The Effectiveness of Self-Acupressure in Reducing Migraine Frequency and Severity

Abstract

Migraine is a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of moderate to severe headache, often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia. Migraine attacks can significantly impair daily functioning, reduce productivity, and negatively affect quality of life. Although pharmacological treatments are widely used for migraine management, concerns regarding medication overuse, side effects, and treatment costs have led to growing interest in complementary self-care approaches such as self-acupressure.  The findings demonstrated that participants who practiced self-acupressure experienced a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. Improvements were also observed in headache duration, associated symptoms, and reliance on pain-relieving medications. Participants reported enhanced relaxation, better coping ability, and improved overall quality of life. No serious adverse effects were reported, indicating that self-acupressure is a safe and well-tolerated intervention.  Self-acupressure appears to be an effective, safe, and inexpensive complementary therapy for reducing migraine frequency and severity. Its ease of application and potential for self-management make it a valuable non-pharmacological option for individuals seeking additional strategies for migraine control. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are recommended to confirm these findings and establish standardized self-acupressure protocols for migraine management.