Headaches Helped With Chiropractic - A Case Study

A documented case study appeared in the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health on August 11, 2011 showing chiropractic helping an 8-year-old boy suffering from headaches. The study authors begin by noting that about 75% of children report a notable headache by age 15.

The authors report that cervical (neck) subluxations, and the resulting changes in cervical curves have been shown to be a factor in headaches. Past studies show that people with necks that do not have their normal forward curvature and have become straight or reversed are particularly prone to headaches.

In this study, the 8-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractor with complaints of headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, allergies, and digestive problems. The boy's headaches were described as sharp and throbbing, and were made worse with noise, but improved when he was lying down. The boy's headaches were mainly in the front of his head and would last the entire day, sometimes even waking him at night.

Over the previous year, the boy's health continued to decline, and he became less able to engage in normal activities that he had previously enjoyed. In response, his parents had taken him to a pediatric neurologist-headache specialist, an allergist, a nutritionist, and a psychologist. Recommendations and medications from the medical health practitioners gave little or no relief to the boy.

A chiropractic examination and x-rays were performed, and revealed subluxations with cervical curve changes in the neck area. Chiropractic care was initiated with the child initially being seen three times per week and gradually reduced in frequency.

As a result of the chiropractic care, the child's headaches were alleviated and post x-rays showed an improvement of the neck curvature. The boy was involved in an auto accident later in his care. Fortunately, his headaches did not return, and he suffered no ill effects from the incident.

In the discussion area of the study, the authors conclude by stating, "It seems that evidence points to the cervical spine and its alignment as a critical factor in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cervicogenic headache in the pediatric population."

For more information on how chiropractic can help with your child's headaches contact our experienced doctors at (904) 425-8070.

DHA: An Essential Part of Pregnancy

Fish oil and walnuts provide an essential fatty acid that can help boost your baby's brain and visual development.

There's nothing fishy about it: DHA (or docosahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil, is an essential nutrient for women — especially during pregnancy. DHA helps build your baby's brain, nervous system, and eyes. "Omega-3s are a specific type of fat that our body needs but cannot make," says Melinda Johnson, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Adults need to get DHA from food, and a baby in utero needs to get these fats from its mother. Newborns get DHA from breast milk or from baby formula supplemented with DHA. It's so important that even if a mother doesn't consume much DHA, her body will use its own reservoir of DHA to provide it to her growing baby during gestation and then through breast milk after birth.

Benefits of DHA for growing babies include:

- Brain development. In a study of 98 pregnant women, researchers at the School of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Western Australia found that two years after birth, the children whose mothers had received a high dose of fish oil (including 2.2 g of DHA) in the second half of their pregnancy had higher scores in tests of their eye-hand coordination. Another study, from the University of Oslo in Norway, found that four-year-olds scored better on IQ tests if their mothers took DHA supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The results of other studies also suggest positive effects of maternal DHA supplementation on cognitive outcomes, such as motor development at 30 months of age and attention span at 5 years of age.

- Visual development. A study of 167 pregnant women conducted at the University of British Columbia's Department of Pediatrics suggested a correlation between visual acuity in two-month-old babies and their mother's DHA intake during their second trimester and third trimester of pregnancy. Reviews of other studies have found mixed results, possibly due to differences in how DHA was provided to the pregnant women and how visual acuity was measured.

- Higher birth weight. Researchers at Maastricht University in the Netherlands studied 782 mother-baby pairs and found "significant positive associations" between the mother's DHA levels (especially early in pregnancy) and the baby's weight and head circumference at birth. Other studies suggested that DHA consumption during pregnancy may have a small benefit in reducing the likelihood of repeat preterm birth among women who previously had preterm birth.

How much DHA do you need?

While there are not yet official recommendations on the amount of DHA pregnant women need, a recent review of research published by the Journal of Perinatal Medicine concluded that pregnant and lactating women need 200 mg of DHA a day; Johnson suggests the same amount.

