Chiropractic and Headaches

Headaches are common pain events for many people, and they are often recurring. A variety of prescription and over-the-counter medications may control headache pain, but they only mask the pain without addressing the cause. Headache medications may also have side effects, especially with long use. Hoping to find a more natural and holistic solution to chronic headaches, many people turn to chiropractic.

What is a Headache?

A headache may arise from muscular tension, vascular changes, sinus congestion, eyestrain and many other underlying causes. They can start over the eyes, in the back of the head, on the sides or top of the head, or feel centered behind the eyes. The one thing all these headaches have in common is that they hurt, and sometimes they hurt a great deal. The amount of pain associated with a headache may range from a mild ache to a throbbing, nauseating, relentless pain.

It is a common misconception that some types of headaches hurt more than others. It is often said that, for example, migraine headaches are more painful than other headaches. It is also common to call any kind of severe headache a "migraine." In fact, almost any kind of headache can cause a great deal of pain. Three types of headaches are commonly seen in chiropractic offices: tension headaches, migraine headaches, and cervicogenic headaches. Cervicogenic headaches are caused by pain referred to the head from the bony or soft tissues of the neck.

Headaches can be either primary, those that start independently, or secondary, those that begin as a side effect of another disease process. Headaches arising from muscular tension (generally arising from stress) and migraine headaches (vascular headaches) are two of the most common types of headache; both of these headache types are considered primary headaches. A large body of research suggests that chiropractic can effectively treat primary headaches, and many patients have found lasting relief from headache pain through chiropractic care.

Chiropractic and Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are caused by muscular tension and contraction involving the muscles of the shoulders, neck and head. Often this tension is a result of emotional stress, though injuries can also set a pattern of muscle contraction into play. It is normal for muscles to contract when we are threatened, irritated or angry, a reaction known as the fight or flight response. Over time, though, if work or home life creates a constant source of stress from which we can neither fight nor flee, the muscular tension can become chronic. This, in turn, leads to uneven stresses on the skeletal structure of the body, and changes in normal posture and movement to compensate. These misalignments lead to more muscular tension and contraction. This can become a vicious cycle that eventually results in pain, often as headache pain.

Chiropractic adjustments, combined with other therapies such as trigger point therapy and massage, can release muscular tension and realign the skeleton to break the cycle of pain. Often patients with chronic headaches will find relief through chiropractic in just a few treatments, as muscles relax and nerve irritation is reduced.

Chiropractic and Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are vascular headaches, arising from sudden dilation of the blood vessels of the head. No one knows exactly what causes migraine headaches, though the basic mechanism, involving both the nervous and vascular systems, is well studied. Migraines can be triggered by hormonal changes, foods, smells, weather changes, stress, and many other triggers. The headaches often begin with symptoms other than pain, such as visual auras, nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. The headache that follows can vary in intensity, but is often severe. Many migraine sufferers have found over-the-counter pain medications to be ineffective, and resign themselves to wait out the migraine event in a dark, quiet room. A variety of pharmaceutical drugs have been developed to treat migraines, but none of them work for everyone, and many have unwanted side effects.

Chiropractic can play an important role in treating migraines. Clinical studies, though still preliminary, suggest that chiropractic may have a measurable role in the prevention of migraines. Through manipulation and adjustments of the spine and neck, migraines can often be reduced or prevented. Nerves control vascular system tension, and chiropractic adjustments reduce irritation of the nervous system beginning with its roots in the spine, also improving vascular flow.

How Will a Doctor of Chiropractic Treat Headaches?

The fundamental technique of chiropractic, spinal manipulation, is used improve spinal alignment, reduce nerve irritation, relax muscle tension and improve vascular flow. Trigger point therapy, massage and other adjunct therapies may also be employed to broaden the treatment plan. Finally, the chiropractor will often recommend exercise, stretching and changes in posture, or teach relaxation techniques.

Forpreventive care, most chiropractors will also provide advice on nutritionalsupplements, vitamins, herbs, and diet toward the development of a long-termwellness plan to prevent future headaches.

Chiropractic care can provide a holistic, comprehensive treatment plan for chronic headaches, giving patients an opportunity to put an end to what can be a very stubborn type of pain and a considerable improvement in quality of life.

