Shiatsu Treatment for Migraines

I you suffer painful migraines, caused by blocked or out-of-sync circulation to the brain, you know how they can disrupt your life. Shiatsu works through the ancient Asian science of acupressure, through which specific pressure points on the body are manipulated to restore the balance of energy (called qi, chi or ki). Shiatsu treatment for migraines focuses on correcting the imbalance in the body that causes them.

About Shiatsu

• Shiatsu approaches any ailment from a holistic perspective. Shiatsu seeks to remove energy blocks by restoring balance in the energy centers (meridians) of the body. A finger-pressure technique that seeks to restore proper organ function, shiatsu ultimately promotes self-healing. Looking for the individual cause of a migraine is key to using shiatsu therapy to relieve it.

What to Expect

• Your shiatsu session for migraine may begin with an in-depth consultation. The therapist will ask you many questions regarding your medical history, emotional state and lifestyle. Food choices and reactions to them are discussed.

  The therapist may have you lie on the floor or on a mat or futon. Disrobing is unnecessary. You may be asked to sit or lie in any of several different positions to experience the shiatsu techniques: lying on your back, stomach or side, or sitting up. The shiatsu therapist will focus on applying pressure to specific points on your body, as well as executing stretching maneuvers.

Shiatsu Approach to Migraine

• According to the Shiatsu Society, based in the U.K., imbalances in the liver and gall bladder cause migraine conditions; stomach and digestive imbalances cause the headaches that occur right behind the forehead. The role of shiatsu for migraines is to disperse stagnant energy which hasn't been able to reach the liver and gall bladder. As this pathway of energy is cleared, the migraine condition is healed.

  Susan Cranshaw of the Shiatsu Society says, "Gentle fingertip pressure applied between the eyebrows (known as the yan tin point) also shifts stagnant ki and will lift a cloudy mind accompanying a headache." She says that patients can expect to get some immediate relief through self-administered shiatsu, but "[s]hiatsu applied at a deeper causative level generally gives longer term improvements."

Pressure Points to Relieve Migraine

• Shiatsu therapy focuses on pressure points found in the neck and side of the head to treat the gall bladder cause of migraine. Specifically, pressure may be applied to a point on the back of your skull (called gall bladder 20) to release the blocked energy to the gall bladder.

  To restore proper function to the liver, if that is what causes your migraine, pressure may be applied to a point between your first and second toe, called liver 3. Pressure on this point will smooth the flow of energy and drain it away from the head.

Herbs and Oils

• The practitioner may prescribe herbs--feverfew, skullcap, peppermint or red sage--that are known to support shiatsu treatment to relieve migraine. Your shiatsu therapist may also suggest applying specific essential oils--such as lavender, chamomile, peppermint or marjoram--to particular pressure points.