Acupressure For Natural Pain Relief

The next time you have a headache and want quick relief without pills, try some acupressure on your own hand. It's super simple to do and can provide significant relief in a matter of minutes.

The best point to stimulate for relief from headaches and general aches and pains throughout the body is LI-4. LI stands for large intestine, in case you're wondering. LI-4 is located in the soft, fleshy web that sits between your thumb and forefinger. You can use the thumb and forefinger of one hand to stimulate this point in your other hand.

Massage this point with as much pressure as you can comfortably tolerate for however long it takes to feel better or get tired. It doesn't matter which hand you stimulate. You can work on just one hand, or do both hands, one at a time. If you're on the right spot, you should feel a slight, achy sensation, almost as though you're touching a nerve. Actually, massaging this point stimulates branches of the three major nerves - radial, median, and ulnar - that travel from your spinal cord to your hand. Stimulating these nerves will help your body produce endorphins and enkephalins, which act as natural pain killers.

If you have pain in your lower body, you may want to try acupressure for a point called LR-3. LR stands for liver. LR-3 is located in the soft flesh that sits between your big and 2nd toes, the equivalent of LI-4 on your foot. Just like with LI-4, if you are stimulating LR-3 properly, you should feel a slight achy sensation.