Headaches and How Chiropractic Can Help

There are 5 main types of common headaches:

1. Tension headache - Often felt either on both sides of the head like a headband squeezing the head or at the base of the skull and back of the upper neck. These headaches can last anywhere from 30 minutes to nearly non-stop for a week. Tension headaches are caused by tight muscles around the head and neck.

What your Chiropractor can do - Chiropractic adjustments to the neck will release muscle tension in the head and neck especially the sub-occipital muscles at the base of the skull.

What you can do - These headaches are common in people who are in a static position all day such as sitting at a computer or driving. Stretch your neck and go through all ranges of motion once every hour or so.

2. Migraine headache - Can be on one or both sides and are usually felt as throbbing. These can last from a few hours to 3 days. You may also experience sensitivity to light or sound and can also experience nausea and vomiting associated with the headache. These are usually caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain.

What your Chiropractor can do - The vertebral artery supplies blood to the brain. Its course is straight upward through holes in the vertebrae of the neck. When one of these vertebrae gets out of position, it can cause a kink in the hose so to speak, decreasing blood flow to the brain.

What you can do - Feverfew is a medicinal herb from the Chrysanthemum family and is available over the counter at health food stores. It has been used for centuries to treat headaches and had been helpful by numerous users. Also, consult with your Chiropractor and get your neck adjusted. 

3. Cervicogenic headache - May or may not have accompanying neck pain. The muscles around the neck are usually sore if pressed upon. These headaches are commonly confused for migraine headaches as they can have an almost identical presentation including sensitivities to light or sound. Many of these headache sufferers have had previous trauma to the neck like a car accident but this is not always the case. Cervicogenic headaches are caused by irritation of the nerves coming from your spinal cord at the level of your neck and traveling to the head.

What your Chiropractor can do - The nerves of your spinal cord exit through openings created by the bottom of one vertebra and the top of the one below it. When the vertebra of your neck are misaligned, this opening is narrowed causing irritation or compression of the nerve exiting at that level of your neck. Chiropractic adjustments are safest and most effective way to return these vertebrae to their proper position.

What you can do - Loss of the natural cervical curve is extremely common, especially in those who have had previous neck trauma such as a car accident. Chiropractic care as well as therapeutic stretching and strengthening can help return this natural curve.

4. Sinus headache - Felt in the face and often, but not always, have accompanying congestion. Pain feels like pressure between the eye brows or along the sides of the nose. These are caused by congestion of the sinuses.

What your Chiropractor can do - Adjusting the neck will normalize nerve function of the nerves traveling to the face and sinuses. Also, your Chiropractor can recommend supplements to help regulate your histamine levels and dry out your sinuses.

What you can do - Over the counter saline solutions or a neti pot will get saltwater into the sinuses and help to dry up the mucous. Sinus infections can lead to serious complications, so they must be taken very seriously. 

5. Cluster headache - Felt on one side, usually around the eye. Cluster headaches may last from 15 minutes to 3 hours and can come and go multiple times throughout the day. The pain is sharp and boring and can be associated with runny nose, watery eyes, and redness of the eyes. These headaches are caused by irritation of the nerves which travel to the face and eyes.

What your Chiropractor can do - The trigeminal (tri-gem-in-al) nerve exits your brain from the brain stem. The brain stem is located just behind the first two bones in your neck. Getting a neck adjustment can help normalize nerve function and calm down irritated nerves going to the face.

What you can do - Avoid alcohol as it is a big-time trigger for cluster headaches. Stress is another trigger, so find some time to relax and take some time for yourself.

The Truth About Migraines

You may have heard of someone that wakes up early in the morning with extreme pain behind one of their eyes. The individual then tries to perform their normal daily activities, but can't because of the pain and difficulty focusing. The person feels hungry but doesn't feel like eating breakfast. The person avoids the kitchen all together because the smell of food makes them nauseous. The individual seeks solitude and tries to avoid any kind of sounds. This is a common daily occurrence for a person with a migraine headache.

