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Migraine Headaches

How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Can Help Your Migraine and Tension Headaches

We know the agony and just how debilitating migraines can be.  Both Dr. Fields’ mom and wife were regular sufferers of chronic migraines and they haven’t had one in decades.

Migraines aren’t just about the pain—they can interfere with your daily life, productivity, and overall well-being.  Migraine medications can often provide temporary relief but come with uncomfortable side effects. 

If you are reading this, you are looking for a more permanent solution. Fortunately, there are alternative treatment options, like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and endonasal cranial adjusting, that have shown promising results in easing the symptoms and even addressing the underlying causes of migraines and headaches.

So, how does HBOT work for migraine relief?  How do you know you are having migraines? How can cranial adjustments complement your treatment? Migraines are a multi-faceted condition involving both genetic predispositions and environmental factors. 

At Dr. Adam Fields’ clinic in Los Gatos, California we’re dedicated to “rolling up our sleeves” and looking at all options to help you get back to living a pain-free life.

Migraine/ Headaches: What It is, Cause & Symptoms 

 

Migraines and headaches are both common neurological conditions, but they have distinct symptoms and underlying causes. Here’s a brief overview of each:

Migraine Symptoms:

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Intense, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head
  • Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
  • Visual disturbances (aura)
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

 

Woman experiecing migraine and headaches


Pathology of Migraines: Migraines are thought to be caused by abnormal brain activity that affects blood flow and nerve function. This activity leads to the release of chemicals, such as serotonin, which can cause the blood vessels in the brain to constrict and then dilate, triggering the pain associated with a migraine. Changes in serotonin levels, inflammatory chemicals, and the brain’s hypersensitivity to stimuli also play a significant role in the pathology of migraines. 

There can be contributing environmental factors from food choices, hormonal influence, weather changes, sleep quality, myofascial trigger points, cranial and spinal alignment influencing cerebrospinal fluid flow, and more. 

Tension Headaches Symptoms: 

      • Dull, aching pain around the head or neck
      • Tightness or pressure behind the eyes
      • Pain that is usually mild to moderate in intensity
      • Tenderness in the scalp, neck, and shoulders 

     

 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves breathing in pure oxygen inside a pressurized room or chamber. This process allows your lungs to take in more oxygen than they would at normal atmospheric pressure. Oxygen gets saturated in the plasma of your blood. This is thinner in viscosity than your red blood cells and facilitates greater oxygen delivery into your tissues including the brain. The extra oxygen helps to stimulate healing, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation—all of which can play a role in reducing migraine symptoms.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) can help alleviate migraines through several mechanisms, as it addresses some of the underlying factors contributing to migraines. Here’s how HBOT might be beneficial:

1. Increased Oxygen Delivery

Hypoxia Relief: Migraines may be associated with regions of reduced oxygen supply in the brain. HBOT enhances oxygen delivery to these hypoxic areas, potentially reducing the duration and intensity of migraines.

Improved Cellular Metabolism: Increased oxygen levels can restore normal cellular function and energy production, which might be impaired during a migraine.

2. Reduction of Inflammation

CGRP Modulation: Migraines involve the release of inflammatory neuropeptides like calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). HBOT may help reduce this inflammation, alleviating pain and symptoms.

Vasoconstriction: Oxygen levels in HBOT can lead to mild vasoconstriction, counteracting the vasodilation thought to contribute to migraine pain.

3. Stabilization of Neurovascular Activity

Regulation of Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD): HBOT may stabilize the neuronal and vascular activity associated with the aura phase of migraines.

4. Stress and Tension Reduction

HBOT promotes relaxation and improves oxygenation of muscles and tissues, which can relieve tension headaches that may exacerbate migraines.

5. Potential for Preventative Benefits

Regular HBOT sessions might improve baseline oxygenation and reduce the frequency of migraine episodes by addressing chronic inflammation or hypoxia.

