Acupuncture for tension headaches and jaw clenching during busy summer travel and hosting season
Busy summer weeks can be hard on the head, neck, and jaw. Travel, hosting, different routines, longer daylight hours with less sleep time, and changes in your activities can flare up headaches and/or jaw pain. Sometimes air quality such as smoke from forest fires, or allergens like pollen, can also contribute to headaches. For many people, the result is a dull ache at the temples, tightness across the forehead, sore cheeks, or a jaw that feels overworked by the end of the day. Naturopathic medicine can be a powerful tool for providing relief from symptoms, and preventing future flare ups.
Why This Happens
The jaw, temples, upper neck, and shoulders are intrinsically linked and work together more than most people realize. If the jaw is clenched for long periods, circulation to the muscles is reduced, causing pain that can refer into the temples, behind the eyes, or across the head.
The nervous system also plays a major role. Stress, poor sleep, changes in diet, and overstimulation can push the body into a “always on” pattern. In that state, muscles stay switched on longer than they should. People may not notice they are clenching during the day, but they often notice the effects later: a tired jaw, neck stiffness, or a headache that builds as the day goes on.
Heat and dehydration can add another layer. During summer season, it is easy to forget water, skip meals, and spend more time outdoors than usual. All these can contribute to headaches in someone who is already prone to jaw tension.
How Naturopathic Medicine Can Help
Decipher the Root Cause
Working with a naturopathic doctor can help you thoroughly examine the possible underlying cause of your headaches and jaw pain. A few examples of triggers include excessive dilation of the cerebral blood vessels, low serotonin, tight muscles, stress, vitamin deficiencies, hypertension, food allergies, low or high blood sugar, and the release of substance P that can irritate the nerves and blood vessels, causing pain.
Diet
Diet is very individual, but some common triggers include refined sugars and artificial sweeteners, which are known to cause inflammation. In a recent study, patients who regularly experienced severe headaches were placed on a low-carbohydrate, higher-fat diet. Within one month, the severity and intensity of headaches were significantly reduced! This is especially important for women, who experience more blood sugar-related headaches than men.
Lifestyle Modifications
Medications – Have you recently changed any medications or supplements? Headache is a commonly reported side effect of some medications.
Avoid skipping meals – A very common trigger (especially for women) is low blood sugar from skipping meals. Make sure to eat regular meals that include protein and fibre
Dehydration – It is so easy to forget to drink enough water. Try keeping a big bottle of water with you throughout the day.
Sleep quality – Are you sleeping 7-8 hours per night? Is your room dark enough to provide deep, quality sleep?
Stress and Tension – Headaches are frequently caused by tension in the muscles of the face and neck. Naturopathic Doctors will sometimes teach relaxation techniques like mindfulness or deep breathing, with big impacts for stress and tension.
Targeted Supplementation
There is evidence to support the role of several dietary supplements in preventing headaches. If you are curious if any of these supplements could be right for you, make an appointment with our Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Jessie Short (link below).
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) – Protects against free radical damage
CoQ10 – Essential for energy production
5-HTP – Increases serotonin levels in the body
Vitamin B12 – Helps to negate the side effects of NSAIDs
Magnesium Citrate – Helps to decrease muscle tension and vasospasms
Petasites Hybridus (Butterbur Extract)
Tanacettum Parthenium (Feverfew)
Acupuncture
Many people find that acupuncture can work wonders when it comes to helping a headache dissipate. Proponents of this technique attribute the pain-relieving effect to a release of hormones and endorphins, stimulating the immune and circulatory systems of the body. When jaw clenching is being driven by stress, sleep disruption, or repeated muscle overuse, acupuncture may support the body in settling out of that pattern.
When to Seek Professional Help
Most tension-type headaches and jaw clenching episodes are not dangerous, but no one wants to live with them unnecessarily and they do deserve attention when they become frequent or limiting. Further assessment is appropriate if:
- Headaches are happening most days of the week
- The jaw is clicking, locking, or painful to open
- Symptoms are waking you at night or affecting sleep quality
- There is numbness, weakness, dizziness, or vision changes
- Over-the-counter strategies are no longer helping
- Pain is spreading into the neck, face, or shoulders
- You are noticing increasing clenching during the day or overnight
Jaw pain and headaches can overlap with other issues, including migraine, dental concerns, and neck-related pain. That is why a proper assessment matters when symptoms are persistent or changing. A Naturopathic Doctor can determine the root cause, and provide treatment, advice, and referrals where appropriate.