P. Sze 
In November last year, I experienced a different kind of headache. Mounted on one side of my head, I was sure it was a migraine. However, I was also experiencing heartburn, abdominal pain, and nausea at the same time. It was after consulting my doctor that I learned about gastric headaches and the acupressure points for headaches due to acidity.
Yes, I was having a gastric headache and according to my doctor, the treatment is quite complex. Over-the-counter medications like aspirin and ibuprofen that would normally relieve my headache also had the potential of increasing my feeling of vomiting.
My doctor administered some medications to me and advised that I massage the acupressure points for a gastric headache that I’ll be sharing in this article.
Meanwhile, I wanted to know how certain headaches can be related to gastrointestinal problems, so I surfed the web. I discovered a study that confirmed that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and some other gastrointestinal disorders are associated with headaches or migraines. I also found another research that confirmed that acupuncture sessions can help reduce the frequency of migraines.
Satisfied, I went ahead to stimulate the acupressure points for both acid reflux and headaches that my doctor showed me. They worked magic on my gastric headache, which is why I’m sharing them with you.
Can Acupressure Help Acid Reflux?
Acupressure and acupuncture therapies are both helpful in treating acid reflux. A 2010 research carried out on 60 patients with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) reveals that acupuncture effectively suppresses the intraesophageal acid and bile reflux in people with GER. This helps relieve them of their symptoms.
This research split the patients into two groups – one group receiving acupuncture on certain acupressure points once a day for one week and the other group receiving an oral administration of 20mg of omeprazole twice a day and 20 mg of mosapride three times daily.
The whole experiment lasted for six weeks and it proved that both kinds of treatment showed the same level of effectiveness in treating GER.
The benefits of acupressure for acid reflux are gained when you stimulate the acupoints I’ll be sharing shortly. Massaging the acupoints for acid reflux sends energy to the part of your body responsible for digestion, thus helping you relax.
Acupressure Points For Acid Reflux
To effectively apply self-administered acupressure to gastric headaches, you must stimulate both the acupoints for acid reflux and those for headaches. Here are acupressure points for acid reflux when dealing with gastric headaches:
Acupoint: GB-34 (Other Names: Gallbladder-34/Yang Ling Quan/Yang Mound Spring)
Acupressure point GB-34 or Yanglingquan in Chinese is an effective acupoint to massage when you have headaches that are a result of acidity. This acupoint is located on the leg, below the knee. To find it, trace a finger to the side of your leg, just below your knee, then feel the depression at the head of the big bone of your lower leg (fibula). That depression is GB-34.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), GB-34 is regarded as the Gall Bladder meridian’s He-sea point. This is the point where the sinews meet. Therefore, stimulating GB-34 will treat any problem related to the sinews as well as troublesome Qi.
So, in addition to treating acid reflux, GB-34 is clinically used to treat vomiting, knee pain, weakness, and jaundice. GB-34 is also one of the nine acupuncture points for hip pain.
Acupoint: ST-25 (Other Names: Stomach-25/Tian Shu/Celestial Pivot)
Also referred to as Tianshu in Chinese or Celestial Pivot in English, ST-25 is another effective pressure point in treating acid reflux from gastric headaches. This stomach meridian acupoint is located beside the belly button. To locate it, place the tip of three fingers pressed together beside your navel. The point on the same line as the navel where the third finger rests is ST-25.
In TCM, ST-35 is classified as the Large Intestine Meridian’s Front-Mu point, which makes it effective in regulating the spleen, stomach, and intestines. Therefore, you can treat abdominal distention, constipation, dysentery, and irregular menstruation by stimulating ST-25. If you wish to lose weight, ST-25 is one of the 10 best acupressure points for weight loss.
Acupressure Points For Headache
For the headache aspect of gastric headache, here are the pressure points to massage:
Acupoint: EM-5 (Other Names: Tai Yang)
EM-5, Taiyang, or Greater Yang is one of the acupressure points for headaches due to acidity. It is located around the temples. To find it, trace a finger to the side of your face and find the depression between the end of your eyebrow and the start of your ear. That slight depression is EM-5.
When you stimulate this pressure point, you’ll successfully dispel wind, remove heat, and relieve yourself of pain. It is for this reason that EM-5 is used clinically to treat facial pain, headaches, and toothache. This acupoint is also among the acupressure points for a facelift.
Acupoint: GB-20 (Other Names: Gallbladder-20/Feng Chi/Wind Pool)
GB-20 is another of the effective acupressure points for gastric headaches. It is a gall bladder meridian acupoint that is located on the nape of the neck. To locate this acupoint, clasp your hands at the back of your head and feel with your thumbs for the depression at the base of your head where the neck muscles join the skull.
Stimulating GB-20 helps disperse interior and exterior wind, clears up your head, relieves pain, and activates the gall bladder meridian. This is the reason why this acupoint is used clinically to relieve headaches, migraines, fatigue, and symptoms of a cold.
This 2010 study backs up the use of GB-20, in addition to other acupressure points, to manage migraine. Generally, here are the top 10 acupressure points to relieve body pains & aches.
Related Readings
Acupressure Points for Headaches – After understanding the relationship between acidity and headaches, it’s essential to explore further how acupressure can alleviate headache symptoms. Dive into our guide on acupressure points specifically tailored for headaches. This continuation will provide you with more targeted techniques, enhancing your self-care routine and offering relief from those persistent aches. This addition is perfect for those looking to expand their knowledge on holistic pain management techniques.
