Bone Chilling Headache

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We have been living through freezing temperatures for a much longer time than usual this season and it’s going to last awhile. This type of frigid, cold weather is a big headache in many ways, and there has been a significant increase in patients coming in with headaches – even those that don’t usually have headaches.

There are a number of reasons for this:

  • Extremely cold temperatures can actually make the facial and skull bones ache because, there is very little insulation between the skin and the face and skull bones.
  • Cold temperatures can also make the muscles in the temples very stiff and achy and can also cause an increase in jaw clenching.
  • Breathing in extremely cold air through the nose and mouth can be irritating to the sinuses and throat and lead to headaches, as well.
  • Frigid temperatures can stiffen neck and shoulders that are already sore from shoveling snow or driving in these extreme temperatures.
  • A problem that we have noticed is that extremely low temperatures can trigger a headache pattern that continues even after temperatures begin to increase.

Here are some remedies to help avoid the effects of cold temperatures:

  1. Safeguard your scalp muscles against the cold by donning a stocking cap or hat, optionally paired with ear muffs.
  2. Implement additional measures to shield the neck and base of the skull by strategically layering clothing, mitigating the risk of unnecessary muscle contractions leading to tightness and soreness.
  3. Opt for thin insulating garments beneath your clothing to minimize the impact of sudden temperature changes, ensuring a more comfortable experience.
  4. Enhance protection against extreme cold by tucking in T-shirts and shirts into pants, safeguarding the lower back’s skin from exposure.
  5. Mitigate the risk of muscle spasms, tightness, and fatigue in very cold temperatures by staying adequately hydrated during this season, recognizing the potential for dehydration-induced effects on muscle sensitivity.

The good news is that there are methods and treatments for all of these situations and the issues that may arise from them.

Give us a call today and let us help you get through these chilling seasonal woes!

February 2021 Newsletter: Have you considered a Himalayan Salt Stone massage?

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What is Himalayan Salt Stone Massage?

Halo Therapy is defined as; a form of alternative medicine using salt, derived from the Greek word halos, meaning salt.

Like traditional basalt stones, Himalayan salt stones can be used over the entire body. Not only does it deliver superb thermotherapy, but it also contains 84 minerals* that the body may absorb. The three main minerals are magnesium, calcium and potassium.

Magnesium

  • 4th most abundant mineral in the body.
  • 60% of the body’s magnesium is found in bones.
  • 40% is found in muscles and soft tissues, and fluids.
  • Magnesium is involved in energy creation, protein formation, gene maintenance, muscle movements and nervous system regulation.
  • It has been shown to fight depression as it plays an important role in brain function and mood.
  • Helps lower elevated blood pressure.
  • It helps fight inflammation by reducing the inflammatory marker CRP.
  • It may help alleviate migraine pain in clients with low magnesium levels. 

Calcium

  • Helps build strong bones and teeth.
  • Calcium sends nerve signals.
  • It is responsible for muscle contractions.

Potassium

  • It assists in regulating blood pressure.
  • Helps in regulating normal water balance.
  • Assists in muscle contraction.
  • Assists in nerve impulses.
  • Assists in heart rhythm.
  • Assists in maintaining pH balance.

Benefits of Himalayan Salt
The benefits of adding warm stones to your massage sessions are plentiful. Heat can aid in softening muscles, easing circulation through vasodilation, allow your therapist to get deeper layers of tissue in less time, enhance the body’s parasympathetic response (“rest and digest”) and more. Himalayan salt has anti-bacterial properties and is anti-inflammatory. When heated, negative ions are released into the air, aiding in purification. Muscle cramps may be alleviated due to the mineral content. 

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