What Do Green Lights Have to Do with My Migraines?

Do you struggle with migraines?  If so, you’re among the 12% of the population who does.  Migraines are the 3rd most prevalent health condition in the world and are considered the 6th most debilitating.  As far as relief options to get you feeling better go, you may have tried everything under the sun, from keeping a food journal, to various medications, to just locking yourself in a dark, quiet room until the pain subsides.

A Migraine Study Says Green Light Can Help

Many migraine sufferers experience extreme sensitivity to light as one of the many symptoms of an episode.  Researchers recently published a study that reveals exposing migraine sufferers to a narrow band of green light can help to reduce this light sensitivity, called photophobia, and can reduce the severity of the headache by about 20%.  Why green?  Scientists were able to measure signals within the retina of the eye as well as the cortex of the brain and found that green light generated the smallest signals, which means that it was the least irritating of all colors.

Getting Beyond Migraine Symptoms to the Cause

The obvious trouble with most migraine relief care available is that they operate on the surface – they may provide some needed short-term relief but do nothing to address the root cause of the condition.  Upper cervical chiropractic’s goal is to locate areas of obstruction within the nervous system caused by very specific types of misalignments at the upper portion of the neck.  Then the topmost vertebra in the spine, the atlas, misaligns it can cause disruptions in signals that travel over the brainstem, spinal cord, and nerves.  This can lead to conditions that can cause the many symptoms of a migraine attack.

At Upper Cervical Hawaii, we work with our migraine patients to understand their health history and see if there is an underlying misalignment of the upper cervical spine that can be contributing to their migraines.  If we determine there is, we work to realign the atlas gently so that the abnormal stress and tension on the nerves are reduced.  When the necessary atlas correction has been made, the body’s natural healing process occurs, which can reduce or even eliminate migraines altogether.  Many migraines sufferers have been finding lasting relief with upper cervical chiropractic care.

References:

https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/07/28/exposure-to-narrow-band-of-green-light-improves-migraine-symptoms/

About the Author

Dr. Joe Breuwet

Upper Cervical Hawaii, LLC

Dr. Breuwet is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and has studied and practiced the National Upper Cervical Care Association (NUCCA) technique for the past 17 years. After spending 10 years in the hotel industry as a General Manager, I decided to follow my passion and enter into the natural health care field. During my first few months at Palmer College, I quickly came to the realization that there are many different types of Chiropractic. I decided to learn and practice the most precise and specific form of Chiropractic, NUCCA.