Neck Rotation
Headaches can occur when your neck muscles tighten. Press the Tiger’s Mouth point and you may see your neck turning improve. Part of the reason the Tiger’s Mouth point can decrease headache may be that it also loosens up neck muscles. However, we cannot say for sure if this is the reason.
I counsel my clients to make sure that their neck stays loose. Watch out if your neck starts to stiffen. A stiff neck may warn you that a headache is on its way. If a headache has started, I find that gently turning the neck can calm the headache to some extent. But you need to act when your headache is at a low level.
Do not let your headache escalate too far before using the Tiger’s Mouth acupressure point. Shut your headache down as it first gets started before it reaches critical mass. Avoid the full-blown headache!
Take a Baseline Measurement of the Neck Motions
Take a baseline measurement of neck turning before and after application of the Tiger’s Mouth point. You may feel the neck stiffness loosen when you press the acupressure point. When the neck motion increases, the headache will often decrease.
Make sure you are on the actual Tiger’s Mouth point. Oftentimes people may think they are on the point, but they’ve missed it. Do not just rub the skin and expect you will see a result. Locate the exact point for best effect.
I do tell people to press the point for 30 to 60 seconds. However, usually people struggle to find precise acupressure points when they first get started with this type of treatment. Once you target exactly where a point is, you can see results much faster. Achieve results in just 10 seconds when you do not need to spend extra time looking for the point.
Never Do Forcible Neck Motion
No neck pain should occur while testing the available neck motion. All measurements of neck mobility need to be taken gently.
There is no place for any aggressive turning. Acupressure allows motion to be restored naturally with no outside assistance needed. Jaw motion may increase as well, for that matter.
Jaw Symptoms
In addition to the neck muscle connection to headache pain, many headaches flare up due to jaw problems. The Tiger’s Mouth point is used to relieve strain on the temporomandibular joint. Jaw pain and facial pain may ease up when this point is pressed. Also, try using the point for toothache reduction.
I record mouth opening (in millimeters) and then watch treatment effect to see what changes. Jaw locking, or trismus, can improve in some cases with pressure to the Tiger’s Mouth point. Other points also simultaneously help both headaches and jaw dysfunction.
When a therapy treatment works, be it acupressure or some other intervention, I like to see measurable change right away. People follow through when they see or feel immediate results.
Other Uses
Tiger’s Mouth treats many other conditions. As a physical therapist, I like to see immediate concrete benefits. However, other conditions acupuncturists use the point for are not easily measured. Acupuncturists treat depression, stress, abdominal pain, and other bowel symptoms with the Tiger’s Mouth point.
In addition, acupuncture texts mention irritability as another symptom that can be treated with the Tiger’s Mouth point. How do you measure irritability clinically? However, hopefully the point works because life would be better with fewer irritable people.
Tiger’s Mouth acupressure point helps headache, temporomandibular dysfunction and neck conditions. However, use this acupressure point to help even more orthopedic conditions. Read more about that in a future blog. People often recognize the Tiger’s Mouth point as a headache reducer. However, even after 4,000 years, people cannot define precisely why acupoints help headaches or other conditions.
Do Not Use the Tiger’s Mouth (Large Intestine 4) Point If You Are Pregnant!!!
Most articles discussing Tiger’s Mouth (Large Intestine 4) state that one purpose for the point is for “delayed labor.” In other words, if you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant, avoid this point!
Acupuncturists utilize the point for abdominal pain and for menstrual issues. The Tiger’s Mouth point seems to cause relaxation in the abdominal area. Of course, you do not want this effect prematurely if you are with child!
–You understand that if not done properly, some techniques and exercises described in this blog could harm you. Any activities you perform are at your own risk, and you expressly agree to waive any claims against the author for any harm that may arise from your own actions. By reading this blog and conducting these exercises, you accept this risk. This blog provides content related to physical and/or mental health issues. As such, your use of techniques described acts as your acceptance of this disclaimer.
-Consult Chapter 2 in my book, “Calming the Headache Storm” to make sure the headache is not the sign of a more serious problem. The techniques, advice and strategies contained in this blog may not be suitable for every individual and should be abandoned if your headache increases. Seek the advice of your physician.