How Regular Massage Can Help with Migraines and Headaches
If you’ve ever experienced a migraine or persistent headaches, then you’ll know just how debilitating they can be. You've got the dull, nagging ache or the full-blown, lie-in-a-dark-room kind of migraine, and the pain in the head can stop you in your tracks, disrupt your plans, and affect your day-to-day quality of life. At AB Wellness & Reflexology, we regularly help clients who are looking for a natural, soothing way to manage their migraines or headaches. And there's one particular therapy that can make a significant difference with those pesky headaches... Massage.
Let’s take a look at how regular massage therapy can help ease tension, reduce the frequency of migraines and headaches, and support your body (and mind) to feel better.
Why Do We Get Headaches & Migraines?
Headaches and migraines can be caused by so many things, including:
- Stress and anxiety
- Muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back
- Poor posture
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Dehydration
- Poor sleep
- Eye strain (hello, screen time!)
- Digestive issues
- Food sensitivities
For many, it’s a combination of triggers. And while medication can sometimes offer a bit of short-term relief, adding in a regular massage can be a really powerful, drug-free way to help support your body and reduce the severity and frequency of headaches over time.
How Massage Can Help Migraines & Headaches
Massage therapy is a therapeutic tool that works deeply with your muscles, nervous system, and circulation to relieve built-up tension and improve overall wellbeing. Here’s how it helps with your migraines and headaches:
1. Releases muscle tension
Tension headaches are often caused by tightness in the shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. Massage helps to loosen those tense muscles and release physical stress that could be contributing to pain. Our clients often say they didn’t realise how much tension they were holding until it melts away during a treatment.
2. Improves circulation
Massage promotes better blood flow throughout the body, including to the brain. Improved circulation supports the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps clear away waste products, which can ease some of your headache symptoms.
3. Reduces stress and cortisol levels
Let’s face it, modern life can be stressful. And chronic stress is a big contributor to both migraines and tension headaches. Massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system (your rest-and-digest mode), helping to reduce stress hormone levels and promote deep relaxation. This can lower your overall headache threshold, making you less likely to experience them in the first place.
4. Improves your sleep
Many migraine sufferers also report poor sleep. Regular massage supports restful sleep by calming the nervous system and helping the body shift into a state of deep relaxation, which is when the true healing happens.
5. Helps with hormonal balance
Migraines are often linked to hormonal changes, particularly around the menstrual cycle or perimenopause. While massage isn’t a cure-all, it can support hormonal balance by regulating the stress response and supporting lymphatic flow.
Swedish Massage: Perfect for Headache Relief
Our Swedish massage therapy, led by our calming and experienced therapist Heather, is ideal if you’re looking for a gentle yet effective way to relax the body and calm the nervous system. Each treatment is tailored to your needs, focusing on areas where you hold tension. Heather will work with you to figure the best areas and level of pressure to create the relief you're looking for from your headaches.
How Often Should You Book?
For chronic headache or migraine sufferers, we recommend starting with regular sessions, perhaps every 2–3 weeks, to give your body a chance to adjust and start the healing process. Once symptoms are under control, monthly maintenance sessions can help keep things in balance.
Other Things You Can Do Between Treatments
Massage is just one way to alleviate your headaches and migraines. Here are a few other gentle habits to try between treatments:
- Stay hydrated throughout the day (we love Deeside Water here at ABWR)
- Avoid skipping meals to keep your blood sugar balanced
- Get plenty of sleep
- Take regular breaks from screens
- Practice breathing techniques or meditation to keep stress in check
And of course, listen to your body, rest when you need to, and don’t push through the pain. Sometimes, taking yourself off to a dark room and getting some shut-eye will be the best thing to see the headache off.
If migraines or headaches are affecting your daily life, massage could be the gentle support you’ve been looking for. We’d love to welcome you into our calming treatment space in Chapelton, Aberdeenshire, and help you feel more like you again. You can book your massage session with Heather online here or get in touch with us directly if you have any questions.