Headache Relief

Headaches originate from many different aspects of our lives, from stress to allergies. Finding a holistic cure begins with identifying the interplaying cause of your headaches. At AFC Chiropractic, we examine all of the underlying factors triggering your headaches before building a holistic remedy.

Chronic Headache Treatment

Just like every person is different, every headache feels different and has different factors at play. Therefore, identifying the type of headache is a primary step in your care plan. Headaches can be generally grouped under six categories: migraine headaches, tension headaches, TMJ, sinus headaches, cluster headaches, and other types of headaches with either rare causes or a combination of factors. Browse the types of headaches and their associated symptoms below to see how AFC Chiropractor can help bring you relief.

Identifying Types of Headaches

• Migraine Headache: A migraine is characterized by pain in one or both sides of the head

• Tension Headache: A band of pain along the forehead

• TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction): Pain in the temples or when chewing

• Sinus Headache: Pain or pressure on face

• Cluster Headache: Pain behind one eye

Other Headaches

In some cases, headaches don’t fall under the classic symptoms and are more difficult to identify. In these cases, there may be multiple factors at play, or rare conditions leading to symptoms not found in most cases. Oftentimes, an undiagnosed headache is cervicogenic, meaning it originates from spinal alignment issues or injuries along the neck. If a general practitioner is not able to find the cause of your headache, or is not listening to your concerns, please come to us. We never turn away a patient because their symptoms don’t fall in line with conventional definitions.

Home Remedies for Headaches

Magnesium Supplements

Magnesium supplementation for headache relief is a safe and inexpensive  alternative to headache medicine such as Excedrin and Ibuprofen, which lead to kidney, liver, and stomach damage with excessive use. Magnesium supplements are particularly useful in relieving migraines, and can be taken with water, or along with conventional headache relief medication. Certain foods also naturally contain magnesium, particularly pumpkin seeds. Almonds, spinach, soy milk, and dark chocolate also contain 50 mg of magnesium or more per serving. Visit AFC Chiropractic to learn the right amount of magnesium to add to your diet and headache relief routine.

Stay Hydrated

Everyone forgets to drink water, which can result in dehydration headaches Avoid a dehydration headache by staying hydrated. Try carrying a water bottle with you, especially when active, outdoors, and away from handy water sources. High sodium and caffeine drinks may taste great at the time, but have the ultimate effect of dehydrating the body. Be sure to counteract them with plenty of pure drinking water. 

Sleep & Body Rest

A fixed sleep schedule with ample REM sleep helps greatly with all assets of health, but isn’t always easy. To help treat a headache, especially a migraine, find a dark, quiet space to close your eyes and relax. Headaches are both aggravated and caused by  stress, which can negatively affect sleep, trapping the headache sufferer in a vicious cycle. Practicing stress relief and consistent sleep hygiene goes a long way in helping your body to recover faster, especially when working in tandem with hydration and your choice of headache remedy. If you are having trouble falling asleep, get 15 minutes or more of aerobic exercise before bed. This will signal to your body that it’s time to relax and recover.  

Neck, Shoulder, & Back Stretches

Oftentimes, the headache pain we experience actually comes from tense muscles (often the scalene muscles) pulling on our necks, creating internal pressure that manifests as a cervicogenic headache. This headache pain can be partially relieved through medication or supplements, but will not be fixed until the underlying issue is resolved. To help treat this type of headache, carefully stretch each of your muscles one by one to identify and work out all the tense spots. In addition to working out unevenness in your muscles, stretching triggers natural pain relief within the body, and encourages the circulation of white blood cells. 

While stretching at home helps greatly to relieve tense muscles, it’s difficult or even impossible to work out all the issues alone. In addition to your at-home stretch routine, visit our office for therapeutic massage, chiropractic adjustments, and specific stretches to add to your routine in order to provide long-term relief.