Migraine relief with JSJ: 3 simple tips to feel better

Have you ever had a migraine that has stopped you in your tracks? Are you looking for relief from your migraine?

I remember a day when I was struck so hard that all I could do was sit in a quiet room, with the lights off, curled up under a soft blanket. Even moving slightly to have a drink of water was too much. It wasn’t the first time – and I wouldn’t wish that torture on anyone.

How do migraines affect our lives?

Each person has their own experience with migraines. The specific symptoms are listed below, but first, there are some underlying common experiences. Most people who experience migraines share these factors:

• migraines are recognised as a neurological disorder
• we have the primary symptoms with the physical impacts
• we also have secondary symptoms with our reactions

Our reactions to migraines go beyond those physical symptoms – we have changes in our lives and it affects our thoughts, actions, and connections in our lives. Many people feel they’re missing out on life. When hidden away in a darkened room – we’re not meeting a friend for a chat – or going to the park with our family – or even able to go to work.

It’s so tough – I get it.

Today I’m going to share with you 3 simple holds that may help with your migraine relief – they’ve helped me feel better. But first, a bit about migraines – who and how many? And information from the migraine experts about symptoms and coping techniques.  I’m including some online resources at the end of the talk that you may find helpful.

Who’s affected by migraines?

The figures on who and how many people are affected vary. The essential detail is that many people have this condition. In fact, 1 in 7 people gets recurring migraines. And it’s more women than men, most common between the ages of 41 and 60 and they’re more common than tension headaches. Before I started researching migraines, I thought I was the only one – so not true.

What are the symptoms of migraines?

The symptoms of migraine vary from person to person and often include pain, sensitivity and stiffness. Some of the commonly experienced things are pain – especially in the head, and sensitivity to light, sounds, and touch. People often experience stiffness, especially in their necks. And many people experience nausea. As Migraine Ireland states

More than Just a Headache

Migraine Ireland

What can I do to help myself get relief from migraines?

You may already have heard things that can help with your migraine. It’s estimated that people aren’t diagnosed for about 7 years from their first onset. These are common sense things that seem easy on paper – and can be more challenging when it comes down to it. If you are working with them, just do the best you can. You can keep track of your symptoms and episodes – this will help you identify possible triggers. When you can, get some light exercise and get a good night’s sleep. It can also help to reduce your stress levels.

• Keep track
• Identify triggers
• Exercise
• Sleep
• Reduce stress

3 simple holds for migraine relief

Reducing stress levels is an area where simple holds can help. I’ll share with you a bit of the background in a moment, but let’s start with a simple hold first.

Option 1: Ease tension to help with migraines

For the first option, try holding your forehead with one hand and the middle of your neck with the other hand. You don’t need to press, massage or manipulate – just gently rest your hands, breathe and relax. If you’re doing this on your own, I’d recommend that you stay here for 3-5 minutes or whatever seems best to you – it might even be a bit easier if you’re lying down so that your arms don’t get tired.

If this isn’t comfortable, you could choose to hold your middle finger – again gently, easily and breathe and relax. While you’re holding your pose, I’ll share with you a small bit about why this may help you find relief from your migraine and other things.

How do these holds help the body?

Holding these places on your body works with the energetic meridians in your body – very much like acupuncture. There are many energetic pathways in your body and each has a specific function to help support you. In addition, there are specific places – 52 of them (26 on the left and 26 on the right) used in the acupressure Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu. It’s wonderful that simply by holding your finger or the right places on your body, your energy can flow more freely and your body can function better, and you can feel better.

You might want to check if you feel any different after a few moments of holding your finger or forehead. Often people feel more relaxed with less tension and pain. Sometimes can sense the energetic pulsation going through their body – and sometimes it’s less noticeable for them.

Option 2: release excess energy to help with migraines

The 2^nd option I’m sharing with you today is holding the front of your hips. Just gently rest your hands at the top of your thigh where it meets your hip. This helps the energy to move away from your head and to descend the front of your body. Again, you can hold this for as long as you like, and you can opt to hold your little finger if that’s more comfortable.

Option 3: break down blocks to help with migraine relief

The 3^rd option you have is a bit different. You can reach down and hold the outside of your ankles. This specific place on your body is known as safety energy lock 16 and it helps transform things, bridge us into activity, and to break down any accumulations. If this isn’t comfortable for you, you can simply hold your thumb. There are relationships between each part of our hands with different parts of our bodies and different energetic pathways. Again, on your own time, you may want to hold it for longer.

All of these options can help your energy to flow more freely, your body to function better, and you can feel better. I won’t go into the specific relationships today or the many other holds and options that Jin Shin Jyutsu offers. If you’d like to know more, get in touch.

Feeling better and getting migraine relief

The main focus I have when working with clients is to help them feel better – and to be able to get back to doing the things they love in their lives. Whether it’s going for a good chat or doing other things – it’s your life and you deserve to enjoy it.

How can I get more help?

I hope you’ve enjoyed your sprinkling of Jin Shin Jyutsu – if this resonates with you – I’d like you to know that there is hope – there is help. If you’d like to explore this a bit more I offer in-person sessions as well as online sessions. It gives more options and flexibility depending on your personal circumstances.

Free information links

Here’s an added help – a list with links to useful resources –

• Migraine Ireland – Ireland’s only patient charity providing support, education, information and reassurance to people suffering from migraine and other headache disorders. We provide free educational courses on self-management and understanding migraine for people with migraine, and certified health professional courses for GPs and other HCPs. 
• European Migraine & Headache Alliance is a non-profit umbrella organization, that includes over 33 patient associations for Migraine, Cluster Headache, Trigeminal Neuralgia and other headache diseases, across Europe.  
• The Migraine Trust in the UK is dedicated to helping people affected by migraine. We are the only UK migraine charity providing information and support, campaigning for awareness and change, and funding and promoting research. 
• Migraine.com is an online platform that empowers patients and caregivers to take control of migraine disease with opportunities to learn, educate, and connect with peers and healthcare professionals.  
• American Migraine Foundation is a non-profit foundation committed to making advancements in migraine disorders through research and ongoing studies.

I’ve only included those that are offering information and support rather than specific doctors or healthcare providers. This post just skims the surface – there’s lots more on these sites. If you have sources that you’ve found helpful, I’d love to hear about them.

To finish up, there are a few important points. The takeaways from today are that you can help yourself anytime, anywhere – simply by holding your fingers and safety energy locks.

Recorded online talk about migraine relief

And lastly, if you’d like to explore this more, you can reach me by phone or message or online through the contact page and on the Energy Flows Facebook and Instagram pages.

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