It’s 5:15pm on a Tuesday. You’re sitting in traffic on the Mitchell Freeway, three cars back from a merge that hasn’t moved in ten minutes. And now there’s a little man with a jackhammer setting up shop right behind your eyes.
Sound familiar?
After a full day work, nobody wants to waste time sitting in the car and unknowingly develop headaches.
The good news? You don’t need a dark room, a fistful of painkillers, or a week in Bali to feel some relief.
Acupressure, which is gentle pressure on specific points on the body, is something you can try right now, in the car (parked, please), at your desk, or on the couch the moment you get home. It’s simple, it’s free, and it doesn’t require you to explain to anyone why you’re pressing your own hand. If the pain makes it hard to apply pressure yourself, ask someone nearby to help. It’s a good idea to keep this guide handy so it’s ready when you need it.
Here are five points team at WA Holistic Healing use with clients:
Point – LI4
Between Thumb and Index Finger
Find the fleshy web between your thumb and index finger. Press firmly with the thumb of your other hand and hold for 30 seconds to a minute, then switch sides.
This one’s a favourite because you can do it anywhere. Try it in a meeting, at the lights, or while pretending to listen to someone talk about their sourdough starter. Many people find it helps take the edge off head and neck tension.
Note: skip this point if you’re pregnant — it’s traditionally avoided during pregnancy.
Point – GB20
The base of skull.
Feel for the two hollows at the base of your skull, roughly where your neck meets your head, a couple of centimetres either side of the spine. Use your thumbs or fingers and press upward and inward, holding for a slow count of ten, a few times.
This is the spot for anyone who’s spent the day hunched over a laptop nodding along to Zoom calls like a bobblehead on a dashboard. It’s one of the most relaxing points on the body for neck and head tension.
Point – Yintang
The “Third Eye” point
Right between your eyebrows, where a very stressed-out emoji would have its furrow. Use one finger and press gently in small circles for about a minute.
This point is often used for calming the mind, not just the head. Close your eyes while you do it and take a few slow breaths and pretend you’re on a beach in Rottnest instead of stuck behind a B-double on the Kwinana Freeway.
Point – Taiyang
The temples
Just to the outside of each eyebrow, in the soft dip at your temple. Use your fingertips and make gentle circular motions for 30 seconds to a minute.
If your headache feels like it’s living directly behind your eyeballs after a day of screen glare, this is the one to reach for. Use slow, steady pressure. There’s no need to channel your inner deep tissue masseuse.
Point – Fengchi
Just below point GB20
Slightly lower and further out than the skull-base point, roughly where your neck muscles attach behind the ears. Press upward with both thumbs and hold, breathing slowly.
This one pairs nicely with point GB20. Think of them as a tag team for anyone whose neck feels like it’s been holding up the weight of the entire school pick-up roster.
A quick, honest note
Acupressure is a lovely tool for everyday tension and relaxation, and many people find it genuinely soothing after a big day. It isn’t a substitute for medical care, and if you’re getting frequent, severe, or unusual headaches, please see your GP to rule anything else out. Think of these points as part of your wellbeing toolkit, not a replacement for one.
Try It Before You Even Get Home
Next time you’re stuck on the freeway (again), or waiting for the kettle to boil, try one of these points. It takes less time than scrolling through your phone deciding what to watch tonight and it might just take the edge off before you walk through the door.
Want to feel the difference properly? I offer in-person and online acupressure sessions right here in Perth, where I’ll show you exactly how to use these points (and a few more) for lasting relief.