🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Headache is a symptom caused by many diseases, including systemic conditions and localized lesions such as those in the eyes, ears, nose, and throat. It is essential to visit a hospital for relevant examinations to identify the underlying cause. While treating the primary disease, patients should also strengthen self-care to avoid delaying treatment. This article introduces a simplified acupoint massage technique derived from traditional Chinese internal martial arts and tuina, based on meridian theory. It is simple and effective for headaches caused by conditions such as colds, migraines, vascular neuralgia, hypertension, muscle contraction, cerebral hypoperfusion, cervical spondylosis, neurasthenia, and mental stress.
Specific procedures:
Preparation: Sit upright on a chair, slightly tuck in the chest, extend the back, and maintain calm, even breathing.
Rub the Taiyang Points: Place the base of both palms on the Taiyang Points. Close eyes naturally and perform gentle, smooth rubbing movements. This method is effective for all types of headache mentioned above.
Grasp Fengchi Point: Use the thumb and index finger to pinch the muscles at the back of the neck near the hairline. Employ a technique alternating between upward and downward, tight and loose, until a sense of soreness and distension in the neck is felt. The number of repetitions is flexible and not strictly defined. Hands may alternate. This method improves cerebral blood circulation and enhances blood supply to brain tissue.
Bath the Entire Head: The head contains acupoints such as Shangxing, Touwei, and Baihui. Regularly stimulating these points has a brain-strengthening effect. To perform, spread both hands’ fingers apart and move them from the front hairline to the back hairline, mimicking combing the hair. Adjust pressure intensity according to personal comfort—generally, aim for warmth and comfort without causing scalp pain. Frequency depends on condition. A wooden comb may substitute for fingers. This method helps relieve cerebral vascular spasm and cramping, reducing pain and improving mental clarity.
Stroke the Frontal Region and Yintang Point: Bend the index fingers, place the thumbs on the Taiyang Points, and use the inner surface of the bent index fingers to stroke from the Yintang point along both sides of the eyebrows. Keep eyes closed naturally. Use a light-to-moderate pressure. Perform 30 times or slightly more, twice daily. This ancient method is known as “Separating Yin and Yang.” After application, the head feels clear and refreshed, effectively relieving dizziness and headache.
Grasp Hegu Point: Hegu is located on the dorsum of the hand, between the thumb and index finger, in the fleshy area. Use grasping and pressing techniques, aiming for a noticeable soreness and distension. Perform 10–15 times per session, twice or thrice daily. This method is commonly called “Grasping the Tiger’s Mouth.” Regular practice helps clear the head, improve vision, and relieve various types of headache.
Grasp Tianzhu Point: Use the thumb and index finger to grasp the Tianzhu Point on the upper part of the posterior neck, along the trapezius muscle. Perform grasping motions back and forth, 5–10 times each. Perform once in the morning and once in the evening. This method effectively alleviates headaches caused by hypertension and cervical spondylosis.