Sources of DHA

So where can pregnant women get that daily dose of DHA? "Food is best," says Johnson, "so if a woman can, she should start there. Salmon, canned light tuna, and products with added DHA such as eggs and milk are all good options, as are anchovies, herring, sardines, walnuts, and walnut oil. If you'd rather take a DHA supplement, go for one derived from algae rather than fish oil — it'll be gentler on your stomach. (Then you'll be getting your DHA just as the fish do; their source is marine algae.)

Eating Fish Safely

Fish is a fantastic source of DHA, but pregnant and breastfeeding women need to exercise caution. You want to eat enough oily, fatty fish to reap the DHA benefits but not enough to add too much dangerous mercury to your diet (and your baby's). The Institute of Medicine and the Food and Drug Administration make the following recommendations.:

Avoid: Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish.

Eat sparingly (6 oz. or less per week): Canned (or packaged) albacore tuna and freshwater fish caught by family and friends

Eat carefully (up to 12 oz. per week): Other seafood, such as shellfish, canned (or packaged) light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish

However, these recommended limitations on seafood consumption during pregnancy have been challenged by a study of over 8,000 pregnant women and their children in the UK. The study found that children of women who ate more than the recommended amount of seafood during pregnancy had higher scores for verbal intelligence, fine motor skills, communication, and social development. This led the investigators to conclude that in terms of early childhood development, the benefits of seafood consumption during pregnancy may outweigh the risks related to mercury. It has yet to be seen whether official recommendations about fish consumption during pregnancy will be modified.

Learn more on DHA: www.livewellforlife.com or (904) 425-8070

Resource: Every Day Health

Herbal Remedies: Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common ailments people experience. It is estimated that 50 million people seek medical attention for headaches every year in the US alone and over $500,000,000 is spent annually on headache medicine. There are many herbal remedies for headaches that can help you without taking chemical based medicines.

The two most common types of headache are tension headaches which are caused by muscular tension and headaches caused by a constriction of blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. A few of the common causes are stress, poor posture, caffeine, eye strain, low blood sugar, allergies, sinusitis, and tiredness. There are also more severe problems that can cause headaches, but they are far less common. It is estimated that 90% of all headaches are tension headaches.

There are headache remedies from virtually every school of medicine including Chinese Herbalism, Ayurveda and Aromatherapy. Each remedy seeks to help you get rid of the pain using natural ingredients. Many of the remedies below have multiple uses and most are used in more than one school of alternative medicine.

Traditional Chinese Herbalism recommends using ginger for headaches. You can eat a small piece of fresh ginger or make a ginger tea. You can find ginger in most health food stores.

Ayurveda (the traditional system of medicine in India) offers a couple common remedies for headaches. The first is to soak a cloth in warm mustard oil and apply directly to your forehead to relieve the pain. The second remedy is to put coriander seeds in boiling water and inhale the steam created by this mixture. This is often used to relieve sinus related headaches.

If you want to try an aromatic remedy, there are several headache cures from the Aromatherapy school of medicine. For tension headaches, lavender is used to relax away your pain. You can message lavender oil directly into your temples or place a drop or two at the base of your nose. You may also want to try inhaling peppermint oil steam similar to the coriander seed remedy talked about above or take a bath with relaxing scents like chamomile. The idea is to soothe away your pain with pleasant smells.

There are many more herbal remedies for headaches. Herbal teas like peppermint, chamomile, rose hip, and more can soothe away a tension headache. Another common herbal remedy for tension headaches is valerian root. You can take capsule supplements or drink valerian root tea, but beware that it may make you drowsy.

These are just a few of the herbal remedies for headaches you can try. In general, these are so much better for you than popping pills and in most cases much more pleasant. Who wouldn`t want a soothing bath or warm cup of tea?

