The most used headache pressure point is LI-4, in the webbing between thumb and index finger. Press firmly with the opposite thumb, in small circles, for one to two minutes per hand. The other three worth knowing are the hollows at the base of the skull, the inner ends of the eyebrows, and the notch beside each nostril. Avoid LI-4 entirely during pregnancy.
Acupressure costs nothing, needs no equipment, works anywhere, and carries no daily limit. It also gets described vaguely almost everywhere. Here are the four points with enough precision to actually find them.
The four points
LI-4 (Hegu), the hand point
Where: the web of muscle between your thumb and index finger. Make a loose V with those two fingers and feel for the fleshy mound at its base. Press in and you will find a tender spot.
How: firm circular pressure with the opposite thumb, one to two minutes, then swap hands.
Memorial Sloan Kettering publishes instructions for this point, and their guidance carries the warning that matters most here: do not use LI-4 during pregnancy, because pressing it is associated with stimulating contractions.
GB-20, the base of the skull
Where: two hollows where the neck muscles attach to the base of the skull, roughly two inches apart either side of the spine.
How: thumbs into the hollows, tilt your head back slightly into the pressure, hold ten seconds, release, repeat five times.
This is the one for headaches that start in the neck, and for anyone who works at a screen.
Yintang, between the eyebrows
Where: the small dip directly between your eyebrows, level with the bridge of the nose.
How: one finger, steady pressure, one minute. Breathe slowly while you do it.
Useful for the band-across-the-forehead feel of a tension headache.
LI-20 and the sinus points, beside the nostrils
Where: the small notch where each nostril meets the cheek, and the inner corner of each eyebrow.
How: index fingers, firm pressure, one minute, moving outward along the brow.
This is the set for sinus headaches, where the pressure sits behind the face rather than across the skull.
A summary you can use during an attack
| Point | Where | How long | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI-4 | Web between thumb and index finger | 1 to 2 min per hand | General headache and migraine. Not in pregnancy |
| GB-20 | Hollows at base of skull | 10 sec x 5 | Neck-origin headache, screen work |
| Yintang | Between the eyebrows | 1 min | Tension headache, forehead pressure |
| LI-20 | Beside each nostril | 1 min | Sinus pressure |
How hard, and for how long
Firm enough to feel it, not hard enough to hurt. The sensation people describe is a deep ache at the point, which is the right feeling. Sharp pain means back off.
One to two minutes per point. You can work through all four in under ten minutes, and you can repeat as often as you want through the day. There is no limit and nothing to interact with.
It should start to register within the session. If ten minutes of correct pressure does nothing at all, acupressure is probably not your input, and that is useful information rather than a failure.
Why pressure works for some people and cold works for others
Almost every drug-free headache approach delivers one of two things: temperature or mechanical pressure. Ice packs, cooling patches and migraine caps are cold. Acupressure, compression bands and adhesive patches are pressure.
Most people respond clearly to one and not much to the other, and most have never tested which. If acupressure helps you, you are a pressure responder, and the rest of that category is worth exploring: a compression band, or a drug-free adhesive patch such as Migraine AID, which works by negative pressure, a patented adhesive design that gently lifts the skin to reduce pressure at the surface. It is single-use, contains no medication, cooling gel or numbing agent, and it keeps working while your hands are busy, which acupressure by definition cannot.
From the makers of this guide
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Safety and when to skip it
- Pregnancy. Avoid LI-4 entirely. Several traditional points are avoided in pregnancy for the same reason.
- Broken skin, redness, swelling, or near an IV or PICC line. Skip the area.
- Recent injury or surgery to the head or neck. Ask a clinician first.
- Acupressure is a comfort measure, not a treatment for the underlying cause of frequent headaches.
Why a no-limit option matters
Acupressure's real advantage is not that it is stronger than a tablet. It is that you can use it every single day without consequence.
That matters because frequent pain relief starts causing headaches. Medication overuse headache begins at 15 or more days a month for simple painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen alone, and at 10 or more days a month for combination products such as Excedrin, sustained over three months. Alternating between painkillers does not reset the count.
Most headache specialists suggest staying under about two days a week. Acupressure, cold, pressure, fluid and rest are what fill the other five.
Frequently asked questions
What pressure point relieves a headache fastest?
LI-4, in the web between thumb and index finger, is the most widely used and the easiest to find. One to two minutes of firm circular pressure per hand. It should start to register within the session. Avoid it entirely during pregnancy.
Where do you massage to make a headache go away?
Four places, matched to the headache. The hand point LI-4 for general headache, the hollows at the base of the skull for neck-origin pain, the dip between the eyebrows for forehead tension, and beside the nostrils for sinus pressure.
Is there a pressure point to stop a migraine?
There is no point that stops a migraine outright. LI-4 and the base-of-skull points are the ones most commonly used during an attack, and many people find they take the edge off. For migraine specifically, cold and a dark quiet room usually do more.
How long do you hold a headache pressure point?
One to two minutes of firm circular pressure for most points, or ten-second holds repeated five times for the base of the skull. Firm enough to feel a deep ache, never sharp pain.
Does acupressure actually work for headaches?
Many people find it useful, and it costs nothing to test properly. It is a comfort measure rather than a treatment, and if ten minutes of correct technique does nothing for you, pressure is probably not your input and cold is worth trying instead.
Can I use headache pressure points while pregnant?
Not LI-4. Pressing that point is associated with stimulating contractions, which is why Memorial Sloan Kettering's guidance flags it explicitly. Ask your OB or midwife before using acupressure during pregnancy at all.
Related reading
- Tension Headache Remedies
- Cooling vs Pressure: Which Headache Patch Does What
- Migraine Relief: What Actually Works
This article is general information, not medical advice. It is researched and written by the Made to Aid team from published sources including Memorial Sloan Kettering, Cleveland Clinic and the American Migraine Foundation, listed below. It has not been written or reviewed by a licensed medical professional.
It cannot account for your medical history, your other medications, or your individual circumstances. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before changing anything about how you manage pain, particularly if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take other medication, or have kidney, liver, heart or stomach conditions.
Seek urgent medical care for a sudden severe headache, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, a headache after a head injury, or a headache with vision changes, confusion or weakness.
Sources: Memorial Sloan Kettering on acupressure for pain and headaches · Cleveland Clinic on sinus headaches · Cleveland Clinic on natural remedies for headache relief · American Migraine Foundation on medication overuse headache