(as posted on altmed.com)

A Drug-free Way to Ease Pain Associated with Chronic Headaches

by Maryellen Cicione

"I wish I had seen a chiropractor sooner." The declaration comes unsolicited from Brett Cimino, a plumber who, for 10 years, has suffered from headaches nearly every day and debilitating migraines two to four times a month. "As soon as I began getting adjusted, I noticed a difference. A year later, I am on a maintenance plan now and to say I have had six headaches (of any kind) in the last year would be an overstatement."

According to Dr. Jeffrey Robitaille of Robitaille Family Chiropractic in Rhode Island, 1 in 6 Americans suffers from chronic headaches. But like Cimino, many people overlook seeing a chiropractor for headache pain. "I waited more than a year before I made an appointment with a chiropractor. I guess I had some misconceptions about what a chiropractor does," says Cimino. "But after seeing the results, I don't know why I waited so long."

Every day, chiropractors hear similar stories from hundreds of people like Cimino who have been suffering for years with pain and are at their wits end because the only thing offered to them by their physicians and specialists are more drugs. As Dr. Robitaille explains, many people think headaches are normal and take over-the-counter or prescription drugs to relieve the pain. "But these drugs only dull the pain," he says, "they don't treat the cause, which is why the headache returns."

In addition to chronic headaches, chiropractic care is also effective in treating tension headaches. A recent study released by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research finds that individuals undergoing chiropractic therapy showed sustained reduction in headache frequency and severity compared with patients who took the drug amitriptyline, a commonly prescribed medication for tension headaches.

"The conclusion of the study shows that chiropractic is not actually a therapy or treatment, but rather gets to the cause of the problem, thus allowing the body to effect a correction that lasts beyond actual care," says Dr. Robitaille.

While many people associate chiropractic care as a treatment for bad backs, there is growing documentation that chiropractic is also effective in the treatment of cervicogenic headaches, migraines and cluster headaches. In fact, the American Chiropractic Association reports that 14 percent of the public who see chiropractors presently go for headaches.

However, much of the general public continues to use the traditional medical practitioner route for headache treatment, with little success. The problem, says Dr. Robitaille, rests in the six misconceptions about headache relief. They are listed below, followed by his explanation:

1. Over-The-Counter Medication Treat The Cause Of Your Headache.
"Drugs only numb the pain. If these drugs treated the real cause, your headaches would go away permanently. None of us were born with too few Advil in our blood. A lack of drugs is not the cause."

2. Headache Medication Can't Harm You.
"On the contrary, drugs can cause side effects that can be far worse than the headache pain you're trying to relieve."

3. Stress Causes Headaches.
"Although stress is a part of life, it is not the cause of headaches. Rather, it's how your body adapts to stress that affects your health. Chiropractic care can provide ways to help you increase your body's ability to adapt to stress of any kind."

4. Headaches Go Away On Their Own.
"Without treating the cause, or root of the problem, they won't."

5. All Doctors Know How To Treat Headaches.
"If this were true, no one would suffer from headaches. Chiropractors offer natural alternatives that do not involve drugs or invasive treatments."

6. Your Problem Is Always Where Your Pain Is.
"In fact, not all headaches originate in the head. For instance, a person who suffered a neck injury at some point in their life, whether from a car accident, playing sports, or a fall as a child, could suffer head pain later on. These are called cervicogenic headaches because they result from tension of the neck and head muscles."

Can Cayenne Peppers Really Cure a Headache?

Cayenne pepper, also known as chili pepper, is definitely one of your more multi-functional spices, so if you’re a lover of hot and spicy food, that’s great news. Some of the research into the health benefits of capsaicin (its active ingredient) has found that it may:

• Reverse Type 1 diabetes in mice, when injected into the pancreas
• Relieve stomach aches, and gas
• Help fight cancer, by binding to proteins in cancer cell mitochondria, triggering cellular death without harming healthy cells

When it comes down to it, all this research into the benefits of food products really points out the importance that your diet plays in your overall health – even though they are narrow-mindedly focusing on picking out the active ingredients to be able to patent it and put it in a pill.

