Ki Center Blog

Of all the conditions that people come to see me for, headaches have got to be the most troublesome. So much like a puzzle, and I am not real fond of puzzles, finding the cause can be frustrating and very time consuming. There are many causes of headaches and they can be a single source cause or a combination of imbalances and may change with each occurrence. I know people who have spent thousands of dollars on trying to treat them conventionally and are still afflicted with them on a regular basis.

Finding the Cause

Fortunately the type of muscle testing we do at the clinic can identify the source of the headache at the time, and the general imbalances associated with them. However, because these headaches can be caused by one or more different issues, narrowing them down can be difficult, but not impossible.

Headaches are a symptom of imbalance within the body. They are not in my opinion an illness in and of themselves. Medicating the pain only tends to hide the cause and can create a rebound headache worse than the original. But for anyone who has dealt with this problem, and the sometimes excruciating pain, drugs are the only thing that works to help them feel better.

From an alternative standpoint you must find the basic imbalance in the body that is creating the symptom of a headache. There can be several, and it may take upwards of several months to correct the problem. But patience pays off in the long run, and in the end the headaches have improved if not totally disappeared, and you are much healthier as a result.

Headache Types

Lets discuss some common types of headaches and their patterns.

The Ovarian type: Tends to occur around the menses cycle and can be accompanied by hair trigger mood swings. The Thyroid type: Often a dull headache upon rising and which wears off during the day. The Capillary Fragility type: One of the only types that can wake you out of a sound sleep with a crushing feeling. In this type, look also for signs such as bruising that heals slowly, bleeding gums and GI tract ulcers. The Fatigue type: Typically will start in late afternoon and can be accompanied by exhaustion. The Liver Toxicity type: Nausea and a general sick feeling with a metallic taste in the mouth are signs of this type of headache. The Pituitary type: These are recurring random type of headaches with no distinct pattern, and that is its primary signature. The Gallbladder type: This one resembles the liver toxicity type and can have pain between the shoulder blades or tenderness over the gallbladder. The Environmental Allergy and Sensitivity type: These can be traced to exposure of man made chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and new house syndrome. The Chiropractic type: Caused by a subluxation of vertebrae and usually will be alleviated by spinal manipulation. Recurring headaches of this type may be from ligament weakness and lack of good organic minerals.

There are more types of headaches of course and as I said earlier, you can have one or several of these conditions that can be the cause of the headache. Remember, headaches are a symptom of imbalance, and this must be corrected to get rid of the headaches.

How to treat

When a headache case comes in to the clinic, we start with an extensive history. I will want to know how often the headaches occur, where they start and what kind of intensity they bring with them. I will usually recommend dietary changes to eliminate triggers and specific nutritional supplements to correct the imbalances.

I would like to recommend an outstanding book I use as an informational source that may help you to better understand headaches and their causes, "Alternative Medicines Definitive Guide to Headaches" by Robert Milne and Blake More. You can find this book at many bookstores and of course on Amazon.com.

If you suffer from chronic headaches and have not found any relief, consider an alternative practitioner who is trained in finding the imbalances in your body, and understands the complicated nature of headaches. But please be patient, it will take some time to correct everything that may be causing the trouble.