How to Treat a Headache without Medication

Headache pain can range from a mild irritation to teeth-grinding, day-stopping pain that makes normal function impossible. When suffering headache pain, your first impulse may be to reach for medication, but did you know there are several effective methods of treating headaches naturally? The next time headache pain strikes try these suggestions for treating it without medication.

The cause of your headache pain can help determine the simplest way of treating it without medication. One interesting tidbit: no matter what the underlying cause, new research suggests that disrupted electrical activity in the brain may be the ultimate trigger of headache pain.

Some of the most common reasons for headache pain are:

·         Hunger

·         Anxiety and muscle tension

·         Physical exhaustion brought on by insomnia or overwork

·         Eyestrain caused by too many hours at the computer or poor lighting in your work/study area

·         Sinus or allergy triggers

·         Migraine symptoms

Treating headache pain with self-care techniques, rather than medication, can be quite effective. Simple acupressure techniques such as pressing your thumbs against the base of the skull while gently dropping the head back then forward, may relieve the tension that has disrupted the brain’s activity. Massaging the neck, jaw, and forehead can also be helpful.

Another way to find relief from headache pain is by simply taking a nap or sitting quietly in a darkened room over a lunch hour. Others find relief through meditation or relaxation exercises that reduce mental and physical tension. One more time-honored way to relieve headache pain is to apply heat or cold to the forehead and back of the neck.

For headache pain that persists, you may need to seek professional help. Once it’s been determined there isn’t an illness or injury causing the headaches to reappear, there are a number of non-medication based methods they might prescribe for relieving headache pain.

A chiropractor might, for example, use adjustment, massage and other therapies to relieve recurring headaches. Many medical professionals are now using neurofeedback training to teach patients how to self-regulate irregular brainwave activity associated with headaches.

An acupuncture or acupressure practitioner can also be helpful in bringing relief to those for whom headache pain is a frequent occurrence. And don’t forget to consult your massage therapist about the pain you’re feeling; they can teach you a number of techniques for relieving the muscle tension that may be at the root of your pain.

Headache pain can be caused by many things, and can be relieved in a variety of ways, with or without medication. If you’re interested in how to treat a headache without medication, try the suggestions above to determine which best brings you relief.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR MIGRAINES & HEADACHES

6 Types of Biofeedback Machines and Their Applications

Biofeedback therapy is a form of therapy that uses precision instruments to inform a patient of unconsciously controlled physiological processes, such as heart rate or skin temperature. Using this information, the patient can then learn to consciously alter these processes. There are several kinds of biofeedback machines, which measure different physiological responses and are useful for different clinical applications. Five commonly used types of biofeedback machines include electromyographs, feedback thermometers, electrodermographs, electrocardiographs, pneumographs, electroencephalographs. 

#1: Electromyographs as Biofeedback Machines

One of the more commonly used types of biofeedback machines is the electromyograph. Electromyography uses surface electrodes on the skin to detect electrical action potentials in the muscles underneath. EMG biofeedback machines are most commonly used for anxiety and pain disorders. Some of the common applications include generalized anxiety disorder, chronic muscle pain, migraine headaches, chronic or recurrent tension headaches, pelvic pain, and temporomandibular joint pain.

#2: Feedback Thermometers as Biofeedback Machines

Feedback thermometers are biofeedback machines that use a temperature-sensitive resistor to measure skin temperature. This information can be used to teach the patient to either cool their hands, which involves vasoconstriction, or warm their hands, which involves vasodilation. Feedback thermometers, when used as biofeedback machines, can be used to help treat chronic pain, edema (swelling), hypertension (high blood pressure), tension or migraine headaches, and anxiety.

#3: Electrodermohraphs as Biofeedback Machines

An electrodermograph is an instrument that uses electrodes on the hand or wrist to measure skin conductivity. Skin conductivity is an indirect measure of sweat gland activity, which increases due to arousal, anxiety, stress, and other cognitive arousal. In addition to their usefulness in the context of anxiety disorders, electrodermographs as biofeedback machines can also be used in treating hyperhidrosis, a condition of excessive sweating.

