Pauline says: I wanted to tell readers how one of the therapies I regularly use with clients (Indian head massage) can support the prevention of migraines.
The Hindi word for head massage is champi or champisage, which is where the word "shampoo" comes from.
In India champi has been used for more than 4,000 by barbers, and in the home. The massage, normally taking half to three-quarters of an hour, works on your arms, shoulders, upper back, neck, scalp, eyes, ears and face. A good therapist will tailor it to the client's preference.
Clients are left with a sense of utter well-being, with tensions in the upper body, neck and head alleviated and a clear, calm frame of mind.
For migraine sufferers the main benefits are in the prevention of attacks.
Often migraine attacks are related to upper body tension, worries, poor blood flow to the brain, and sleep disturbances - all of which can be alleviated by Indian head massage.
Clinical trials on patients suffering with migraine showed an increase in serotonin levels following massage. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in the brain that is important in reducing pain. So it seems that a relaxing massage can reduce the number of migraines suffered, and the pain felt.
Tension often reduces blood flow to the brain, which can cause neck muscles to tighten. Massage combats this, promoting blood flow and relaxing the neck. Massage also releases natural endorphins that reduce pain and promote a feel-good factor. The pulse is also lowered and breathing slows during massage, calming the body and mind.
It's not recommended to try and alleviate migraine symptoms during the attack, because the massage is so deep. Perhaps some gentle self massage may feel beneficial instead - using acupressure with thumbs gently in the hollows between the neck muscles below the base of the skull. Another approach would be lean your head backwards and, taking deep breaths, press between the thumb and forefinger of one hand with the index finger and thumb of the other hand for a minute. Then repeat with the other hand.
Drinking lots of water is important after massage treatments and also avoid tea and coffee for the rest of the day. This is often a trigger for migraine sufferers anyway.
Migraine prevention is, of course, better than cure. A complaint as severe as migraine cannot be cured by massage - but it can provide welcome relief from the symptoms of anxiety, tension, depression, sleep problems and stress, as well as back pain, headache, muscle pain and some forms of chronic pain.
If, on reflection, you are feeling routinely stressed and think that this is triggering your migraine attacks perhaps it would be helpful for you to find out more about stress management techniques or stress coaching, in order to change the situation that's causing the stress in the long-term.
I hope you found my comments interesting and useful and that if you use any of my migraine relief tips they will help reduce your migraine suffering.
There is also much more to massage than just it's wonderful ability to release tension and stress. The health benefits of massage are plentiful and by getting regular massages your health can improve tremendously.
The need for touch is one of the basic needs for all life, just as important as eating and drinking. Some studies in Russia have revealed that babies who aren't touched enough are not nearly as healthy as other babies.
By using the power of touch in the form of a massage, wonders can be created, both for your body and your mind. A great benefit from receiving massage is that it increases the circulation and makes the blood flow with more ease throughout the body.
Increased blood flow helps your cells work more efficiently and can be beneficial to people that are suffering with high or low blood pressure.
Massage also aids the lymphatic system, which is a large part of your body's immune system. The lymphatic system moves mucous throughout your body and doesn't have a pump.
A massage can help your muscles relax and become loose, let go of tension and can also improve your posture. Massage therapy has the ability to give a lot of relief to conditions such as muscle pain, headaches, back pain, stomach pain and cramps.
For those experiencing insomnia, massage can be of great benefit. By relieving accumulated tension and stress, it is much easier to get the rest we need at night so that we are able to get the most out of our awake time.
Because of the stress and tension that is so common in home and work environments of today, a lot of people have gained an imbalance in their bodies.
By using the hands and fingers to manipulate the meridians and pressure points in the body it is possible to reawaken our natural state of health and wellbeing.
Since massage is such an ancient healing method, there has been thousands of years to develop and practice the different techniques that exists today.
We are in a very lucky age right now where we can experience many different types of massage styles and learn powerful techniques from all over the world.
From my point of view, the combination of the wisdom from old traditions and the intuitive touch and the flow in the moment makes massage an unlimited healing method.
Both Joy Healey & Jason Storm are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Joy Healey has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Care, Disease & illness and Types of Cancer. You can read more about Indian Head Massage at Pauline McKittrick's website: . Joy Healey's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Jason Storm has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Health and Vegetarian Diet. Jason Storm is teaching and is the owner of Vibrant Creations, an online education company.. Jason Storm's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.