing, Dazhui, Feishu, Fengmen, Dingchuan, Quchi, and Hegu points for 3-5 minutes. Scrub the bladder meridian on both sides of the back until heat is felt.

(3) Migraine: Perform the one-finger meditation pushing technique on the Taiyang and Touwei points, and press and knead the Fengchi point with greater force for 3-5 minutes.

(4) Internal Injury Headache: For liver yang headache, press and knead the Ganshu, Yanglingquan, Taichong, and Xingjian points, each for about one minute. Push the Qiaogong point about 30 times, alternating sides. Increase the sweeping technique. For blood deficiency headache, press and knead the Zhongwan, Qihai, Guanyuan, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, and Geshu points, each for about one minute. Perform abdominal palm rubbing for about five minutes. Scrub the governor vessel on the back until heat is felt. For phlegm turbidity headache, use the one-finger meditation pushing technique on the Zhongwan and Tianshu points for about two minutes each. Perform abdominal rubbing for about five minutes. Press and knead the Pishu, Weishu, Dachangshu, Zusanli, and Fenglong points, each for about one minute. For kidney deficiency headache, press and knead the Shenshu, Mingmen, Yaoyangguan, Qihai, Guanyuan, and Taixi points, each for 1-2 minutes. Scrub the governor vessel and lumbosacral region until heat is felt. For blood stasis headache, divide and wipe the forehead for 1-2 minutes. Press and knead the Zanzhu and Taiyang points, each for 1-2 minutes. Press and knead the Hegu, Xuehai, and Taichong points, each for about one minute. Scrub the forehead until heat is felt.

Appropriate Techniques

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Tea made from tea leaves, Chuanxiong, and Baizhi.

Acupuncture: Main points: Baihui, Taiyang, Fengchi, Hegu. Supplementary points: For wind-cold, add Fengmen with cupping. For wind-heat, add Quchi. For dampness, add Yinlingquan and Touwei. For frontal headache, add Yintang and Hegu. For migraine, add Waiguan and Zulinqi. For occipital headache, add Tianzhu and Kunlun. For vertex headache, add Sishencong and Taichong.

Gua Sha: Four main points (Baihui, Taiyang, Fengchi, Hegu) and the area from the forehead to Jianjing.

Precautions

The causes of headache are complex. Clinically, the disease should first be differentiated, combined with syndrome differentiation. After excluding intracranial organic diseases such as brain abscess, acute cerebrovascular diseases, intracranial space-occupying lesions, cerebral contusion, and traumatic intracranial hematoma, manual therapy can be applied. Generally, it can alleviate symptoms, especially for migraine, muscle contraction headache, cold headache, and hypertension headache. Viral encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, and epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis may have symptoms similar to external headache in the early stages. Clinically, careful differentiation is required. If the headache is caused by brain disease, integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine should be used to treat the primary disease promptly.

The manipulation should be gentle with strong penetrating force.

It can be combined with Chinese and Western medicine treatment.