Learn more: www.livewellforlife.com

Resource: Natural News

Migraine & Cluster Headaches

Few of the millions who get occasional headaches have it as bad as the migraine sufferer. Far from being a minor annoyance these headaches can ruin lives. The migraine is a special type of headache-a vascular headache (as opposed to the more common tension headache). A migraine includes a collection of symptoms (a syndrome) that appear before the headache pain itself hits. Examples are: spots, lines or colored lights before the eyes, redness, swelling, tearing, muscle contraction, hallucinations, irritability, depression, numbness, constipation or diarrhea, and sometimes even a feeling of well-being! As the warning symptoms leave the headache itself hits. It may range in severity from minor discomfort to immobilizing agony and may last from minutes to days. A few of the most common expressions of it are:

- The pain most likely occurs on only one side of the head.
- Nausea and vomiting are usually associated with it.
- The throbbing eventually evolves into a dull steady pain.

The migraine is different from tension headaches because tension headaches usually involve the whole head, start suddenly and only include nausea and vomiting if it becomes very severe. Also, migraines affect more women than men, and usually begin after puberty. The cause of migraines is not known. Because other members of the family may also have headache problems, some researchers believe migraines may have a hereditary component. But there are many things you inherit from your parents that have no genetic component which may be related to headache formation: how you deal with stress, anger and tension and how you hold your body (posture). Genes usually give us tendencies, not the condition itself. No "migraine gene" is known. Chiropractic is a method of removing spinal damage so your body may work better and heal itself.

The Cluster Headache

Cluster headache attacks seem to mostly affect men between 20 and 40. They come on abruptly, with intense throbbing pain arising high in one nostril and spreading behind the eye on that side of the face. The attacks tend to occur from once to several times daily in clusters lasting weeks or even months.  Without apparent reason the cluster subsides as quickly as it began.

Headache Treatment

The treatment for a headache depends, of course, on what has presumably caused it. A headache arising from visual problems can often be cured by eyeglasses. An infection headache of the sinuses or ears is relieved when the infection subsides. But the most common headaches are usually treated with painkillers. The hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year on everything from aspirin and aspirin substitutes to codeine and prescription drugs may provide relief from headache, but does it correct the cause?

The Chiropractic Approach

Millions of headache sufferers are turning to the natural, drugless, chiropractic approach to health. Chiropractors are the only healing professionals who are trained to analyze and correct the vertebral subluxation complex, a spinal distortion that damages the nerves. It is a very common, often painless condition-that weakens the body, causes fatigue, lowers vitality and sets the stage for sickness and diseases. Chiropractic is a method of removing spinal damage so your body may work better and heal itself. Chiropractors don't treat headaches and yet millions of headache sufferers have benefited from the safe, natural, drugless, chiropractic approach to health care. By correcting your vertebral subluxation complex, your body, with its magnificent natural healing ability, is better able to address your overall needs.

The Chiropractic Checkup

Using his/her hands, X-ray and other instruments to analyze your spine, the chiropractor will determine if you have any vertebral subluxations in your body. Then, using special techniques, your chiropractor will perform a chiropractic spinal adjustment to correct the vertebral subluxation complex, removing the nerve pressure and spinal distortions. Please keep in mind that the purpose of the chiropractic spinal adjustment is not to cure your headache but to remove the nerve and spinal stress caused by the vertebral subluxation complex. This permits our body to restore itself to a greater level of health and wholeness to better heal itself.

The Spine/Headache Relationship

It was once believed that the structures of the neck were not related to headaches, however that is no longer the case. Now there is a special term for those headaches that originate in the neck: the cervicogenic headache. As Dr. Howard Vernon (D.C.) concluded in reviewing the literature on the spine/ headache relationship, "The body of literature supporting a [spinal] origin of headache ... is substantial." It appears that there are many pain-sensitive structures in the neck-the joints, discs and even ligaments that may be related to problems that whiplash and accident victims often report: headache, dizziness and other problems." In fact, a study of 6,000 people who suffered from recurring headaches for two to 25 years showed that spine injury was the most important factor in the cause of the headache and should be suspected in every nonspecific case of headache.