Migraines may be minor for some people but extremely debilitating for others. Migraines can prevent one from working or performing their normal daily tasks at home. They often cause one to feel restless or have extreme anxiety. They can disrupt one's sleep and cause fatigue. They can cause one to lose their appetite.

Some people with migraine headaches may have a warning sign come on before the headache. This is called an aura. The aura often begins approximately 30 minutes before the headache comes on. Those experiencing an aura often describe it as spots, wavy lines or flashing lights.

The typical time frame for migraine headaches ranges from four to 72 hours if untreated. The frequency and time frame is different from person to person. The symptom of a migraine is often described as throbbing and is usually located on one side of the head. Some migraine sufferers may experience the headache on both sides. The pain is usually worsened by physical activity. Nausea and vomiting may also occur with the headache. Migraine sufferers are often sensitive to light, noise and smell.

Prodromes are also common with migraine headaches. These usually occur one or two days before the headache comes on. These are subtle symptoms that can signal a migraine will be coming. These subtle symptoms might include constipation, diarrhea, food cravings, depression or neck pain. Postdromes may also occur after a migraine is over. This is considered the final phase and the typical symptom is exhaustion or feeling euphoric.

If you are experiencing migraines, it is a good idea to record the frequency of attacks and characteristics of the attack. If the headaches persist, it is a good idea to seek professional help. The traditional method for dealing with migraines is medication. Because of the harmful side effects of medication, many people are seeking out other natural safe alternatives to help. Many find chiropractic as a safe, effective treatment method that has lasting results.

Health and Fitness: Headaches Migraines Article Category

There is over one hundred years of solid evidence obtained from practitioners all over the world that Gerson therapy works to prevent, arrest, reverse and cure chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Dr. Max Gerson started looking for relief from his own migraine headaches and discovered by accident that what cured migraines also cured other diseases. The first of these was cutaneous tuberculosis which was thought to be unrelated to migraine headaches and which was incurable like migraines. What Gerson discovered is that when one gets one's nutrition right, the body heals itself and whatever was wrong disappears, regardless of how it manifested itself or what it is called.

Dr. Gerson discovered in an obscure Italian medical journal what Gerson would develop over a lifetime in Germany and the United States:

The advice of the Italian doctor was to eat only one food and see if the migraines stopped. If migraines did not stop, the patient should try a different food. If migraines went away, it was time to add another food. If they did return, patients would know what to avoid.

One must be careful and not cheat. This is an elimination diet. This is a scientific experiment. Select one food that is a fresh raw fruit or vegetable. Don't start with pork chops or bacon.

Believe it or not, you won't die if you do this. Do not consult with your doctor. Remember: "If you order Chow Mien in a French restaurant, they won't know how to make it and you won't get it." Your friends won't help you either.

You can eat as much as you want of this one food, so you won't be hungry. Dr. Gerson started with apples. Choose organic and fresh.

You will automatically stop eating food that is making you sick. You will avoid everything that is advertised and eliminate sugar (which is hard because the "food" industry puts sugar into everything). You should drink more (filtered) water and eliminate pharmaceutical drugs.

If someone wants to feel better, they can take drugs. If someone wants to get better, they can find and fix what is wrong.

There is a mountain of evidence that a diet rich in fresh raw fruits and vegetables promotes health. There is a growing mountain of evidence that it is the "food" we eat combined with a lack of exercise that causes the diseases that are killing us.

This is a universal prescription available to everyone.

Getting Rid of Migraine Headaches With Reflexology

Migraine sufferers often wince in remembered pain of their last headache on hearing the word "migraine".

In one year, it is estimated that 90% of the population get at least one headache, and about 18% of the population will suffer from a migraine headache at some point in their life - that means that 1,231,291,260 people or over 1.25 billion worldwide know what it is like to experience a migraine.

The World Health Organization has estimated that in 2003 over three hundred million people worldwide were migraineurs. They even suggested a year later that there could be more than 20 million people suffering from migraine attacks every single day.

