Can massage relieve headaches?
We all know the therapeutic effects of relaxation therapy, but besides reducing stress, can massage also alleviate headaches and migraines?
Do you want real good news? When you cannot find a masseur, you can massage at home by yourself. Head massage can particularly lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation, and promote hair growth, so please continue reading to understand its working principle.
A study published in the Journal of Headache and Pain showed that massage therapy has a significant impact on pain intensity, reducing it by 71%. Another study in the American Journal of Public Health found that massage can effectively treat chronic tension headaches.
How to Massage Your Head
For tension headaches: Place your fingers flat on your temples and slowly move them in a circular motion.
For cluster headaches: Pinching the nose bridge and slowly massaging along the eyebrow line can help reduce tension around the eyes and sinuses.
For headaches caused by stress: circular movements with fingertips from the cheekbones downwards towards the chin can relieve the tension caused by stress and gritting teeth
What are the benefits of head massage machine?
When it comes to headaches, Chamness said that massage is a great way to relieve headaches without medication. But there are many other benefits to head massage.
Emotional booster
Women receiving head massage
Chamness said that relaxing the muscles in the head, neck, and face can improve blood circulation in the head. This helps relieve headaches for people, even though massage techniques are focused on the head, it can benefit the entire body
She also said that the relaxing effect of head massage helps to relax the whole body, increasing the levels of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine that feel good, while reducing cortisol levels - our stress hormone.
relieve stress
Can you use massage to relieve headaches? The picture shows a woman lying in bed
When muscles are connected to the face, neck, and scalp, they cause tissue tightening, resulting in pain and discomfort, leading to headaches, "Chamness said. By massaging the muscles around the temples, chin, and neck, we can relax them and prevent pulling
She said that in addition to having a direct impact on muscle tension, head massage, if done slowly and forcefully, can also trigger relaxation and relieve stress. Then the parasympathetic nervous system comes into play, calming us down.
Hair growth
Can you use hair scalp massager to relieve headaches? The picture shows a woman with long hair
In contrast, gentle and fast-paced head massage can be very stimulating. It can increase blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles, thereby promoting hair growth, "Chamness said. It even helps stimulate the brain - very useful for those who are learning fatigue
In fact, a small study in 2016 found that participants' hair became thicker after massaging their scalp for 24 weeks every day.