Other Natural Treatment Options for Your Headaches

Headaches can generally be divided into two types, tension and migraine. Migraine can be extremely debilitating, and many of the drugs used to treat migraines are effective in relieving this severe pain, offering welcome relief. Unfortunately, they do absolutely nothing to treat the cause and in fact actually contribute to your problem as after a short while they might cause rebound headaches themselves.

Fortunately, many natural treatment options exist that can help treat migraines. These should always be considered first, as drugs to treat migraines can make your problem worse, and often come with other serious side effects.

Natural Solutions Are Your BEST Option

Following my eating plan, which is designed to take your personal biochemistry into account, so that you’re eating the right foods for your nutritional type, seems to reduce headaches and migraines by about 80 percent.

Avoiding wheat, grains, sugar, artificial preservatives, and all fluids but water seem to be particularly effective.

However, your customized eating plan does take some time to work. In the past, I have used intravenous magnesium to relieve the headache pain, but now I find that the Emotional Freedom Technique is incredibly effective. Oftentimes it can remove your pain in as little as a few minutes.

I am sure it won’t work for everyone, but I have yet to find that person. I have found it to be truly amazing. And, as time goes on, more and more people (including some more open-minded medical professionals) will begin to accept the truth about energy medicine, as the facts about the “New Biology” becomes more widespread.

The New Biology is based on the science of epigenetics, which literally means that your mind is in control over your genes – nothing in your medical history is preordained. In essence, your mind is in total control over your physical body, and the ailments you develop. This is not a very popular truth as of yet, as most people are not willing to accept that they carry the responsibility for their health.

But, it may very well explain why energy psychology tools, such as EFT, are so effective, and can be used for such a wide variety of ailments. EFT can also be used to eliminate food cravings, which can help you stick to your eating plan.

One final, simple tip to free yourself from migraine pain -- start an exercise program. This will help to improve your response to stress along with the underlying inflammatory conditions that can trigger migraines.

Remember, your pain typically serves a very useful purpose, signaling that something is not right -- prompting you to resolve your problem at its root level.

Unfortunately, most are brainwashed and resort to a drug model to cover the problem up. So I take the position of embracing and loving pain for the important warning signal it can provide. Once you understand what is causing your pain you can start using natural therapies to address the underlying cause.

as posted on Dr. Mercola

Alternative Treatments for Headaches That Really Work

By Dr. Leila Marsha Peterson

A headache, like a fever or cold hands or feet is one of the many ways that your body is letting you know that something is wrong with it.

Let's imagine for a moment that your body is a house with a smoke detector. Upon sign of smoke it sounds an alarm giving you a chance to do something before you are engulfed in a full-blown fire.

Removing the batteries from a smoke detector because it alarms when what you are cooking starts to burn is like taking a pain reliever for your headache. It is similar to putting a band-aid on the headache and is not solving the cause of the problem. In time, the causes of the problem get worse and so does the headache.

Headaches may be a result of stress from a chemical, environmental, emotional or physical source or any combination thereof. For instance, headaches that may be due to hormonal fluctuations and changes could be checked out with a saliva test.

A shortage of oxygen or blood to the head, which can be due to poor vertebral alignment, could possibly be another reason and a visit to a chiropractor that had special training in Applied Kinesiology and Cranio-Sacral Therapy may be the answer to your prayers.

Another probable but unlikely cause that needs to be ruled out is a head tumor or any growth inside the head.

One very common reason for headache is tired eyes. "Exercising" your eye muscles by squeezing your eyelids tightly closed for a few seconds, or doing some quick, soft blinks every so often will help relax -stressed-out eyelids according to Jacob Liberman, O.D., Ph.D. author of "Take Off Your Glasses And See". An annual check-up with your eye doctor would also be a wise thing to do.

Some of the possibilities that we need to explore are:

• When does the headache come?
• Does it coincide with your monthly menstrual cycle?
• Or is it always at a regular set time during the day or night?
• Do you need to wear dark glasses every time you go out in the sun or else your head would start throbbing?
• Could your jaw muscles be the cause of your headaches?
• Does eating certain foods like chocolate, red wine, citrus fruits, or monosodium glutamate (MSG) elicit your headache?

Pinpointing the location, character and duration of the headache could offer some insight to the organ system or emotion involved. To check if the jaw muscles are involved, put your little finger inside each ear. Now open and close your mouth slowly.

