Can migraines be massaged?

Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated on February 13, 2025
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For some primary migraines clinically, we can alleviate clinical symptoms, reduce the intensity of pain, and decrease the frequency of pain through massage, which has certain clinical effects. How do we perform the massage? Generally, we select some massage areas according to the patient's clinical symptoms and characteristics, and also choose some acupoints based on differentiation. For example, for forehead pain, we usually start by selecting local acupoints, including Jingming, Sizhukong, Yangbai, and Touwei acupoints, then massage Baihui and Tongtian acupoints. For distant points, we choose to massage acupoints such as Houxi and others to alleviate the clinical symptoms of migraines.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What should I do if I always have migraines?

Migraine is a disease that severely affects quality of life. During a migraine attack, patients experience moderate to severe headaches, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, and daily life is severely affected. Activities such as climbing stairs can progressively worsen the headache. If migraines occur frequently and severely affect daily life, it is advisable to undergo preventive treatment. Preventive medications primarily fall into three categories: the first category includes receptor blockers, the second category consists mainly of anti-epileptic drugs, and the third category comprises calcium channel blockers. These medications can effectively prevent the onset of migraines and can be taken under the advice of a doctor. Additionally, it is important to maintain a stable mood and ensure adequate sleep to prevent the onset of migraines.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What causes migraines?

Migraine is a relatively common disease, and the possible causes of this disease are as follows: First, it may be related to genetics, with about 60% of migraines being familial, which strongly suggests that genes may be significantly related to the onset of migraines; Second, it is also clearly related to certain internal environments and hormone levels. For example, some women experience migraine attacks during menstruation. Additionally, the triggers for attacks also include drinking alcohol, consuming vasodilator drugs, eating chocolate, and consuming food additives containing sodium glutamate. The pathogenesis of this disease is not yet very clear, and it may be related to vascular dysfunction.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to treat migraines

The incidence of migraines is still very high, and the pain can be quite severe, affecting patients' work and daily life, preventing them from resting well. The main treatments include the following: First, maintain the patient's emotional stability and keep the patient calm, avoiding strong lights and loud noises as much as possible to create a quiet environment. Second, administer oral non-steroidal analgesics for pain relief, or take ergot preparations for pain relief. Third, patients sometimes exhibit obvious anxiety and can take benzodiazepines for related treatment, as well as certain anti-anxiety medications. Fourth, if the patient experiences nausea and vomiting, symptomatic treatment should be given, including antiemetic medications. If the patient has frequent episodes, prophylactic treatment with receptor blockers can be used.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What to do about migraines?

Migraine prevalence is relatively high, and for those experiencing migraines, the following treatments are recommended: First, it is essential to maintain a calm emotional state and avoid excessive stress. Secondly, medication can be used for treatment. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used and are effective for many patients. However, if there is no relief after taking these, or if the pain is very severe, medications specifically for treating migraines such as ergot derivatives and triptans may be prescribed. Third, if the migraine is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, antiemetic drugs can be used. Additionally, if the patient with migraine also experiences significant restlessness or anxiety, an appropriate amount of sedative medication can be applied. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Migraine continues to hurt for several days.

Migraine headaches that persist for several days might be a sign of a migraine condition. It's essential to handle this promptly to alleviate pain and improve the patient's quality of life. The following treatments are recommended for such patients. First, it's crucial to take pain-relief medication as soon as possible. For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used. If the pain remains severe and the effect is not apparent after taking these, one could use specific migraine medications like ergot preparations or triptans. Additionally, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers may be used, which can also produce good results. Migraine patients often suffer from sleep disorders, anxiety, and irritability. It might be appropriate to administer benzodiazepines, which can also benefit headache relief. (Please use medication under professional medical guidance and do not self-medicate.)