Migraines Are Not the End of the Story — Natural Help Is Available

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light, sound, and certain odors
• Dizziness and vertigo (the sensation that you or the things around you are spinning)
• Visual disturbances

What Are Migraines with Aura?

For around 20 to 30 percent of people, migraines with aura occur. This is a type of warning sign that a migraine is about to occur. It usually comes on about an hour or so before the head pain or other symptoms begin. They do not always occur with every migraine episode. For some people, this means being diagnosed with a migraine with and a migraine without aura.

There are different types of migraines with aura. These may include the following:

• Retinal migraines
• Migraines with typical aura with or without following head pain
• Hemiplegic migraines
• Migraines with brainstem aura

When you hear the term aura, it is referring to recurring attacks of different neurological symptoms:

• Visual
• Motor
• Speech
• Sensory
• Other central nervous system symptoms

Usually, these neurological symptoms last for only a few minutes and disappear when the head pain begins. They may be unilateral (on one side only), but some people have auras and never get head pain. These can be referred to as acephalgic or silent migraines. They occur more often as you age.

What Brings About Migraines?

Migraines remain a mystery among the medical community. No one is really sure why they happen or how. A generally accepted theory is that the underlying cause has to do with a combination of environmental and genetic factors. As many as two-thirds of cases run in families. In addition, psychological conditions associated with migraines are common. It is often seen that depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety co-exist with migraines.

The following list contains some things which may be to blame for migraines:

• Food: Up to 60 percent of people with migraines report certain foods as being a trigger. The most common food triggers are as follows:
  • Red wine
  • Chocolate
  • MSG (a food additive)
  • Caffeine – too much or too little
  • Aged cheese
  • Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners
  • Alcohol
• Genetics: Studies involving twins show there is more than a 50 percent chance that if one suffers from migraines, they both will suffer from migraines at some point in their life. And, this is more apparent in those who have aura than those who do not.
• Physiological characteristics: In as many as 80 percent of the case of migraines, physiological stress is a known trigger. Other factors playing a role in the development of migraines are as follows:
  • Menstruation
  • Pregnancy
  • Oral contraceptive use
  • PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
  • Abuse
  • Perimenopause
  • Menopause
• Environmental features: Things around you can be a trigger. This may include bright sunlight, barometric pressure changes, weather changes, allergies, indoor air quality, and even lightning.
• Triggers: A combination of triggers can often be found as the reason for migraines to begin. These can be food, being over-tired, and weather conditions. Most people with migraines report having specific things set them off. Triggers can be experienced a full day before the actual migraine attack.

Migraines are neurological in nature and often begin in the brain, spreading into the blood vessels. The central nervous system plays a huge role in migraine development, along with brainstem malfunction. So, what can help the debilitating pain and discomfort of migraines?

Natural Relief for Migraines

Upper cervical chiropractors have seen much success in caring for their patients with migraines. We use scientific methods and specific measurements to examine the upper neck to see if there are any misalignments in either the C1 or C2 vertebra. This can often be the root cause of migraines. A misalignment in one of these bones can put the brainstem under stress and cause it to send improper signals to the brain. Another problem exists when misalignments occur here. They can act as a type of blockage to blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow, hindering the proper amounts of these fluids from leaving and entering the brain. All of this can lead to migraines.

Often people are shocked to learn we do not have to pop or crack the neck or spine to move these bones back into place. Rather, we use a gentle method to encourage them to move back on their own. But, the next question is, “Does it work?”

Encouraging Results from a Study

In the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, the results of a study were published that gives hope to migraine sufferers. A 39-year-old woman was reportedly having as many as 2 to 3 migraines per week. She was also experiencing tremors. She had been suffering since she was 10 years old. She had tried a variety of medications throughout her life, with no success. The little relief she found was temporary.

She began seeking the care of an upper cervical chiropractor. After her first adjustment, she noticed both her tremors and her migraines had improved. Over the next four months, her symptoms continued to get better and better. She got to the point where she reported her disability due to migraines was nearly non-existent.

This is very good news for migraine sufferers. Help does exist in the form of natural care without the use of medication or painful procedures. Most people see major improvement, while many see their migraines go away completely.