Migraines

A migraine usually is a throbbing headache that occurs on one or both sides of the head. The headache typically is accompanied by nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite. Interestingly enought, there are at least 100 types of headaches defined by the International Headache Society, so not every severe headache is a migraine!

Migraines can be triggered by certain activities, foods, smells or emotions. Some people are more likely to experience migraines when they are under stress, while others develop migraines when stress is relieved (for example, the day after exams or an important meeting). Conservative management may be effective for controlling symptoms of migraines and reducing their frequency.

A study was performed at the Chiropractic Research Center of Macquarie University that proved that spinal manipulation does in fact help migraines. One hundred seventy-seven volunteers who had migraines for more than 18 years on average were used for the study. The volunteers who received spinal manipulation showed a statistically significant improvement in migraine frequency, duration and disability. Those who received manipulation were also able to considerably reduce the amount of medication they were taking, some eliminating the use of medication altogether.