This may be an unpopular opinion, but pharmaceutical companies may not even be looking for a cure for migraines. Remember that pharmaceutical companies are not in business for philanthropic reasons. These are multibillion-dollar companies with shareholders that want to see rising profits. What makes more money for the pharmaceutical company, a miracle migraine treatment that you only have to take once, or a cocktail of pills that you have to take every time you have an attack to fight the symptoms?

Symptomatic Treatments Vs. Preventative Care

Prescription medications generally treat one of two things: a condition or a symptom. Most relieve symptoms. Often, this is because the direct underlying cause of a condition is unknown. But many research points toward the brainstem, intracranial pressure, and impeded cerebral blood flow as the possible causes to migraine occurrence.

On the other hand, migraines cause plenty of symptoms that can be treated with medication. The moderate to severe headache may respond to over-the-counter pain relievers. However, some doctors prescribe even more powerful pain medications despite the fact that there is little evidence that these provide any sort of long-term relief for migraine sufferers. Then there is nausea and vomiting. Again, there are oral pills and medications in other forms to relieve these symptoms.

There are a few medications and procedures that are considered to be preventative. However, doctors aren’t even sure why anti-seizure drugs, or some of the other medications used, lead to fewer migraines for some patients. It is no wonder then that these drugs don’t work the same for everyone. 

A Potential Cause of Migraines

To really get to the heart of the problem, we need to consider potential causes of migraines. The cause may not be the same from person to person, but by looking at common issues, we can reach a reasonable conclusion. Consider some of the following evidence:

• About 75% of migraine patients reported that they have neck pain either leading up to or during a migraine headache. That makes neck pain one of the most common migraine symptoms, and yet it is often left off the list of migraine symptoms altogether. Maybe it is because the pharmaceutical response to neck pain is the same as for migraines anyway.
• As early as 1987, researchers discovered that regional cerebral blood flow was reduced in certain parts of the brain at the beginning of a migraine attack. Thus, it is well established that there is a link between cerebral blood flow and migraines. Keep in mind that the cervical spine (vertebrae of the neck) facilitate blood flow to the brain. Thus, a trend between neck health and migraines is beginning to develop.
• Early this year, researchers reported on the role of the brainstem in migraines. They use phrases such as “the brainstem has emerged as a key regulator of migraines,” and point toward this being the target of future medications. However, medications will not improve brainstem function if the issue is an atlas misalignment. The atlas (C1 vertebra) surrounds the brainstem right at the point that it meets up with the spinal cord. Therefore, even a slight misalignment can affect the entire central nervous system (CNS).

With all of this evidence pointing toward the neck as a possible location of the underlying cause of migraines, could there be a natural way to find relief from this terrible condition? 

Hope for Migraine Sufferers

There is good reason neck pain and migraines often go hand in hand. A slight misalignment of the top bone of the neck can cause pain, inhibited blood flow to the brain, and impeded brainstem function. All of these factors can lead to migraines. So how do you get the atlas subluxation corrected? We’d like to introduce you to upper cervical chiropractic care.

Upper cervical chiropractic is a subspecialty that involves very precise measurements of the atlas. These measurements allow the practitioner to design a customized adjustment for each patient. Adjustments are extremely gentle. There is none of the popping or twisting of the spine that you may have experienced with chiropractic in the past.

Because adjustments are so gentle, they are long-lasting and give the body time to heal. As structures of the neck heal and your adjustments hold longer, you can leave more time between appointments, which also makes upper cervical chiropractic a wallet saver. That’s good news for migraine patients since statistics show that families with a migraineur spend about 70% more on healthcare than migraine-free families.

If you are suffering from migraines on a chronic basis, they can be debilitating. Many are sad that options for care are lacking. However, if you are suffering from an upper cervical misalignment – especially if you have any history of head or neck trauma – natural relief may be within your grasp. Contact an upper cervical practice in your area to schedule a consultation today. You may find that this safe and effective form of care is just what you need to get migraines and other chronic health ailments under control.

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