Next, observe or feel if your jaw (that ends by your ear) both open and closes at the same time, and do so without any clicking or popping sound. Myofascial release combined with polarity therapy might be able to release those tight muscles. It is also a good idea to have your dentist check your "bite" and while you're there, make sure that you do not have amalgam (mercury) fillings.

Did you know that the cells in your body could be in an acidic environment and that could be a playing a huge role in how you feel? Adding Green Plus from Alternative Care Products or alkaline ash producing foods and thoughts may help maintain alkalinity inside your body.

It is also helpful to know your saliva and urine ph. before and after a "threat" to your body. Gargling frequently with warm salt water and massaging your gums and tongue gently with fine sea salt using your fingertips would boost the circulation and change acidity in your mouth according to the Book of Wellbeing published by the Bulfinch Press. (I modify this tip a bit by combining Himalayan sea salt, Epsom salt, and baking soda with a twist of lemon.)

Sometimes, the very candles that we use for meditation and relaxation may trigger a headache. Therefore, it is advisable to use lead free wicks and candles that are made of either soy or bees wax only.

Dr. Cox, an occupational physician suggest that many people using mobile phones have symptoms which may include dizziness, disorientation, nausea, headaches, and transient confusion. These symptoms may be due to the unilateral stimulation of the portion of the nervous system that assists in balance and coordination.

The best thing to do is limit the use of your mobile phones to times of emergency. I can hear you laughing but this is not a joking matter. If you are like me who uses the mobile phone for convenience, then at least use a RF 4 headset and keep the actual phone as far from your head as possible.

Another factor to consider is if the sufferer is "rewarded" for the headache? For example, the "reward" could be any possibilities like being able to get out of a job or responsibility, or getting extra or special attention. Self-hypnosis or hypnotherapy with lights and sounds might be able to help create harmony from within and release the healing powers of the mind. Hypnotherapy is usually very beneficial in "rewarded" cases because it is known to encourage rather than compel change.

According to some metaphysical beliefs, suffering from a headache might indicate an inability to express or receive unconditional love and acceptance, or their opposite, which are hate, anger and rejection. However, Daniel R. Condron, author of Permanent Healing suggests that headaches or migraines could be that the sufferer is feeling pressured by factors that seem out of her control or that there is a pressure on one's self between "right" or "wrong".

Dr. Earl Mindell author of several nutritional and herb "bibles" recommends a cup of peppermint tea or feverfew to ward off a headache. Including digestive enzymes with your meals (if you need them) is often a surprisingly effective antidote for a headache. Squeezing the web between the thumb and the index finger with the thumb and index finger of the other hand to bring instant headache relief for some is an ancient acupressure maneuver.

Another way to ward off an incoming headache is to press the philtrum, (the indented area between the bottom of your nose and your up per lip) with the knuckle of your index finger tenderly and stop when you feel a sense of warmth, perspiration, or clamminess in any part of your body which means that you have "restarted" the energy flow in your body.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), headaches are one of the many conditions that have been shown through controlled trials to be treated effectively by acupuncture. Doing slow, deep-breathing exercises may help liberate the emotion, physical condition, or resistance associated with some tension headaches.

Therapeutic essential oils from Young Living like Idaho Tansy, Roman Chamomile may help enhance the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and oxygen infusion into the cell according to the Essential Oils Desk Reference as compiled by Essential Science Publishing. In the homeopathic world, headaches from over exposure to the sun may perhaps be helped with Belladonna, while headaches with constipation might be relieved with Bryonia.

There are anecdotal stories that assert that Energy Work like the Hawaiian Healing Technique or Reiki is excellent for migraine.

Remember that maintaining balance and restoring harmony to the body, mind and spirit is the main goal. There are a lot of gentle remedies and time-tested strategies that are available to you.

You are a unique individual. Your fingerprints are yours alone. Wouldn't it make sense to see someone who will treat you as such?

Have you thought of acupuncture to treat your headaches?

Tension Headaches Cut In Half With Acupuncture

by: Dr. Mercola

A study in the British Medical Journal showed that acupuncture is an effective technique for treating tension headaches. What’s more, “minimal” acupuncture techniques -- needles inserted superficially into the skin at nontraditional points -- work almost as well as the full, traditional version used in China.

