Hormones control almost everything in the body, including the female menstrual cycles, emotions and moods, energy levels, blood pressure, etc. Every one of the trillion or so cells in your body has hormone receptors. All cells are influenced and respond to hormones, including retinal cells, hair cells, heart cells, uterus cells––and brain cells are no exception.
The Migraine Process
There seems to be general agreement among research scientists that a key element in migraine headaches is blood flow changes in the brain. People who get migraine headaches appear to have blood vessels that overreact to various triggers. According to this theory, the nervous system responds to a trigger, such as stress, by causing a spasm of the nerve-rich arteries at the base of the brain. The spasm constricts several arteries supplying blood to the brain, including the scalp artery and carotid or neck arteries. As these arteries constrict, the flow of blood to the brain is reduced. The result: a migraine headache.
Non-Medical Pain Management
CranioSacral Therapy has proven to be an excellent non-medication therapy for migraines. It is used to evaluate and release restrictions and release stress and tension from the central nervous system. At the same time, the therapist uses gentle manual techniques to adjust the cranial bones and relax tight muscles and connective tissue, which can relieve pressure on constricted arteries and improve blood flow to the brain. CranioSacral Therapy is gentle enough to be used on everyone, from newborns to the elderly and its effects are often felt more quickly than with some other types of therapy.
Many of my female clients with hormone imbalances report immediate relief, others report complete relief within minutes or hours of receiving CranioSacral Therapy.
A Self-Help Technique
For chronic or acute pain, you can induce a "still point", or a gradual therapeutic stop to your craniosacral rhythm––enhancing tissue and fluid motion and relaxing connective tissues throughout the body. "Stillpoint Inducers" can be purchased at www.upledger.com. To make your own "Stillpoint Inducer" use two tennis balls and place them both in the toe of a sock which is then knotted tightly. Make sure the balls are touching one another.
Recline on your back. Place the device under your head so entire weight of your head rests on balls. They are placed 1/3 the way "up" the back of the head. This is in a slight horizontal depression in the skull just above the bottom of the skull, where your neck muscles are attached on the inside of your skull. It is slightly above that of the ear openings. Allow the weight of your head to rest comfortably upon the device for 15 minutes. Take slow breaths while you are resting.
Gloria Flores is an Upledger Institute Diplomate Certified CranioSacral Therapist and an AADP Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner. She uses CranioSacral Therapy to treat Emotional Stress, Chronic Pain and Orthopedic Problems. Her private practice is in Burbank. http://www.touchtherapies.org
