There are many things that can cause headaches: too much caffeine, too less caffeine, certain types of food, Sugar, stress and other factors. Often overlooked is the cervical spine. It contributes to neck pain and headaches more than most of us think.
There are many aspects of the cervical spine that can trigger a headache, including a misalignment in the neck and trigger points in certain neck muscles.
Posture can make a big difference in bringing on headaches. A forward head posture can also trigger headaches in some patients because of the imbalance between the upper cervical extensors and the deep cervical flexor muscles. If your shoulders are not level that can also suggest upper trapezius muscle tightness.
The common levels of the cervical spine that are affected include C0-C1, C1-2, and C2-3. If you notice these are all levels in the upper cervical spine.
Trigger points in the following muscles most likely can lead to headaches: sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, suboccipitals and splenius capitus muscles. These trigger points are often pain generators in patients with headaches. Often adhesions in these muscles will entrap trigger points – a technique called ART (Active Release Technique) is very effective in releasing these trigger points. 
Manipulation of the cervical spine can be very helpful in relieving headaches. Using the services of a Chiropractor can be very helpful. Trigger point therapy is also very effective in treating headaches.
There are some home remedies for headache pain relief. Using cold therapy on the neck and upper back can decrease inflammation, swelling, pain, and provide an analgesic effect. The Headache Ice pillow will help to stretch out the suboccipital and cervical paraspinal muscles in the neck. A new product on the market is called the Halo Rejunvenator. The Halo Rejuvenator
stimulates increased blood flow to the brain. It will also increase your flexibility and range of Motion and improve your posture. Finally, the HealthyNeck is great for working on the muscles we talked about that have trigger points including the upper trapezius, cervical paraspinals and suboccipitals. For Trigger point therapy at home, check out the Healthy Neck System.
Additional Reading Sources:
The Healthy Neck System for relief of muscle tension, muscle spasms and headaches
Natural Headache Pain Relief
Visit Natural Headache Cures – effective remedies for headache sufferers including the headache ice pillow, the healthy neck system and the Halo rejuvenator. Visit Arc4life for your Pain Relief needs.
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