Effective treatment for Headache and Migraine – Overview
A migraine is classed as a complex neurological disorder that sometimes involves a headache and sometimes does not. Recurrent headaches are however often present and these can be moderate to severe. This disorder affects many people and can be caused by a variety of symptoms.
Symptoms of headache and migraine
Generally, if a headache is present it will affect one-half of the head and is usually pulsating in nature, they can last for up to 72 hours in some cases. Other symptoms that are often present and associated include; sensitivity to smell, light, or sound along with nausea and often vomiting. Sometimes people also experience disturbance in their vision such a zig zags in front of their eyes.
Common Causes of headache and migraine
Whilst there is no diagnostic test for headache or migraine several factors could be linked to their occurrence, these include; hormonal imbalance, physical or emotional stress, structural / neck problems, foods, allergies or sensitivities to environmental changes to name a few.
How I work with headache and migraine – Effective treatment for Headache and Migraine
I will often use a combination of the therapies that I practice in order to treat people suffering from headaches and migraines. It will really depend on the individual as to how we work together to tackle the problem. For example, some woman experience migraines during their monthly cycle so we would work with the procedures that will allow us to address the hormonal imbalance that might be responsible for the migraine. Alternatively, it might be that an accident has created an imbalance in the muscles or skeleton which is the root problem of the migraine or headache. Or it could be that stress is behind this problem for some people and Bowen procedures that work with stress and tension along with some advice on remedies and nutritional supplements are relevant. I will also most likely recommend self-help techniques that clients can use for themselves on a daily basis to help ease their symptoms.
Bowen procedures to treat headache and migraine
The TMJ procedure
The Bowen Technique offers two procedures that offer effective treatment for Headache and Migraine. These procedures work directly with the temporomandibular joint or TMJ, the regular TMJ and the advanced TMJ. Both of these procedures can be used to address some types of headache and migraine.
Light moves are made under the mouth and around the neck area, the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) which sits at either side of the neck is gently massaged which helps to drain the lymph in this area. The SCM muscle is like a big tube that sits at either side of the neck and can often become congested and painful. Directly working with this muscle alone can often release neck pain and sinus type problems. After the SCM has been worked several moves around the neck and throat area are applied. The next part of the procedure has the client placing a finger between their teeth, which opens the joint so we can make a light move over it in order to affect the fascia beneath. Gentle moves are then made behind and around the ear.
The Coccyx procedure
This procedure is often very effective at treating migraine and other neck problems. It seems a little strange to some people that we are treating the other end of the spine to where the problem is manifesting. Often when questioned a client will reveal that they have injured their coccyx and this can often influence neck issues, including headache and migraine. It is also an interesting fact that when someone injures their coccyx they will feel a pain in their crown.
Why I feel Bowen is so effective
The Bowen moves – are made at key structural points on the body which the brain uses as natural reference points to determine the body’s posture. As a result, the moves can have a huge effect on the way the body holds itself.
The nervous system – sensory information is induced by the Bowen move which reaches the spinal cord passing through the nerve pathways to the different centres of the brain. At this point the information is shunted back and forth via a complex self-corrective feedback mechanism, this info is then sent back down the spinal cord to the individual muscles for correction to take place.
Nutritional deficiencies:
Being deficient in certain vitamins and minerals can often result in a myriad of symptoms and headaches and migraine can be a result of specific deficiencies. One f my favourite minerals for working with headaches and migraine is magnesium. Our stressful lives deplete our magnesium reserves and this mineral is required for so many processes in the body. If I suspect a certain vitamin, mineral or remedy is required I will use Kinesiology muscle testing to establish exactly what an individual needs.
An exercise to help with headache and migraine
The Crown Pull
Energy accumulates naturally at the top of your head and can become stagnant if it does not move out of your head. This technique will:
- Release any energy that may have become stuck in the head
- Clears the mind
- Calms the nervous system, and can often
- Clear a tension headache
- Clear stress induced stomach aches and digestive disturbances
Crown Pull Technique:
- Starting at the forehead, pull the fingers across the forehead ending at the sides of the head at the top of the ears.
- Continue to make the same movement and move up and over the head until you finish on the back of the head by the neck.
- Breathe deeply while doing this
A quick note on allergies
Sometimes allergies or intolerance may be at the root cause of headaches and migraines. If this is the case, I can use the therapies that I work with to help with the allergy or intolerance quickly and effectively using the therapies that I work with.
I hope this article has explained how I work to offer effective treatment for Headache and Migraine. For more information please do drop me a line.
Read more about the Bowen Technique here
If you would like to chat to me to find out more you can book a free 15-minute call to discuss what you are experiencing.