Many headaches can be treated naturally through different methods with impressive results.  Trigger point therapy (massage) and chiropractic (manipulation) are all very good methods of treating headaches with minimal, if any, side-effects.  Today we will touch on these different modalities but I will focus primarily on the unique relationship of chiropractic and trigger point therapy.  The mechanism on how manual therapies including chiropractic adjustments improve headaches is well documented, studied and understood.  However, do to prejudice towards chiropractic and other alternative forms of healthcare this information is not readily given to the lay person and most of the medical community.  Thankfully, there is a growing body of today’s medical physicians interested in the neurophysiology of spinal adjustments and their effect on the human condition.  For the individual who believes that there is no real prejudice towards chiropractors one must look no further than the case of Wilk vs. AMA.  In this lawsuit (filed in 1977) the AMA was found guilty by the Supreme Court (in 1987) to deliberately put down the chiropractic profession and start a campaign to eradicate chiropractic by various means of propaganda.  It is with great joy that I state that science once again prevailed and human short sightedness failed.  Several years ago in the Toronto Star, a major newspaper in Canada, published an article titled “A Pain in the Neck.  Chiropractors were right. Many headaches are caused by damaged structures in the neck –and scientific evidences proves it.”  The cervicogenic headache model proves that underlying issues in neck structures could be the reason for chronic sometimes debilitating headaches.  Disc disease, postural misalignment, fatigue, arthritis, other articular dysfunction and referred pain zones via trigger points can all cause severe headaches.  The reality of most patients is that these factors often co-exist.  Joint dysfunction can be a powerful perpetuator of muscular trigger points leading to ruthless headaches when found in the structures of the neck.

Peter Rothbart, MD, FRCPC an anesthesiologist and contributor to the article states “We couldn’t believe it at first.  We’ve been able to put together a scientific explanation of how neck structures cause headaches-not all headaches, but a significant number of them.” The concept that one’s headaches could stem from joint dysfunction in the cervical spine (neck) has been around for a long time in the chiropractic profession. It is finally coming around to not only medical doctors but the general public that most headaches are caused by structural sources in the cervical spine.  Thousands of chiropractic patients have benefited from cervical adjustments who otherwise would have needlessly suffered from headaches.  These patients sought to address the origin of their pain and not mask their complaint with drugs.  Reminder, when the opportunity of addressing a biological condition can be handled without the risks of drugs and their side-effects one should embrace such an option.   Structural reasons are at the root of many headaches and wisely individuals are choosing a structural solution, chiropractic adjustments.  Dr. Rothbart also stated “Some brilliant people have put their hearts, souls and minds to this (headache) problem and haven’t come up with anything.  All we’ve been able to do is treat people with an array of medicines, one after the other, and hope the side effects won’t be too bad.” 

Headaches in the forehead, around/behind the eyes and temporal areas are primarily due to trigger points in the splenius capitus, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), sub occipital triangle and upper trapezius muscles respectively.  This neurological observation is well documented and these tender points in the muscles named above are found in the same areas in everyone suffering from headaches.  These headaches can be severe enough to cause nausea, sensitivity to light and intense stabbing/throbbing pain.   Although, migraine variant headaches make up only 8% of all headaches they are often blamed for all severe headaches.  Cervicogenic headaches can be easily confused with a migraine due to their often brutal intensity.   There is an interesting relationship between these two types of headaches.  According to medical texts a great number of migraine episodes are also initiated by trigger points, yet a surprising number of clinicians overlook this common phenomenon.  Treating trigger points may be the only way to offer relief to those who suffer with migraines and cervicocgenic headaches, while a cervical adjustment will increase joint function and ROM decreasing the probability of the trigger points returning.  When it comes to treating the musculoskeletal system one must do just that treat both the muscles and joints.

The neurological phenomenon of trigger points was discovered by Dr. Raymond L. Nimmo a Chiropractor and later developer of trigger point therapy.  It is only natural that chiropractic and Nimmo’s technique be used in conjunction for quick/effective healing.  Dr. Nimmo went on to discover that the formation of trigger points often relates to some form of damage to muscles, either from gross trauma such as a strain injury or from micro-trauma such as a muscular repetitive stress injury. That being said healthy muscles don’t have trigger points.  Prolonged tonicity or contraction of muscles from stress, postural influences, tight/inflexible muscles and neurological influences such as nerve compression will also cause trigger points.  If these points happen to be in the cervical spine or shoulders the individual will develop headaches.  Systemic factors could also cause trigger points such as nutritional deficiencies.  For example, Magnesium deficiency will increase the incidence and severity of muscle cramps and muscular tonicity.  The typical American diet provides about 120mg per day of magnesium while the normal recommended daily allowance for magnesium is 400mg.  In addition, 78% of Americans state that they are stressed with their everyday life including family and work.  Unfortunately, severe stress is another mechanism by which magnesium deficiency occurs.  This one two punch has the typical American at a disadvantage when it comes to magnesium deficiencies and sets the stage for increased muscular tonicity along with the development of trigger points.  Hence, eat plenty of your green leafy vegetables for they are rich in magnesium and help those stressed, taught and tired muscles recover.

Stress seems to be the silent killer in America and is an aggravating factor for all forms of disease including headaches.  Take some time out for yourself.  Participate in exercise, yoga, meditation, massage, breathing exercises and other activities that help you relax.  When dealing with chronic headaches take a multi faceted approach.  Deal with stress, each right, see your chiropractor and avoid chemicals that you may be sensitive to.  Many artificial sweeteners and additives are also excitotoxins.   Excitotoxins are chemicals that literally stimulate neurons to death.   Aspartame, Nutra-sweet, MSG just to name a few will all cause headaches and should be avoided.  For more info on excitotoxins read Excitotoxins: The taste that kills.  Headaches can be treated naturally and effectively.  First try all your conservative measures for you will be surprised how many people they help and they even may help you.  If all else fails then try medication.  There is a place for everything in this world drugs and surgery should be last.