#4: Electrocardiographs as Biofeedback Machines

Electrocardiography (EMG) measures the electrical activity of the heart, using electrodes placed on the torso or extremities. EMG measurements indicate the interval between heart beats, which correlates with heart rate. Electrocardiographs as biofeedback machines can be used in biofeedback therapy for depression and anxiety. They are also useful for conditions like heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). 

#5: Pneumographs as Biofeedback Machines

A pneumograph is another of the biofeedback machines that is commonly used. Pneumography measures respiration rate using a flexible sensor band placed around the chest or abdomen. Pneumographic biofeedback therapy can be used in treating disorders in which irregular breathing is a factor, such as asthma, COPD, hypertension, and panic attacks. It is also useful for anxiety disorders.

#6: Electroencephalographs as Biofeedback Machines

Electroencephalographs (EEGs) are biofeedback machines that are used for neurofeedback therapy. In neurofeedback therapy, EEG biofeedback machines inform patients of changes in their neural oscillation frequencies, better known as “brainwaves.” Different frequency ranges (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta) correlate with different mental states, and abnormalities in brainwaves emitted in relevant brain areas have been documented in many psychological disorders. The goal of neurofeedback therapy is to facilitate a process of learning to alter the frequencies, which is achieved using a software system where images and sounds respond to frequency changes. 

BrainCore Therapy & Neurofeedback

How to Beat Insomnia in Thirty Days

Tired of tossing and turning? Ready to get some rest? The situation isn’t hopeless – there are plenty of things you can do to restore your body to normal sleep patterns. But it’s going to take commitment on your part. If you’re willing to follow these commonsense guidelines for the next month, you’ll soon be sleeping like a dream.

1)      Establish a sleep zone. For the next thirty days, make your bedroom a haven for sleep. Commit to keeping cell phone use, television watching, and tablet reading out of the bedroom. Don’t sleep alone? Ask the person who shares your bedroom to honor this thirty day pact as well. After all, it’s much nicer to live with a person who gets enough sleep, so that should be an incentive for them.

2)      Put yourself on a schedule. Random, uncertain bedtimes set the stage for insomnia, as your body’s rhythms are thrown off-course. Think about how tired you were as a child after no-sleep slumber parties or camp-outs in a buddy’s backyard. That’s how your body feels all the time when you don’t have regular sleep habits.

3)      Clear out sleep-stealing habits. For the next month, honor your need for sleep by refusing to do things that may be feeding your insomnia. Late night exercise, eating, or arguing switch on hormones and processes in your body detrimental to sleep. Work out late afternoon or early morning. Stop snacking at 10 p.m. Decide not to start that argument as you’re crawling into bed with your partner. If it’s important, write it down and then let it go until morning.

4)      If you’re awake, leave the bedroom. Part of the process of forming good sleep habits is associating your bedroom with sleep (see #1). If you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep, get up and leave the bedroom. Walk around the house for a bit or sit on the couch and meditate (but don’t turn on that television or pick up a book!). When you start feeling sleepy again, go back to bed.

5)      Give yourself the gift of sleep. The motivation for establishing a sleep zone, putting yourself on a schedule, clearing out sleep-stealing habits, and refusing to lie awake in bed begins with recognizing the value of sleep. A long night’s uninterrupted slumber is a gift only you can give yourself; one that nourishes body, mind, and spirit.

The ability to sleep through the night escapes most of us at one time or another; however, insomnia, does not have to be a permanent condition. Follow these practical guidelines for how to beat insomnia for the next thirty days. Your current insomnia could very well become a thing of the past.

MANAGE YOUR INSOMNIA WITH BRAINCORE'S REVOLUTIONARY DRUG FREE TECHNIQUE: NEUROFEEDBACK!

Is There A Connection Between Depression and Memory Loss?