Can Chiropractic Help You?

Chiropractors have, for over a century, observed that after chiropractic spinal care, children and adult migraine sufferers report improvement or alleviation of their condition." No matter what disease or condition you have, you can benefit from a healthy spine. Spinal health can be as important for your overall healing as proper nutrition. Are you and your family carrying the vertebral subluxation complex in your spines? Only a chiropractic spinal checkup can tell. Among the many things contributing to your health: the quality of the air, food and water you take in; how you handle emotional stress; your inherited weaknesses and strengths; your use of drugs; exercise; and relaxation-a healthy spine is absolutely essential. In some people it is a major factor and can make the difference between a life of health, strength and vitality or a life of disease, weakness and disability. A healthy spine can improve your life-see your chiropractor for periodic spinal checkups.

Don't let headaches continue to run your life. Contact us at info@livewellforlife.com or call us at (904) 425-8070. There is a better way!

Resource: Koren Publications

Prenatal Supplements

Prenatal supplements consist of a variety of vitamins and minerals. During pregnancy, a woman’s daily intake requirements for certain nutrients, such as folic acid (folate), calcium, and iron will increase. Vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, and folic acid are vital for proper fetal growth, development, and healthy adult living.

To help increase your chances of creating a healthy and nutritious environment in which your baby can develop, it is important that you establish a well-balanced diet and exercise routine before you get pregnant. If you choose to supplement your diet with synthetic nutrients, be sure to keep track of daily amounts that you take and let your health care provider know.

Choose Wisely

Multivitamin combinations can vary depending on the nutritional focus. For example, some manufacturers will create multivitamins that have a higher amount of iron than usual, targeting women who are prone to iron-deficiency anemia. While certain prenatal multivitamins are only available by a doctor’s prescription, many of them are available over the counter. Keep in mind that it is possible to jeopardize your baby’s (or your own) health by taking inappropriate amounts of synthetic vitamins, so be sure your chiropractor is aware of any supplements you are taking.

Talk to Your Chiropractor

Avoid taking several different supplements unless under a chiropractor’s supervision; instead take one multivitamin that includes a variety of needed nutrients in one dose. Combining supplements (such as taking a folic acid supplement along with your multivitamin, etc.) can raise concerns because you run the risk of overdosing on a particular nutrient. Taking more than 100% the RDA of any nutrient should be avoided during pregnancy unless under the direction of your chiropractor.

If your typical daily diet consists of unprocessed foods, fruits, a colorful variety of vegetables, whole grains, lentils, and plenty of water, then you will likely have sufficient vitamins and minerals already in your body. As long as you are eating a well balanced diet, you need not fear overdosing on nutrients found naturally in foods (although some studies have shown symptoms of toxicity after large consumption of animal organs, like liver). However, supplements (synthetic vitamins and minerals) are a different story. They contain higher doses in concentrated form, which can be dangerous if taken in improper amounts. Always let your chiropractor know what nutritional supplements you are taking. Consider taking your supplement bottles with you to your first prenatal visit.

Synthetic vitamin supplements can be helpful ways of including vital nutrients in your daily meals. Vitamins and minerals are essential to healthy development of your baby, as well as your own physical health. Be sure to speak with your chiropractor about nutrition before you conceive if you are planning to get pregnant in the near future, or as soon as you know you are pregnant.

Call us at (904) 425-8070 or visit us at www.livewellforlife.com for more information on natural prenatal chiropractic care.

Resource: American Pregnancy Association

"Mommy my head hurts..."

Although the pediatric chiropractic practice is often sought for most childhood conditions (e.g. otitis media - middle ear infection, asthma, colic, enuresis - bedwetting, etc.), headaches are more common than most doctors realize.

When a child has a headache, it is not uncommon for a parent to seek medical attention to rule out a brain tumor or other serious problems. Once the child has been examined and a serious disorder has been ruled out, the child starts down the path of learning "to live with it.” The parent or child will often administer over the counter medication, or opt for medically managed pharmacology.