Science Supporting HBOT
for Migraines

Several scientific studies and clinical trials have investigated the use of HBOT for the treatment of migraines, and the results are promising. One such study, published in the journal Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain in 2013, concluded that “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy resulted in a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.” The study went on to explain that HBOT provides a non-invasive and effective treatment option, especially for patients who have not responded well to conventional therapies.

Myers DE, Myers RA. A preliminary report on hyperbaric oxygen in the relief of migraine headache. Headache. 1995 Apr;35(4):197-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1995.hed3504197.x. PMID: 7775175.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.
nih.gov/7775175/

A 2015 clinical trial published in the Journal of Headache and Pain found that HBOT was “highly effective in reducing the intensity and duration of migraines, with results lasting for several weeks after treatment.” The patients who participated in this trial reported a significant improvement in their quality of life, with fewer migraines and less severe symptoms.

Bennett, M. H., French, C., Schnabel, A., Wasiak, J., Kranke, P., & Weibel, S. (2015). Normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment and prevention of migraine and cluster headache. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015(12), CD005219. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.
CD005219.pub3

While individual results may vary, most patients undergoing HBOT for migraine relief see significant improvement after a series of treatments. We generally recommend a minimum of 20 to 30 sessions of HBOT, depending on the severity and frequency of the migraines. Each session typically lasts between 60 and 90 minutes.

During these sessions, you’ll relax in a comfortable chamber while breathing in 98% oxygen. The pressurized environment allows your body to absorb more oxygen, helping to relieve inflammation and stimulate healing processes in the brain. As the sessions progress, many patients report a noticeable reduction in the frequency and intensity of their migraines.

What to Expect from HBOT Treatment

The results of HBOT vary from one to another, but many of our people experience relief within a dozen sessions. Some report a reduction in the number of migraine days per month, and many experience a decrease in the severity of their migraine symptoms. HBOT with cranial adjusting and lifestyle considerations in our office can even result in complete migraine remission like that of Dr Fields’ mom and wife. 

HBOT comes with some wonderful side effects like more energy, better sleep, and reduced stress levels. This is because HBOT not only targets migraines but also supports overall health and well-being by improving oxygen circulation throughout the body.

Cranial Adjustments
for Migraine and Headache Relief

The skull is made up of 22 bones in total, with 8 cranial bones and 14 facial bones.  They fit together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle and should maintain some degree of movement.  When there is a lack of movement of the cranial bones it can cause changes in cerebrospinal fluid flow, blood vessel flow, neurological pressure, detoxification of the brain, meningeal tension, spinal alignment and more.  

Endonasal Cranial Adjustments, a form of chiropractic care, focus on realigning the bones of the skull to improve circulation and relieve tension that may contribute to headaches.  

Research supports the use of cranial adjustments as an effective way to treat migraines and tension headaches.

 A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics in 2001 found that chiropractic care, including cranial adjustments, led to a “significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of migraines in patients who had previously not responded to traditional treatments.”

Chaibi, A., & Tuchin, P. J. (2011). Chiropractic spinal manipulative treatment of migraine headache of 40-year duration using Gonstead method: A case study. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 10(3), 189. Science Direct

Moreover, cranial adjustments can help manage muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, which is a common trigger for tension headaches. By releasing muscle tightness and improving spinal alignment, chiropractic care can help prevent headaches from occurring in the first place.

Combining HBOT and Cranial Adjustments for Comprehensive Migraine Relief

At Dr. Adam Fields’ offices in San Jose and Los Gatos, we take a holistic approach to treating migraines and headaches. By combining HBOT with cranial adjustments, we offer our patients a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses both the physiological and structural causes of migraines.

The synergistic effect of HBOT and cranial adjustments can lead to faster, longer-lasting results. While HBOT improves circulation and reduces inflammation in the brain, cranial adjustments relieve tension in the neck and skull, ensuring that your body is functioning optimally. Together, these treatments can provide both immediate and long-term relief from migraine and headache symptoms.

If you’re ready to explore these advanced treatment options, we invite you to schedule a consultation at our office. Let us help you take control of your health and find the relief you’ve been searching for.

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