Few things are more frustrating than being unable to remember people, events, and facts. It can create a sense of instability and a concern that a serious condition such as Alzheimer’s might be imminent. The truth, however, is that the ability to remember is not nearly as set in stone as we might believe. Many things can have a negative effect on memory, including lack of sleep, medication side effects, and numerous physical conditions including depression. If a person is suffering from both memory loss and depression, the logical question is whether the two are related.

Knowing that depression can impact our ability to remember makes our memory seem quite fragile. It is much more accurate to think of the capacity to remember as elastic.  When the brain is functioning normally, we are able to perceive and collect information, storing it in memory as needed. When that function is disrupted, the mental processes required to understand and store information break down.

Current research has found a connection between depression and memory loss because both depression and memory loss are related to irregular brain function. Chemical imbalance and abnormal brainwave activity disrupt emotional balance, as well as the ability to perceive one’s surroundings and store impressions in memory. 

  A common symptom of depression is the inability to concentrate, making it difficult to remember specific events after the fact. With proper treatment for depression symptoms, it is quite possible memory function will also be restored for some patients.

There are other factors at play which link depression and memory loss. As noted in this article recently released by the University of Rochester School of Medicine, there may be a link between loss of cognitive ability, symptoms of depression and memory loss, and reduced levels of IGF-1, a hormone involved in growth and development. Although this study is primarily looking at the impact on older adults, their findings may have far-reaching implications in the field of memory loss.

It is logical to assume that there is a definite link between depression and the ability to remember. Because memories accumulate over time and contribute to a person’s ability to think, interact, and experience emotions, long-term untreated depression can then be considered a serious threat to quality of life.

When the symptoms of depression or memory loss are first recognized it is important to seek the assistance of a healthcare professional. In doing so, the emotional, intellectual, and social functioning of the patient can best be preserved.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR DEPRESSION AND MEMORY LOSS

Quantum Biofeedback in Simple Terms

Quantum biofeedback is an extraordinary new medical technique that allows patients to assume control of their bodies through the teaching of self-regulation. The methodology combines traditional biofeedback with other modern medical concepts such as chakras, energy fields, and meridians. Patients of quantum biofeedback have the opportunity to reduce environmental stressors in their bodies and getting vital systems back on track free of drugs, surgery, or psychotherapy.

Quantum biofeedback works like this: patients are strapped at the wrist, ankle, and forehead and connected to a box that receives, transmits, and ultimately interprets signals from the body. The devices isolate areas where the body is undergoing stress or has become dysfunctional, and then stimulates these areas with mild electrical currents designed to correct the issue. 

Other Effective Treatments 

Unfortunately, quantum biofeedback has been met with a great deal of skepticism over the years, necessitating the use of other biofeedback therapies with a better track record of success. Neurofeedback, for one, has been scientifically proven to be an effective intervention against several neurological ailments, including migraines, Attention Deficit Disorder, insomnia, chronic pain, anxiety, and several others.

Using some of the same basic precepts as quantum biofeedback, neurofeedback is also a dynamic way for doctors and patients to train the body to self-regulate – this time, in the brain. It is no secret that the brain is the very genesis of all of our major and vital bodily functions. When the brain’s ability to transmit normal and functional brainwaves has become impaired, it follows suit that problems will arise throughout our bodies. This is where neurofeedback comes in.

Quantum biofeedback and neurofeedback differ greatly in how they are carried out. At the outset of neurofeedback therapy, doctors will first perform an in-depth analysis of a patient’s brainwave patterns, determining which ones have gotten off-track and may be at the source of the problem. Upon doing this, patients will be painlessly and noninvasively guided through a series of brain exercises which utilize feedback being read directly from our heads to teach and promote autonomous regulation. Over time, our bodies will learn how to do this automatically, and when confronted with the same problem again will know how to combat the issue, keeping us healthy.

To learn more about quantum biofeedback and other of BrainCore’s cutting-edge treatment offerings, such as neurofeedback therapy, click here today.

