Migraines

Migraines have a very simple yet damaging cause, decreased oxygen to the brain. Migraines are really an indication of a person who is predisposed to suffering from a stroke, unless treated appropriately.

Dr. MacArthur is the only Chiropractor in Portland, Maine with a specialty in Neurology, focusing on Migriane care. 

A decrease in oxygen to the brain results in different reactions form our bodies. The brain can no longer get the same amount of oxygen per volume of blood so it must constrict its arteries to push blood up to the brain at a faster rate to maintain the same amount of oxygen. The arteries and veins of our bodies have a special reflex that is important in our survival. If the blood vessels constrict (like stepping on a hose creating a build up of water on either side) then there must be dilation in response to that constriction. The pain fibers wrap around the outside of the blood vessels and are activated when stretched. This is a protective mechanism. When we constrict our blood vessels, we get a responsive dilation shortly afterwards. This activates the pain fibers and gives you your headache. This is the reason it is throbbing, when you constrict blood vessels you are not activating pain fibers, but when it dilates you stretch the pain fibers.

How do we treat Migraines and Cervicogenic headaches?

By improving oxygenation to the brain, Portland Chiropractic Neurology can prevent the need for arteries to constrict and cause pain upon dilation. We do this with supplemental oxygen, rib adjustments to increase oxygen content of blood, postural alterations, spinal adjustments and neurological rehabilitation.  There is an important neurological component to migraines that is based within the brain. When you have decreased input to the area called the Pontomedullary Reticular Formation (PMRF) from an unhealthy brain, cerebellum or vestibular system you will get abnormal control of blood vessel size.  An area called your IML (inter-medial lateral system) is allowed to function out of control, which is damaging for your body over long periods of time. The IML is responsible for increasing blood pressure, increasing heart rate, activating flexor muscles and activating adrenal cortex output. The IML is the stress portion of our brain. Therefore, we need to treat the areas of the brain that are controlling the IML so it won’t get out of control, constricting blood vessels and causing migraine symptoms.

Nutrition is vitally important for the treatment of people with migraines and other headaches, as well as restricting serotonin intake along with supplementation. Chiropractic care mixed with neurological and nutritional rehabilitation can successfully treat migraines and other headaches.