Approximately 13% of US population are migraine sufferers who lose their work time and are unable to perform at their best due to these migraine headaches which may be really painful and unbearable.

Many migraine cases relate to intolerance of food. It is usual for attacks to start in the morning and last, in their acute stage, between 3 and 24 hours. Symptoms can be quite varied pulsating pain, loss of appetite, sensitivity to light, pain localized to one side of head (hemicranial), vomiting, numbness, tingling, weakness, facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia), sweating, chills and sometimes spasmodic abdominal pains. Migraine is a neurological and chronic disorder characterized by nausea, eye pain, neck strain, back pain & headaches that may last from 2 to 72 hours.

Even after the migraine episode has subsided, there are usually migraine 'leftovers' which can leave you not feeling your best for quite a while.

Reflexology is a safe and effective drugless therapy for migraineurs.

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is the practice of applying alternating pressure techniques to different areas of the body, most usually feet and hands, that corresponds to certain body parts, organs and glands. By stimulating nerves in various areas of the feet or hands, blood flow can be stimulated, stress can be lowered and toxins can be eliminated in the corresponding body systems. Using this method many forms of disease and ill health can be relieved.

Is there any research to back up these claims? Yes!

One such study was set to determine the effectiveness of Reflexology for Migraine and Tension Headaches. A doctor examined the two hundred and twenty patients selected for the study, and determined that headaches were their primary problem. Having established this as a base line the study progressed. Reflexology sessions were given over a three month period, and patients were required to complete questionnaires before and after the treatment session.

The results - were that 16% no longer had any form of headaches, 65% reported that Reflexology had helped to reduce the symptoms, and only 18% reported no changed. The conclusion of the study was that Reflexology was able to totally relieve or help tension and migraine headaches in a substantial number of study participants.

What reflexology does first and foremost is reduce the negative results of stress. It is said that 80% all diseases are stress related. When someone enjoys a reflexology session, the body experiences a release of muscle tension, and allows relaxation to spread throughout the body. Reflexology also helps the body to release endorphins, which are the body's natural pain killers. Reflexology session gives deep relaxation, which in turn allows stress to leave the body, which results in less dis-ease in the body.

Reflexology improves circulation, and cleans out toxins and impurities from our bodies more efficiently. Organs involved in elimination are our kidneys and skin, and reflexology helps them work more efficiently. When the body's systems are more in balance, it results in revitalised energy, and such the immune system works better.

Two techniques you might want to try to ease discomfort and stress associated with migraine headaches might be:

Foot Reflexology - Gentle squeezing of the toes and fingertips from one joint to another (for 1 -2 minutes, for 10 times) stimulates reflexes for release of endorphins which provides relief from migraine pain caused due to changes in blood flow in vessels of head. Pressing on padded portion of foot i.e. below 2nd & 3rd toes provide relief from migraine eye pain.

If the feet are not available, try Hand Reflexology - Gently squeezing fingertips and thumb for 10 to 30 seconds at a time provides non-invasive and quick relief. Kneading the top and bottom of thumb and fingertips to the middle knuckle releases facial tension. Squeezing on webbed portion of palm i.e. between index and middle finger alleviates eye pain or visual discomfort due to migraine.

Extra Tip - Drinking a glass of water after a session will help to ease the healing process and rid the body of any buildup of toxins released by the working the reflex points.

Reflexology is gentle and non-invasive. Anyone can have reflexology - there are no age barriers. In fact older people can benefit greatly from it.

If you suffer from Migraines Headaches, why not give Reflexology a try - you have nothing to lose except your headache.

Finding A Common Headache Cure You Can Try

The most common headache cures involve the drinking of water and applying a cold compress to your head where the pain is located. Water helps to hydrate your body and flush out toxins. Many headaches are caused by dehydration. Most individuals aren't even aware they are dehydrated. At the first onset of a headache, make sure you drink plenty of water. Applying ice to the painful area of the head allows the inflamed areas to relax. Both of these natural remedies will help a great deal with your headache pain.