Eight-Week Trial

Researchers in Germany divided 270 patients with similar symptoms into three groups for a randomized, controlled trial. Over an eight-week period, one group was treated with full traditional acupuncture, one with minimal acupuncture, and one with neither method.

Headache Rates Cut In Half

Headache rates dropped by almost half among those in the “traditional acupuncture” group. On average, they experienced 7 fewer days of headaches in the four weeks following the trial than they did in the four weeks preceding it.

Those in the “minimal acupuncture group” fared almost as well, with an average drop of 6.6 days with headaches. The third group only saw an average drop of 1.5 days -- just a tenth less than what they had experienced prior to the study.

The researchers concluded that acupuncture works as well or better for tension headaches than treatments already accepted.

Sounds During Sleep Can Boost Your Memory

by: Dr. Mercola

A new study about a different kind of audio approach during sleep gives insight into how the sleeping brain works, and may eventually come in handy to people studying a language, cramming for a test or memorizing lines in a play.

Scientists at Northwestern University reported that playing specific sounds while people slept helped them remember more of what they had learned before they fell sleep, to the point where memories of individual facts were enhanced.

Researchers taught people to move 50 pictures to their correct locations on a computer screen. Each picture was accompanied by a related sound, like a meow for a cat and whirring for a helicopter.

Then, 12 subjects took a nap, during which 25 of the sounds were played along with white noise. When they awoke, none realized that the sounds had been played or could guess which ones had been used. Yet almost all remembered more precisely the computer locations of the pictures associated with the 25 sounds that had been played while they slept, doing less well placing the other 25 pictures.

The study adds a dimension to a theory that sleep allows the brain to process and consolidate memories.

What are you putting in your body?

The true test of an arthritis pain relief formula goes beyond pain relief.

If it's to be a health formula worth taking, it will also assist the body in repairing the damage to joints and bone and also to providing nutrients the body can use to maintain healthy joint function and protect against further cartilage degeneration.

So, don't settle for temporary pain relief when you can utilize this special combination of ingredients to help your body repair. Learn about natural arthritis treatments that have research behind them.

12 Ingredients That Can End Your Arthritis Pain and Joint Pain

Glucosamine is a natural sugar produced by the body and found in certain foods. It plays an important role in the production, maintenance, and repair of cartilage. It stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, two essential building blocks of cartilage.

Shark Cartilage is a source of Chondroitin Sulfate. It drives the Glucosamine and provide maximum absorption. Also, in many trials it has reduced the possibility of developing cancer. Bovine Trachea can also be used as a source of Chondroitin, however, there is a risk of BSE (Mad Cow Disease).

Chondroitin Sulfate reduces inflammation and assists the Glucosamine in protecting against future cartilage degeneration.

Bromelaine cleans away the debris in the joints restores proper fluid balance. In addition, it helps to inhibit inflammatory compounds and reduces pain and swelling.

Ascorbate (Manganese and ascorbic acid) assists your body with processing the glucosamine. This is a very important ingredient and one that is missing in nearly every glucosamine product on the market today.

Yucca has a long history in treating arthritis and rheumatism. The root is rich in sponins that elevate your body's ability to produce cortisone naturally.

The Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docasahexaenoic acid) are constituents of fish oils that act as anti-inflammatory agents. Usually, these products are sold separately in health food stores as salmon or fish oil.

Boswellin has been used for centuries in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to maintain healthy joints. Boswellic acids improve blood supply to the joints and maintain the integrity of blood vessels. At least one study has indicated that they may open up collateral blood circulation to provide adequate blood supply to the joints. Boswellin has been known to reduce joint swelling, maintain blood supply to inflamed joints and mobility as well as reduce pain due to stiffness in the joints.

Vitamin A (Beta carotene) is essential for growth and repair of body tissues and it aids in bone formation.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) produces a mobilization of your body's self-defense mechanisms, which assists your immune system to overcome disease.

And finally, Vitamin E (Tocopheral) is an antioxidant, which acts to protect red blood cells and unsaturated fatty acids from oxidation damage. It also assists your body in maintaining healthy membrane tissue.

Vitamin A, C, and E all promote general health and protect against the harmful effect of free radicals.

Source:healthynewage.com