When the throbbing in the head returns and the normal routine of soda and acetaminophen won't make it go away, what else is there to do? Surprisingly there are a number of alternative options that can help decrease the intensity, duration and frequency of headaches. The hard part is determining what alternative or combination of alternatives will be most helpful.
Chiropractic
The aim of chiropractic is to address joint dysfunctions in the spine to increase range of motion and decrease tension in the muscles. When seeing a chiropractor, a full neck and head exam should be performed to determine if joint dysfunction is a potential cause of headaches. If joint dysfunction is not the main problem, but muscle tension or weakness is a contributing factor, there are still therapeutic procedures and exercises that a chiropractor can prescribe to help. Often the upper cervical joints are a main generator of headaches, and adjusting the segments will relieve the intensity of the headache greatly. In the October 2009 "Spine Journal," a report appeared about a study on cervicogenic headaches and spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). The study found that those who received SMT vs. light massage (the placebo treatment group) had a 50 percent reduction of original pain scores after 12 weeks.
Massage
The main goal of massage is to improve circulation, decrease muscle tension and increase waste removal from the muscles. A tension headache is caused by muscles being too tight. A good massage therapist will be able to work on all the numerous muscles on the neck and head to help decrease the muscle tension that leads to headaches. A pilot study posted in Vol. 17, No. 2, of "The Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy" in 2009 looked at tension headaches and the effect of twice weekly massages on several different measurable scales over the course of six weeks. It took most of the test subjects all six weeks to start having a decline in headaches as well as stress, anxiety and depression markers. This study not only indicates that massage can be helpful for headaches, but helpful for stress and anxiety.
Ice/Heat Packs
Alterations in blood flow to the head and general circulation of the blood is one way to get a headache, which is why a lot of over-the-counter headache medications have caffeine in them. The caffeine will cause the blood vessels to constrict, causing a temporary increase in blood pressure. This increase in blood pressure may help with the blood flow to the brain, helping the headache or make it worse altogether. If a headache does not decrease with the use of caffeine, an opposite approach needs to be taken to decrease blood flow to the head. This can be accomplished by placing a hot pack on the hands or shoulders and an ice pack on the back of the head, at the nape of the neck. This approach is best done laying face down and for less than 10 minutes. Feeling dizzy is a sign that the combination of the heat and ice pack has been on there too long. The combination of the ice and heat will help draw blood out of the head and into the hands.
References
- "Spine Journal;" Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial.; Haas M., et. al.; October 15th 2009.
- "Journal of Manual Manipulative Therapy;" Changes in Physiological Parameters in Patients with Tension Type Headache Following Massage Therapy: A pilot study.; Moraska A, 2009.
- Mayo Clinic
