Seven Quick Ways to Help a Headache

Headaches are one of the most commonly reported ailments. Stress and tension can trigger a headache, as can food, allergies, sinus inflammation, low blood sugar, hormonal imbalances, caffeine, aspartame, high blood pressure, and constipation.  If you are suffering from recurring headaches, try to find the trigger and avoid it if possible.  Often, the first solution people turn to when suffering from a headache is to take a painkiller. However, according to Chinese medicine, a headache results from a deeper imbalance. This imbalance needs to be addressed to support overall wellbeing as well as providing relief from the headache itself.  The headache may be caused by an invasion of external pathogens such as dampness, heat, or wind. It may also be due to internal disruptions like excess, stagnation or deficiencies.  It may also be caused by blockages in one of the 7 meridians that meet in the head. Conventional headache treatment often involves the use of drugs such as addictive painkillers, vasoconstrictors, sedatives, or antidepressants. While often effective in reducing the pain, these solutions also come with side effects and they do not actually target the root cause of your headache. The following techniques are natural and drug-free and they work. If you continue to experience regular headaches or migraines, please seek advice from a natural healthcare practitioner.
  1. Acupressure

Use your knuckles or fingertips to administer firm pressure at your acupoints on the tenderest side of your head and continue for 30 seconds.  Use slow, circular motions to stimulate along with rhythmic squeezing or tapping. Manipulating these acupuncture points allows you to release endorphins (the “happy hormone”) in your brain along with other natural substances that will reduce pain.  The other point that is effective in reducing all types of headache pain, is located between the thumb and first finger in the muscular part of the hand. (Do not use this point while pregnant).
Headache pressure point.
Press the point between thumb and forefinger, in the tender spot, to relieve headache pain.
 
  1. Aromatherapy

With a few drops of lavender or peppermint oil on your palm, you can rub your hands on your temples, the back of your neck, and/or between your eyebrows to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy. Inhale the remaining oil by cupping your hands over your nostrils and mouth, slowly breathing deeply.
  1. Hydrotherapy

Water is known to be a grounding and very soothing element, and it also has healing properties. Using this technique allows you to manipulate your body’s circulation and stimulate the immune system while promoting detoxification. Hydrotherapy, using the technique described below, moves blood from the head to the feet, helping to relieve pain and congestion.  Place an ice pack around your neck, and your feet in warm water, for 10 minutes twice a day.
  1. Breath and Imagery

We tend to hold our breath when we are in pain to help brace ourselves for the unpleasant feelings we’re experiencing. Headaches are often made worse when our brain has an inadequate supply of oxygen, so breathing exercises can help. By taking long, slow, deep breaths and imagining yourself in a place that makes you feel calm and relaxed, you can help ease tension and take your mind off any stress factors. One use of imagery is to close your eyes and imagine your pain being washed away by a cool river flowing through your body.
  1. Enjoy a cup of hot herbal tea

A cup of hot herbal tea won’t just taste great, it can also help ease your headache. Look for a tea with: Peppermint, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Dandelion, Passion Flower, Feverfew, Lavender, Skullcap, Ginkgo Biloba, Valerian Root, St Johns Wort, Yerba Mate, Winter Green, or Lemon Balm.
  1. Eat foods which are high in magnesium.

When you have a headache, it’s worth considering the foods you are eating. This method will not have an effect that is as immediate as some other methods, but it will help prevent future headaches. Magnesium is an essential mineral that relaxes your muscles and helps to reduce anxiety. It can be found in seaweed, beans, nuts, whole grains, and other foods. These foods will also help stabilize your blood glucose levels, which is a common trigger of headaches.
  1. Ayurvedic Remedy

In equal quantities (about 1 teaspoon each) take clove, almond, and cinnamon and grind them together with a bit of water until a paste forms. Apply that paste on the forehead. A sandalwood powder paste can also be applied to the area to help relieve your headache.

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.