EEG Biofeedback Takes the Pain Out of Headaches

Your head is throbbing with pain, your neck muscles feel wound tighter than a rubber band and you're beginning to feel the sick taste of nausea in your stomach.  All you want to do is escape to some dark quiet place where you can lie down and hopefully it will go away.

You probably recognize these symptoms and feeling if you have ever had a really bad headache or migraine.  Aspirin or Tylenol can help but not always.  The ancient Incans had a unique treatment form.  They drilled a hole in the skull.  We've certainly come a long way since Incan times. With the latest EEG Biofeedback technology, people can get remarkably quick relief.

But do we really know what causes headaches in the first place?  Not all headaches are the same. The most common is your tension headache which is often caused by tightened muscles in the head and neck, resulting from stress.

Then there's the dreaded migraine headache which comes with throbbing pain and sensitivity to light and sound.  Some people note that migraines are preceded by seeing an aura.  Migraines can last anywhere from 12-24 hours, and sometimes longer.  They are usually triggered by blood vessels that alternately expand and contract.  Some migraines are hormonal in nature and are often experienced around a woman's monthly cycle.

The worst type of headache is the cluster headache and for some reason seems to strike men more than women.  This type of headache can occur in cycles several times a day then might mysteriously disappear for months or even a year before reappearing.

What causes headaches?  The brain chemical known as serotonin a key role in triggering migraines. Researchers are not sure why, but serotonin can sometimes flood the brain's blood vessels which cause them to constrict.  The body's warning system detects this overabundance of serotonin and reacts by trying to stop the flow.  As a result, blood vessels are then forced to expand to several times their normal size.  The throbbing pain that is felt is due to this cycle of contraction and expansion.

If you have migraines, the best place to start is by eliminating dietary triggers which greatly contribute to the problem. Caffeine is the biggest culprit.  Avoid coffee, teas, chocolate, and decaf.  Contrary to what most people believe, decaf doesn't mean they zapped all of the caffeine out, just some of it.

Also eliminate red wine (sometimes white wine too), string-flavored cheese, fermented foods (like soy sauce and miso), sardines, anchovies, and pickled herring.

Often, seasonal allergies hormonal fluctuations, stress, and hereditary traits are all influencing factors.  A natural alternative to is the herb feverfew which has helped many find relief.

Dr. Andrew Weil, author of the best, Spontaneous Healing, recommends biofeeback for serious headache pain, that has plagued a person over a long period of time.

Many of our biofeedback clients don't wait until a migraine strikes, they come to us hoping to avoid the next big one which they know from experience is inevitable.  Initially the biofeedback train helps them the frequency, duration and severity of their attacks.  As the brain gets stronger and better regulates serotonin levels, expansion and contraction responses diminish.  Many have found lasting relief in less than 10 sessions.  It's not unusual for clients to report back that they haven't had a headache in months!

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