One Swedish study of 9,000 children discovered that over 70% had experienced headaches by the age of 15.1 Smith reports from a 1988 survey the frequency of severe headaches in those under the age of 18 to be 25.3 per 1000 population, 9.9 per 1000 for children under the age of 10, and 45.8 per 1000 for those from ages 10-17.2

An Australian study of 900 children ages 10-18 reported that only 36.8% never experienced a headache.3 This study revealed that 33.7% of the youths experienced headaches every 2-3 weeks or once a month; 24.8% every few days or once a week; and 4.6% experienced a headache almost all the time. Girls were more likely to have headaches with a higher frequency (once a week).

Sillampaa and Anttila in 1966, reported the increasing prevalence of headache in 7 year old school children.4 The study reported the occurrence of headaches during a 6 month period increased from 45.4% in 1974 to 51.5% in 1992. Migraines increased during that time from 1.9% to 5.7%.4

Management of headaches by adjustments has been well documented. In the Journal of Chiropractic Pediatrics, Anderson-Peacock described 5 cases which responded well to chiropractic care. Secondary problems (e.g. back and/or extremity pain, sinus, GI tract irritation) were also mentioned as part of the patient's profile.6

Lewit studied a group of 30 children with nonmigrainous headaches. He stated that 28 of the children had "excellent" results from manipulation. In another group of 27 children who suffered from migraine headaches, 24 had "excellent" results.7

One excellent tool for understanding headaches is to keep a journal of occurrences. A morning headache may be the result of a stomach sleeper placing their cervical spine in constant rotation. A weekend headache may be the result of sleeping in and delaying the routine of bowel or bladder elimination, thus creating toxins in the system. A prelunch or after school headache may be a sign of glycemia. The use of backpacks may cause a repetitive stress syndrome in the cervical and upper thoracic spine. One should also rule out visual problems and the possible need for glasses. The influence of food or chemical products in the diet of the child, such as NutraSweet, sulfates, sulfites (in hotdogs and lunch meats), caffeine and chocolate may be potential triggers for a headache. For young girls and teens, the onset of the menstrual cycle may be the start of a future of migraine headaches.

For more information regarding headaches and the natural chiropractic approach contact Dr. Nicole Orozco or Dr. Hugo Orozco at (904) 425-8070.

Resource: Dynamic Chiropractic

Understanding Headaches

In the United States today, headaches are a common problem. There are a variety of different types of headaches, including stress headaches, sinus headaches, migraine headaches, and cluster headaches. The most common type is the tension/stress headache. They are generally caused by tension and stress in the head, shoulders or neck. Sinus headaches are generally caused by an overproduction of mucus in the sinuses, leading to pressure, pain, and sometimes infection. Airborne allergies are often a component of sinus headaches. Migraine headaches are severely painful, often incapacitating, and are often accompanied by vision problems, sensitivity to light, and nausea. Migraines can last for days, and involve disturbances in blood flow to the head. Cluster headaches are usually one-sided, and come in clusters of several headaches within a short period of time, followed by periods of no headaches.

Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors. Some possibilities include: stress and anxiety, food additives (especially aspartame and MSG), food sensitivities, allergies, dehydration, low blood sugar, hormonal imbalances, constipation and other digestive problems, and drugs (even caffeine and alcohol). Strategies to improve headaches involve identifying the things that set them off, finding ways to balance the body chemistry, and finding natural approaches that can help with the pain.

Diet is extremely important to every aspect of our health. Whole foods are much better for us than processed foods. Complex carbs like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, sprouted grains, and legumes are much better than simple starches and sugars. Good lean protein is better than hamburgers and sausage. Good fats are essential to the body! Essential Fatty Acids like Omega 3, 6. and 9 are important to every cell, get them from olive oil, fish, and nuts and seeds. Avoid hydrogenated oils and trans fats. They are toxic on many levels, and are sometimes referred to as the fats that kill. Chemicals in food and drugs interfere with normal body processes. Eat real, whole foods.

