Are you a Headache Person?

I’m pretty sure most of us have suffered the pain of a headache at some point. Whether it is the rare sinus/allergy type or the chronic headache you’ve become accustomed to, there is relief available.

Saturday Night Headache

The “too much fun on Saturday night” headache is primarily induced by dehydration. The meninges in our brain need water and vitamins and electrolytes and…. probably more sleep.   

Migraines

Migraines, however, are a whole different class of headache and sometimes involve symptoms such as extreme sensitivity to light, vision problems, nausea and vomiting. Migraines are described as ‘pounding’ or ‘throbbing’ and are likely due to blood flow constriction or dilation.  Researchers also understand the intricate relationship between neurotransmitters in the brain and the complex neurochemical changes in the brain affecting serotonin and endorphins- the brains natural pain killing hormones. These nasty headaches can last from a few hours to several days and can seriously impact daily life especially when they occur frequently.

Tension

Tension headaches are experienced by the larger population. This type of headache is literally “a pain in the neck”! We can still function (albeit grouchy) and are generally caused by muscle contraction or hypertonic muscles in the neck, or face and base of skull.  Most people experience a constant, dull, achy feeling often described as a “vice-grip” in the head across the forehead and temples.

Can Massage Therapy Help?

Massage is one just one of many natural alternatives to drug therapy that can help relieve headaches safely and effectively. I frequently recommend acupuncture and chiropractic care as an adjunct to massage therapy for headache management and a slew of other ailments.  These modalities can not only address underlying causes of headaches and prevent future ones, but also avoids the side effects that often accompany prescription and over-the-counter headache medications.

Since so many clients who suffer with tension headaches and migraines also have neck pain, manual therapies such as massage offer relief by relaxing tense muscles, relieve muscle spasms, improve blood flow and aids relaxation. Increasing blood, oxygen and nutrients to these areas not only help the muscles of the body to relax but also reduce the anxiety and mental stress that can cause or exacerbate headache pain and frequency. 

Techniques

When I am working with headache sufferers, I tend to spend extra time focusing on muscles in the neck, shoulder, and back as well as base of skull at the occiput. Working with techniques like trigger point therapy, which is specific pressure to points along the cervical spine, trapezius muscles, and occiput. The sternocleidomastoid muscle (the large muscle on either side of the front of the neck) is also an area of tension I massage and do specific stretching to release, lengthen and promote relaxation.

A regular, ongoing massage therapy regime can effectively ease the muscle tension that causes headaches and help prevent them in the future.