Naturopathic Doctors:

We have many treatment options to help patients suffering from headaches and migraines. We test and do not guess what the underlying issue might be. 

Some of the naturopathic solutions may include: 

• Treating vitamin D deficiency 
• Magnesium IV for treating acute migraines and which can also be helpful with menstrual migraines.
• Triple threat supplements supports: CoQ10 Riboflavin magnesium bisglycinate (very specific doses depending on patterns and blood work evaluated)
• We would look at cortisol levels and ways to support melatonin production to decrease triggers as insomnia or sleep challenges can be main triggers
• Menstrual migraines and and also migraines during perimenopause are often triggered by the drastic rise and fall of estrogen and changes in hormone levels – working with hormone replacement therapy  or hormone specific therapies can be highly effective in decreasing this monthly occurrence 
• An elimination diet or food intolerance tests (to uncover food sensitivities) might be recommended to help uncover dietary triggers.

Osteopathy:

Cathy can treat both headaches and migraines successfully as osteopathy considers and incorporates the whole body in its approach and therefore is a successful therapy for those suffering with chronic pain conditions. One area where osteopathy has a lot of success is  treating concussions and post-concussion syndrome.

Concussions occur commonly in Canada particularly from sporting and whiplash injuries. The symptoms of concussion are headache, fatigue, memory loss, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, blurred or double vision, nausea or vomiting, ringing in the ears or light sensitivity. You may not have all of these symptoms. Most concussions resolve within 14 days, however if your symptoms last more than three months, this is classified as post-concussion syndrome, and may last for several months or years. Post-concussion syndrome is more prevalent in people who have had multiple injuries or an underlying condition that sensitizes the nervous system.

Treating post-concussion syndrome with osteopathy gives the patient some relief in symptoms; case studies report successful outcomes in patients who receive osteopathy after isolated head injuries. Osteopathy helps to decrease strain in the cranial bones and reduces shock and tension in the nervous system. It also improves blood flow and drainage from the skull and neck. Osteopathy can support your vision and vestibular systems that may be affected.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture:

Headaches/ migraines in Chinese medicine are seen as either blood stagnation/ deficiency of blood or dampness/ fluid deficiency. What does this mean? If a recurring headache is from a car accident for example there is blood stagnation as there was a physical trauma that affected the brain. On the other hand if someone has a blood deficiency a headache can be from a lack of blood to the brain.

Dampness and fluid deficiency are related to the fluid levels in the body. Excess dampness will give  you headaches on rainy days. While fluid deficiency headaches will occur throughout the day when you’re not drinking a lot of water. The way to know why your headaches are happening is from a full intake!

Acupuncture has been shown in the literature to be as effective at prevention as daily prophylactic medication. What to expect during acupuncture: needle locations are not only on the head and neck and may be placed on other areas of the body. 

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy:

Headaches and migraines have been linked to inflammation and the buildup of metabolic waste in the brain. Poor glymphatic function, exacerbated by factors like poor sleep, stress, and dehydration, can worsen these conditions. By improving glymphatic drainage we can help reduce frequency and severity of migraines. We will use specific techniques to target areas to help alleviate the pain and discomfort you have. 

Our focus is to encourage lymphatic flow on your head and neck, as well as throughout your body, with techniques that target specific drainage points. We can teach you some of these techniques to use at home to help you maintain.   To read more about how lymphatic drainage techniques can help relieve headaches and migraines click here.

Registered Massage Therapy: 

Tension in the body can lead to headaches, sometimes long lasting, chronic and painful. 

When this happens touch can be healing to the body and mind. Our RMT Amy uses a combination of Swedish massage to the shoulders, upper back and neck, coupled with soft tissue release and kneading at the base of the skull to dissolve stress, improve blood flow and release muscular tension. Amy may press into certain key points around the upper back, shoulders and up the neck for a deep release – these are known as trigger points and require deeper pressure.

When fascia (connective tissue in the muscles and surrounding) becomes stressed and dehydrated it’s structure alters from supple to behaving more like glue causing a tugging effect which contributes to blood flow restrictions, decreased range of motion and tension therefore Amy will include fascial stretching with each treatment to further release the muscles. Sometimes treatment is coupled with heat. 

Amy always recommends staying well hydrated before and after a treatment. She also believes the movement is key for relief, this may look like short stretching breaks throughout the day, a walk, or a full yoga class in the evening.  Amy recommends gentle stretching exercises to do at home and this is a link she often shares with clients. 

Chiropractic:

Chiropractic care is one of the most frequently used non drug based approaches to treating headaches. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind here is that chiropractors do not treat headaches with medication. Today we are quick to reach for painkillers but research indicates that while they may provide a quick fix initially, medications often exacerbate conditions over the long term. Regular use of painkillers for headaches actually appears to cause more headaches to occur. 

Chiropractors use gentle manipulations called adjustments to correct misalignments of the spine, which can be the cause of the headache. Other common issues include poor posture and muscular problems, which chiropractors are also well placed to address. Unlike a drug based approach, chiropractic care can, and should, be tailored to the kind of headaches being experienced. Dr. Jon will assess you and treat the root of the problem and have your body feeling great again!

If any of these treatments interest you please give us a call and we can book you in or you can book online here. Have questions? We can help, all of our practitioners offer complimentary discovery calls.