Food triggers and sensitivities can be causative factors in all types of headaches. A food sensitivity is not an allergy, but your body does mount an immune response to the offending food. It attacks the food as a foreign invader, and often causes unpleasant symptoms, such as headache, sneezing, coughing, congestion, digestive upset, etc. A large percentage of people with chronic headaches have sensitivities!

Food triggers for headaches often contain phenylalanine or tyramine. The most common food ingredients that can cause recurring headaches are:

- Aspartame – sold as Equal or NutraSweet. This artificial sweetener is the most complained about food to the FDA. It’s most common side effect is headaches, but can even mimic symptoms of fibromyalgia, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. A very bad actor for the central nervous system, called an “Excito-toxin”.

- MSG – Monosodium Glutamate is a flavor enhancer, designed to activate our cravings. It is another “Excito-toxin”, and is disguised on many ingredient lists. It can be called spices, natural flavors, flavor enhancer, calcium caseinate, sodium caseinate, autolyzed yeast, and hydrolyzed protein.

- Nitrates – found in processed deli meat, bacon, and hot dogs. All 3 of these, aspartame, MSG, and nitrates contain phenylalanine, avoid that on labels as well.

Foods that are common triggers for migraines and other types of headaches often contain tyramine, found in cheese, chocolate, citrus fruit, coffee, cold cuts, smoked fish, wine, alcohol, sausage, sour cream, and vinegar.

The most common food sensitivities are to wheat (or gluten) and dairy. These are the most likely to be setting off an immune response, because we have been taught to eat them with every meal since infancy. We develop sensitivities to that which we eat most often, and the flip side of the sensitivity is an addiction. We generally crave that which we are most sensitive to! An allergic response can occur, and trigger a headache of any kind. Wheat and dairy also both tend to increase congestion, increasing sinus pressure. The food sensitivity that sets the immune warriors into action starts a “war” between allergen and antibody, and this can also be the cause of a headache. Food sensitivities can be hard to identify, the most efficient way is to do an elimination diet. Eliminate one food or food group at a time for 14 days to see if symptoms improve. If you are not sure if that was a problem or not, do a challenge test, on the 15th day, eat food that you had eliminated with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will know within 48 hours if that food is causing you trouble. Another helpful device to determine food sensitivities is to check your pulse. Often the pulse will go up after eating a food that we are sensitive to. Check pulse before eating, then check 40 minutes after a food you suspect to see if the pulse has gone up by 7 beats per minute or more (40 minutes after first bite). Keeping a food diary can also help you track food sensitivities.

Sugar can also cause headaches, usually because it unbalances blood sugar, but sometimes because it triggers a sensitivity response. Sugars make blood sugar climb up, to be followed by a crash, and low blood sugars cause headaches. A lack of glucose to the brain creates a physiological headache. The longer this condition goes on, the worse the headache. To eliminate low blood sugar headaches, avoid sugars and simple flour, and eat a balanced snack/meal every 2 – 3 hours.

Constipation has many bad consequences for health. It allows toxins to get back into the bloodstream rather than be eliminated from the body. It also indicates dehydration in the body, and one should drastically increase water consumption. Toxic overload and dehydration always lead to pain, often that pain comes in the form of a headache. Make sure you are having at least 2-3 bowel movements a day, and drink pure, clean water, 10 oz every waking hours is great. Some herbs work well to get the bowels moving, a formula with cascara sagrada and senna will do the trick in a desperate situation, but they may cause cramping. Magnesium citrate is a better alternative. Citrate pulls water into the bowel, and magnesium helps relax the muscles of the bowel. Vitamin C will also loosen the bowels, take 1000 mg, 3 times a day to start. Combine with a flax fiber to tone and lubricate the intestinal lining. These plant nutrients normalize bowel function on an ongoing basis. Flax fiber pulls water into the bowel, and tones the peristaltic muscles.

