Keeping in Touch: How Massage Therapy Can Help Your Migraines

I have been a massage therapist for 15 years, and I love to help dissolve pain. I believe that joy, freedom, strength, and mobility are normal states of being for humans -- anything that deviates is the body shouting for help. Pain, vomiting, dizziness -- not to mention irritability -- are just a few of the symptoms I've heard about from clients who suffer from migraines. There is no worse feeling in the world than not knowing how to help. Dreaded, unpredictable, and even demobilizing in some cases, I felt so relieved when a study was published with real findings on the effect that massage can have on relieving migraines.

Performed by the University of Miami School of Medicine, as published by the International Journal of Neuroscience, two groups of migraine suffers were studied. The first group (control group) took their prescribed medicine for the entire month, but did not receive massage therapy. The second group took their prescribed medicine as well, but also received a weekly massage. 60% of the massaged group had absolutely no migraines or headaches for the entire month. The massage therapy also helped to alleviate sleep problems and increased serotonin levels.

The University of Miami played around with several different protocols in treating the migraine sufferers. They found the most success with the following treatment regime: between migraine attacks, deep tissue work around the base of the skull, neck, shoulders, and upper back helped to relieve tension contributing to the recurrence of migraines. A side note with regard to deep tissue work: I would never let a massage therapist go deeper on you than you can tolerate comfortably and in a relaxed way. If you can feel your body tensing, your jaw grinding, your heart racing, these are a few red flags that you are likely producing cortisol and other hormones associated with stress, thereby creating diminishing returns for yourself in the form of even more tension -- and possibly an aversion to massage. If it were me on the massage table, I would say, "Too much!" or "easy there", "back off, bruiser", or even the old favorite, "Uncle!"

When a migraine sets in, the scientists at the University of Miami had the most success with the sufferers face up only. Deep massage anywhere near the head at this time worsened the migraine. Light touch brought on relief. However, stimulation of the hands and feet with circulation enhancing massage helped to draw blood (and pressure) from the head to the extremities, alleviating the pain significantly.

I have witnessed this protocol work well time and again, and it's such a gift for me, the massage therapist, but it's even more of a relief (obviously) for my client. Massage is an ancient skill practiced and treasured by nearly every culture in the world throughout history. It is also quite a natural means of self-healing and connecting with friends and partners. If you suffer from migraines, find a qualified masseuse -- or someone who cares about you enough to muscle through a thorough massage. I know migraine sufferers who have found great healing when a migraine comes on by having a manicure and pedicure with a hands and feet massage included. I hope this helps, and please -- stay in touch.

Follow Olivia Rosewood on Twitter: www.twitter.com/OliviaRosewood

Comments

[peachfuzz]

I cut wheat out of my diet & decreased migraines, sinus problems and bone pain down by 50%.

There is plenty to eat without wheat.

[BarbArt]

THANK YOU for writing this post.

I have suffered migraines for 13 years. I have some triggers but many times I get a migraine with no trigger at all. (I have been known to wrack my brain trying to figure it out! Now THAT is bad for the head!)

More than half of my migraines start with a tension buildup that then becomes a migraine. I have explained this to multiple doctors and the best neurologist "gets it." When treatment works, it is often an imitrex injection combined with a muscle relaxant, often before (trying to stave off the migraine) or following the shot (if the injection does not appear to be enough). That is how I deal with an acute episode.

About three years ago, I discovered a masseuse who also practices accupressure. She was an MD in China before coming to the States so has a better than usual grasp on anatomy. I feel very lucky to have found her. I have also been "diagnosed" with fibromylagia and my massage therapist does deep tissue work to get the knots out. I contend that massage has lowered my incidence of migraine.

I can also attest to the fact that a migraine WILL get worse if too much is done near the head or neck while you are having an attack, but that extremity work helps.

Excellent post! Now when will this therapeutic work be covered by insurance.­..massage is better for me than drugs!

[AvgPseudoIntellectual]

One more thing: MSG is present in most fast foods, including pizza from most of the larger retail chains.

[kas70]

I don't know what causes them and Imitrex, which used to make most of them go away, is no longer an option for me. I think I will find a good masseuse as the article suggested, it can't hurt that's for sure.

[CamJam]

My migraines are officially and only tied to "that time of the month" It is from the rise and fall of estrogen. If only I could find an absolute way to control that rise and fall.
I've tried MANY things over the many years (massages, herbs, acupuncture, homeopathy) but the ONLY thing I have found to relieve my migraines is Imitrex. One 50 mg pill nips it in the bud and for pretty much the entire day. (I may get a migraine for 2 to 5 days a month) I hate depending on a drug especially since there is no generic form of this pill, but I also can't afford to be with out it with my current family situation.

[Chuckwheat]

You're a massage therapist, yet you recommend people seek out a masseuse (feminine)
not a masseur (masculine).
Why not recommend one of your own designation, another massage therapist?

[Reine]

I have constant migraines & I thought they would go away after menapause but, unfortunately, most of my migraines are from food, just about everything nowadays. I get sensitive to any food I eat. The safest are vegetables, corn is the exception, & beef, chicken, turkey, veal & lamb. I'm down to 3 or 4 fruits & same with bread. The weird thing is I can have maple syrup, honey & molasse. Preservatives & sugar are bad news. I don't have a problem with salt though. I wish I knew someone else with the same problem because it confuses me & the doctors certainly can't help me besides taking pills for the migraines.

[hoodie]

My hunch is it isn't the salt, but rather the MSG that makes the food taste saltier and makes it more addicting. MSG is a neurotoxin and even in small quantities gives me killer migraines. Avoid it at all costs.

[Johnnn]

As a matter of fact, I have stopped eating Chinese food completely.

[strangebee]

along with aspartame.­.. if I'm not mistaken.

[AvgPseudoIntellectual]

I completely agree. I've had chronic headaches/migraines for many years, while otherwise being very physically and emotionally healthy. After lots of research and trying many treatments, avoiding MSG has become a necessity. Watch out for hidden MSG, too, usually in the form of maltodextrin. This is present in a majority of salad dressings and brands of ice cream, as well as many salty snack-foods. Caffeine and alcohol are also major triggers, of course -- to be avoided at all costs. Caffeine can help you get rid of a migraine, yes, but it very often causes a bad rebound effect.

[Johnnn]

I usually get my migraines at work. I now believe it's the salty snacks my idiot co-workers bring to
the office that cause them. I consider salt to be POISON. I will not eat salt or salty foods.