Ten Common Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

When we face difficult or unfamiliar situations in life, whether meeting a partner’s parents for the first time or struggling to pay bills, each person’s body has natural anxiety reactions. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as some of those physical reactions to stress actually help prepare us to face these situations both mentally and physically; however, when these anxiety reactions become the norm and begin to hamper everyday life, it’s time to seek help.

Long-term physical and mental anxiety symptoms have been documented to increase insomnia, high blood pressure, depression, headaches, asthma symptoms, compromised immune systems, and a whole host of negative impacts. In addition, the presence of untreated anxiety in workers has been found to increase the incidence of workplace accidents.

Knowing the symptoms of an anxiety disorder can alert you to the fact you need help. Keep in mind, having occasional, intense reactions to stress probably doesn’t indicate an anxiety disorder. The rule of thumb is that the anxiety symptoms must recur for at least six months.

Use this checklist as a general guideline for understanding what you might be experiencing, but don’t stop there. Talk to your doctor about what’s happening so that a determination can be made as to whether an anxiety disorder may be causing your symptoms and then an appropriate treatment can be recommended.

1.       Excessive perspiration when your physical environment doesn't warrant it can be one of the ways your body signals anxiety.

2.      Rapid heartbeat occurring on a regular basis can be a warning sign your body is overstressed.

3.      Dizziness when accompanied by other anxiety symptoms may mean your body’s stress hormones are on overdrive.

4.      Nausea and other digestive upset can also be caused by stress hormones pumping through your body. Again, when it’s caused by an anxiety disorder, it recurs over time.

5.      Racing thoughts or recurring, unwanted thoughts can indicate an anxiety disorder if they become common occurrences.

6.       Difficulty breathing can come on suddenly in response to a perceived threat. This is one of the classic symptoms of an anxiety attack.

7.      Being fearful without apparent reason is a warning signal that your body is no longer handling stress well.

8.       Agitation or moodiness on a regular basis could be anxiety indicators.

9.       Insomnia that isn’t resolved by practicing better sleep habits is one of the most common ways an anxiety disorder is first recognized.

10.  Being unable to concentrate on daily tasks may mean that anxiety is becoming a problem.

Anxiety disorders can limit your ability to function well, and over time can contribute to other serious medical conditions. If you’ve been experiencing some of the symptoms above over a period of time without relief, it may be time to get professional help in relieving your anxiety.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ANXIETY

The Basics of HEG Neurofeedback

HEG neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback training based on the study of blood flow to areas of the brain. This translates into heat in corresponding sections of the brain, picked up by infrared sensors during the training.

HEG, or hemoencephalography, allows the person undergoing the neurofeedback training to see exactly when overstimulation of certain areas of the brain is occurring and allows them to increase the blood flow to other areas of the brain.

The prefrontal cortex, also known as the PFC, is home to the executive functions such as the ability to organize, to make decisions, to focus, and to feel empathy for others. It is also the part of the brain that can temper overstimulation in other sections. This is important because disorders such as anxiety, attention deficit disorder, and out of control anger are connected to exaggerated responses to stimuli. By learning to optimize the activity of the prefrontal cortex through HEG neurofeedback training, that overreaction to external stimulus can be tempered.

Here’s how that training might look: the patient is allowed to view an emotional movie or images meant to evoke a strong emotional reaction in the limbic system; when the heat sensors detect activity in that portion of the brain, the image disappears. In order to bring the image back, the patient is taught to move blood flow into the prefrontal cortex through visualization of energy or warmth flooding that area of the brain. When the PFC is engaged, it tempers the over stimulated limbic system.

With a fully activated prefrontal cortex, the patient is more likely to remain in an alert state with top mental functioning. This also means he may be less susceptible to an over stimulated limbic system and the disorders that can result.

By harnessing the science of hemoencephalography through HEG neurofeedback training, it is possible to bring relief from the symptoms of many troubling emotional disorders.

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