Another digestive issue that can lead to headaches is called Leaky Gut Syndrome, also known as Intestinal Permeability. Leaky gut is another potential source of toxic overload in the body, leading to headaches of all kinds. It can be caused by undigested food particles, candida, parasites, and unbalanced bacteria in the colon. This condition occurs when cracks and holes are present in the intestinal lining. Long chains of undigested food get through the cracks to enter the bloodstream. The body thinks they are foreign invaders, and mounts an attack by the immune system. Leaky gut is thought to be a causative factor in the development of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. It is also associated with allergies and food sensitivities. L-Glutamine (1000 mg twice daily) is an amino acid, and the main ingredient to rebuild the intestinal lining. A digestive enzyme should also be used to break down food into a smaller size, easier for colon to handle. Flax fiber is good for cleansing and pulling toxins. Probiotics like Bifidus and Acidophilus, will further strengthen and balance the intestinal environment. Improving your digestive tract is wonderful for your entire body, and may vastly improve your headaches!

Hormonal fluctuations can also be responsible for headaches. The woman’s monthly cycle may be involved, and menopausal changes can also contribute to headaches, or cause them to finally go away. Having your hormones checked and balanced can sometimes solve the problem. My favorite hormone balancing herb is Maca, and the brand Femmenessence® is certified organic and very helpful for balance. There are also Doctors who offer testing and prescribing of natural hormonal compounds, called bio-identical hormones. These are individually formulated, and a much more natural form of hormone replacement therapy. Sometimes artificial hormone replacement therapies or birth control pills can cause hormonal headaches. Evaluate all of your prescription drugs with your pharmacist to see if headaches are a side effect. They commonly are!

Tension and stress are involved in most headaches. Our modern society is very fast paced, and all of us deal with stress in many forms. Learning to manage that stress is important for controlling headache pain and for our overall health. When we experience physical, mental, or emotional stress, we produce the stress hormone called cortisol (part of adaptive physiology). Ongoing high cortisol levels have negative impact on many body systems, including the brain. Try these stress management techniques, and supplements to balance cortisol and relieve anxiety. 10 deep breaths will help us feel better whenever we are feeling stressed. Gentle, stress reducing Hatha Yoga is one of my favorite stress reducers. Tai Chi, walking, and other exercises help anxiety, tension, and stress. Avoid caffeine, which is a stress producer. Low blood sugar is a huge trigger for anxiety and tension, headaches, and can even produce panic attacks.

Exercise of all kinds can help; there are a number of physical things that can be done. Pay special attention to neck and shoulder area. Gentle neck rolls and shoulder rolls every morning and night helps keep muscles loose. When you have a headache, check the back of your neck for knots. If you find one or more, rub them back and forth, work on them for 10 – 15 minutes, this often helps relieve the pain. There are scalp massage tools available in a variety of places, and shiatsu massage machines for sale at JC Penney’s and K-Mart. Bodywork, such as massage and chiropractic often make a difference in the frequency of headaches. Try massaging the neck and upper back with ice wrapped in a hand towel for relief of headache pain. Chiropractic is extremely important when the cause of the headaches is structural. TMJ and misalignments in the spine or neck can cause headaches. A warm bath with a few drops of Lavender essential oil is very relaxing, and helps diminish stress, even a warm shower can help. Toothaches can sometimes feel like headaches; avoid cold food and drinks. Acupuncture and Acupressure have great value as well. Pinching the skin between the thumb and forefinger helps some people. Another Naturopathic remedy involves putting a cool towel on your forehead and neck, and putting your feet in warm water for 10-15 minutes. This draws the blood away from the head and is also good for migraines. Lying down in a darkened room with a cool towel on the forehead and a heating pad on neck and upper back can lessen the pain.

And an obvious approach to headaches is chiropractic, which we will touch upon in the week's to come!

Please visit us at www.livewellforlife.com or contact us at (904) 425-8070 for more information.