wellness
Does Reflexology Therapy help with Migraine?
How a gentle non-invasive therapy can make a BIG difference
In a study looking at the results of reflexology therapy for headache and migraine relief, 81% of clients reported they were helped or cured by the treatments, and 19% of clients who previously took medication for their condition were able to stop their medication.[1]
This is pretty good, so let’s look a little deeper and how and why this helps – and how you can find the same relief for yourself!
What is reflexology?
Reflexology therapy is a gentle and non-invasive therapy that consists of pressure applied to the feet, hands, or head, with the result being increased circulation, decreased stress, and reduced tension in specific parts of the body. In addition to being deeply relaxing, reflexology therapy can have fast and noticeable results when it comes to headache relief.
Now when it comes to migraine, it gets a little more complicated, but it’s still excellent support, especially when combined with additional therapy. CLICK HERE for more on the “Master your Migraines” program that combines reflexology therapy with an overall holistic approach.
But does reflexology actually help?
According to a 2018 study, which assessed the effects of reflexology among 75 coronary care unit patients, “a significant between-group difference in mean pain scale suggested a reduction in the intensity of headache when reflexology massage was applied.” [2]
It doesn’t just help with headaches. Although an alternative therapy, an analysis by Kunz and Kunz (2008), which made 168 studies, concluded that reflexology might also potentially benefit individuals in the following ways:
- It increases blood flow to both kidneys and intestines, wherein patients receiving dialysis particularly benefit.
- It can decrease blood pressure and relieve anxiety.
- Able to reduce pain in cases of diabetes, chest pain, AIDS, kidney stones, and osteoarthritis. [2]
A Note About Migraine
Although a migraine usually involves a painful headache as one of the symptoms, it is different than a tension headache. Migraine is the brain responding to a perceived threat or triggering stimuli, which then sets off a series of reactions causing the headache and other symptoms that can include nausea, light/sound sensitivity, fatigue, and more.
Because Migraine is usually associated with multiple triggers, getting to the root cause requires a more thorough approach. Reflexology is a fantastic natural therapy to help reduce migraine fast – even better when combined with breathwork and other self-care techniques. Like how sleep can help reduce or end a migraine, reflexology helps calm the nervous system and reduce pain.
Reflexology can
a Migraine.
To address the root cause of migraine, it is so helpful to use reflexology as a primary support. However if the goal is long term healing, we also need to bring awareness to what the body is reacting to when a migraine is triggered. And from there developing the practices to increase your body’s tolerance to these triggers so that you don’t need to live in pain, and ideally over time without an overly restricted lifestyle as well.
If you want to access your own reflexology-based support, find a FREE 15-minute guided routine HERE.
Have you tried having reflexology to combat your migraine attacks? Let me know! Feel free to reach out for any related concerns, and I’ll be happy to help!
With Kindness and Love,
Christine McInnis RCRT MARR
Willow Therapies is Christine McInnis, RCRT MARR. Advanced Reflexology Therapist, Mind-Body Hormone and Migraine Support, and Zone Face Lift Practitioner. The Willow Therapies Studio is located in South Headingley, 5 minutes from the West Winnipeg perimeter. Information on virtual services can be found at www.online.willowtherapies.ca