Head

Why Do Head Acupressure Points Matter?

The head is where many of the day's strains collect. Frontal and tension headaches, dizziness, eye strain from screens, sinus congestion, and the mental fatigue of long, demanding work all have acupressure targets on the scalp, forehead, and skull base. These points are often the first a practitioner reaches for, because they sit close to the tissues you can feel — the forehead muscles, the temples, and the hollow at the base of the skull where neck tension often rises upward. For broader coverage, our guides to acupressure for headaches and migraines show how head points combine with hand and neck points, while the sleep and anxiety guides pair them with points on the face and wrists.

From a TCM view, the scalp carries several Yang meridians — the Governing Vessel up the midline and the Gallbladder and Bladder pathways along the sides — and points here help regulate the flow of qì toward the head. At the physical level, pressing the temples, forehead, and occipital ridge eases tight muscles and relaxes the nerves that run beneath them, which is why these points are commonly used when pressure-related head discomfort builds during the day.

What Are the Key Points in This Region?

These are the most commonly used head points. Each card notes its traditional uses so you can match a point to your symptom.

Points in this region

How Do You Stimulate Head Points?

Settle into a quiet, upright position and use the pads of your index and middle fingers. Press at a 90-degree angle, increasing the pressure slowly over 10–15 seconds until you feel a deep, dull ache or heaviness (deqi). Breathe evenly and hold for 30–60 seconds, then release just as gradually. For the temples and skull-base hollows, locate the soft depression first — keep the pressure gentle on top of the head, and never press on the soft fontanelle area of an infant's scalp.

Frequently Asked Questions