Are migraine headaches reduced by massage therapy?

Author: Karlie Smitham  |  Last update: Saturday, December 6, 2025

Research in massage therapy has found promising results for reducing pain associated with chronic conditions including migraine headache,1 lower back pain,2,3 fibromyalgia,4 and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Do massages help with migraine headaches?

Massage therapy (MT), yoga, acupuncture, cognitive therapy, nerve stimulation, and dietary supplements are non-pharmaceutical treatments for migraine. MT is effective in reducing the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine headaches.

What kind of headache feels better when massaged?

It may be triggered by or get worse with stress, fatigue, noise, or glare. You may have difficulty sleeping. Tension headaches usually do not cause nausea or vomiting. People with tension headaches often try to relieve pain by massaging their scalp, temples, or the bottom of the neck.

What is the best thing to get rid of a migraine headache?

Find a calm environment
  • Turn off the lights. Light and sound can make migraine pain worse. Relax in a dark, quiet room. ...
  • Try temperature therapy. Apply hot or cold compresses to your head or neck. ...
  • Sip a caffeinated drink. In small amounts, caffeine alone can relieve migraine pain in the early stages.

What are the five forbidden acupuncture points?

The five commonly recognized “forbidden acupuncture points” include:
  • Large Intestine 4 (Joining Valley, Hegu) ...
  • Spleen 6 (Three Yin Intersection, Sanyinjiao) ...
  • Urinary Bladder 60 (Kunlun Mountains, Kunlun) ...
  • Gallbladder 21 (Shoulder Well, Jianjing) ...
  • Conception Vessel 3 (Middle Pole, Zhongji)

Follow Along Self Massage for Migraines and Headaches

How do you flush out a migraine?

Home Remedies for Migraines
  1. 1/11. Cool It Down. Put an ice pack on your forehead, scalp, or neck to get pain relief. ...
  2. 2/11. Over-the-Counter Drugs. ...
  3. 3/11. Caffeine. ...
  4. 4/11. A Dark, Quiet Room. ...
  5. 5/11. Exercise. ...
  6. 6/11. Magnesium. ...
  7. 7/11. Sleep Well. ...
  8. 8/11. Yoga.

What is the miracle drug for migraines?

Aimovig is a brand-name prescription drug that's FDA-approved to prevent migraine headaches in adults. Aimovig can be used to prevent both episodic and chronic migraine headaches.

What are the 5 C's of migraines?

In other words there is more to diet and migraine than simply excluding the 5 Cs (cheese, chocolate, coffee, coke, and citrus fruits). They performed double blind challenges in a selection of their cases; these were confirmatory of the results of open challenge in the majority of cases.

How to get rid of a headache or migraine in just two minutes?

Place a cold compress on your forehead for instant relief from migraines or a warm compress on the neck to soothe tension headaches. Practice deep breathing by inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth. This calms the nervous system and reduces headache intensity.

How often should you get a massage?

1. What are the general massage frequency guidelines? It is generally recommended to get a massage once a month to maintain the benefits of relaxation and stress relief. However, some individuals may benefit from more frequent sessions, especially if they have specific health concerns or physical discomfort.

Can chiropractors help with migraines?

Several studies have assessed chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (CSMT) as a therapy for migraine. The evidence includes 3 systematic reviews,7,15,16,17 2 randomized controlled trials,6,9 a controlled trial,10 and 3 case studies. These studies suggest CSMT to be effective in treating migraineurs.

Should I push through a migraine?

Don't power through the pain.

Trying to ignore migraine pain or symptoms like an aura -- which can include seeing light or zigzagging lines, hearing ringing in your ears, or feeling dizzy and unstable -- can make the headaches worse. If you can, lie down in a dark, quiet place until it passes.

Where do you rub to get rid of a migraine?

Pressure point LI-4 is also called Hegu (her-goo). It is found on the back of your hand. It is between the base of your thumb and index (pointer) finger (see Figure 1). Doing acupressure on this point can help with pain and headaches.

What is lymphatic drainage for migraines?

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a specialized massage technique that stimulates the lymphatic system to improve lymphatic drainage for migraines and other types of pain. It involves using gentle, rhythmic movements performed by a trained therapist.

What is the number one trigger for migraines?

1. Stress. Perhaps the biggest culprit of all, stress is a trigger for almost 70% of people with migraine, and one study revealed that 50-70% of people had a significant association between their daily stress level and their daily migraine activity.

How do you stop a migraine asap?

There are many ways to attempt to ease a migraine. Strategies include applying a cold pack, turning down the lights, taking medication, and drinking water. Steps like making a plan and identifying triggers can help you prevent migraines from occurring.

What brain conditions cause migraines?

Migraine has possible links to other brain diseases, such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS) and fibromyalgia. Some of these diseases have symptoms that are similar to migraine, but they also have their own unique differences.

What can permanently stop migraines?

There isn't a cure for migraines. But a healthcare provider can help you manage migraine symptoms through the following: Taking medications. Avoiding migraine triggers.

What is the Uberly migraine pill?

The first in a different class of acute treatments for migraine, UBRELVY is an oral, non-narcotic pill taken during a migraine attack. Unlike older migraine medications, it directly blocks a protein, known as CGRP, believed to play a major role in migraine attacks.

Does caffeine help migraines?

While some people may find acute treatments containing caffeine or consuming caffeine when they're having a migraine attack may help to treat it, this likely won't work for everyone. If you find you are particularly sensitive to caffeine and it triggers your migraine or makes it worse, it's best to avoid caffeine.

Where to massage for migraine?

There are many pressure points on the body that, when massaged, can ease migraine symptoms.
  • Hand: Union Valley.
  • Face: Third Eye and Drilling Bamboo.
  • Ear: Ear Gate, Daith, and Ear Apex.
  • Neck and Shoulders: Gates of Consciousness and Shoulder Well.
  • Foot: Great Rushing, Above Tears, and Moving Point.

What is the new pill for migraines?

Official answer. The newest novel drug (approved March 9, 2023) for the treatment of migraine is Zavzpret (zavegepant) nasal spray. The newest drug (approved September 28, 2021) for the prevention of migraine is Qulipta (atogepant).

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