Another headache cure you can try is to press your index fingers onto your temples. Applying this simple pressure and actually massaging the area gently can provide a great amount of relief. Squeezing the bridge of your nose can also provide this same type of relief. This is due hitting certain pressure points. Acupuncture therapy is based on these concepts and could be considered if your headaches persist over time.

Caffeine has often been known as a common headache cure. This is true to a point. Caffeine in small doses can actually thin the blood causing some relief on the pressure of the headache. However, large amounts of caffeine can actually cause headaches. So it is important to be careful at the amount of caffeine you intake on a daily basis.

A recently common headache cure is the use of various herbal supplements. This headache cure is becoming more popular as more and more naturopaths have demonstrated the benefits of these substances. Some common herbs shown to aid with headache pain include:

• Melatonin
• Cayenne
• Magnesium
• Vitamin B2
• Ginkgo Biloba

Before using any herb it is important to make sure you have discussed this with your physician. Some herbs may actually react with any current prescription medications you may be taking.

Quite often, if you are not a chronic headache sufferer, you headache may be caused by fatigue. Fatigue headaches usually go away after you get enough rest and/or nutrition. Ensuring you get a good night sleep, eat right and get some exercise during the day should take care of these type of headaches. If you do experience fatigue headache and you can't take a quick nap, drinking a Sports drink can help ease the symptoms. Getting a boost of vitamins and electrolytes found in these type of drinks can ease the symptoms of your headache.

Common headache cures are often enough for you to get rid of your headache pain. However, as previously mentioned if you do experience frequent headaches, don't hesitate to consult your doctor.

Commence Your Own Fight Against Sinusitis!

Do not leave yourself at the mercy of the doctors, when it comes to uprooting sinusitis from your system. Without even an ounce of doubt, a medical practitioner is needed to seek expert guidance and treatment for this chronic condition, but you can also play a vital role to bring down the sinus inflammation and relieve the resultant, severe headaches.

Acute sinusitis becomes much easier to treat with a two-pronged approach. Let your doctor slip in a drug regimen and the daily precautions you need to follow; at the same time, you can try out certain home remedies to have a distinctive edge against the causative pathogen.

Nevertheless, the following home remedies should not be taken as sure-shot ways to treat sinusitis. Take them as complimentary methods that will augment the effectiveness of your sinusitis treatment.

- Mango is not called the king of fruits only because of its mouth-watering taste. It is also called so because of its high nutrient content and medicinal properties. Since this vitamin A-rich fruit assists the formation of healthy epithelium, it can be consumed on a daily basis to ease the discomfort caused by aggravated sinusitis.

- Pungent vegetables are effective for treatment of inflamed sinuses. Especially, garlic and onion are recommended by alternative medicine experts to clear the phlegm-clogged sinuses and also to bring down the intensity of consequential headaches.

- A victim of acute sinusitis can use a tea made with fenugreek seeds to induce perspiration and discharge of accumulated toxins. To elaborate further, a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds should be soaked in 200 ml of water. Heat this mixture until it reaches half its size and then drink the same. This remedy can be used up to four times a day depending on the severity of the problem

- Another grandma remedy that can do wonders is intake of cumin seeds. These can be used in plentiful ways. For example: if your nose is terribly blocked and a great effort is required to catch the next breath, simply tie a teaspoon of cumin seeds in a thin cloth and inhale it to experience the blockage clearing off within no time. One can also mix a powder of roasted cumin seeds with honey to ease the severity of the symptoms.

If your sinusitis is showing no signs of improvement in spite of your strict adherence to the recommended drug regimen, you can try out the aforesaid herbal remedies to strengthen your immunity and get rid of headaches. A weakened immune system can be revived with the gifts from Mother Nature.

So, enhance your awareness about the best ways to keep sinusitis under check and enjoy healthy living.