Headaches & Migraines

If you’re a sufferer of chronic headaches or migraines, you don’t need convincing that they’re one of the most painful and debilitating conditions you could possibly suffer from. Millions upon millions of dollars a year are spent on trying to find relief from this crippling illness.

But what causes migraines? Basically it’s a decrease in oxygen to the brain. If the brain receives less oxygen per millilitre of blood, it will simply increase the amount of blood flow to increase the overall amount of oxygen received. In order to increase the amount of blood flow it must dilate the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. When these vessels dilate, it stretches pain fibres that wrap around the outside of these vessels. When these pain fibres are stretched they are activated and start sending pain signals into the brain, resulting in your perception of pain.

Headaches and migraines may also be caused by a misalignment or dysfunction of a vertebra in the top of the neck. This causes inflammation and tension of the joints, muscles and blood vessels at the base of the neck, which then transfers pain up into the skull.

How can chiropractic care help?

By performing gentle, specific adjustments to the neck and upper back, I can help restore the normal alignment and function of the vertebrae in the neck, which removes the tension that causes headache and migraine symptoms. As well as removing the tension, the inflammation around the joints, muscles and blood vessels is decreased and the pain fibres begin to be deactivated.

177 volunteers who had been suffering from neck pain and migraines for over 18 years entered a study. All of those who received chiropractic care were able to reduce their medication intake, with a significant number reducing their intake to zero. Additionally, 59% reported no neck pain after 2 months, and another 35% had a significant decrease in neck pain. This is not the only study to show these results; there have been dozens more which all show similar outcomes.

One of the most important treatment modalities for headaches and migraines is Applied Kinesiology corrections. As well as chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapy, I will also perform TMJ corrections and cranio-sacral therapy. The jaw and cranial bones of the skull play a significant role in the onset of headaches, and oftentimes correcting these areas can help resolve headaches when other treatments have failed.

I will also perform meridian therapy and visceral (organ) therapy, as well as suggest dietary changes and prescribe nutritional supplements. Many headaches, and in particular migraines, stem from various systems of the body, especially the digestive and hormonal systems. Restoring normal biochemical function can have a lasting effect on the resolution of headaches.

Stress is another major contributor of headaches and migraines. I will perform emotional corrections, as well as help balance the hormonal system, to help alleviate stress-related headaches. I may also prescribe various techniques, such as meditation, yoga and exercise, to assist in reducing your stress and restoring your health as quickly as possible.

Do you suffer from headaches or migraines? The answer may be simple. Come in and see how I can help.