Pain comes in many forms which include head, and other body pain, insomnia, depression, fatigue, infertility, digestive issues... Pain includes any type of discomfort. We are meant to be comfortable. When out of balance our body sends us a message, similar to a cell phone message, that something needs our attention. The message, in the form of pain, once understood, often involves changing a small habitual action in every day life.

Physical pain is caused by lack of oxygen somewhere in the body. Our tissues and muscles receive oxygen from blood. Tightness constricts blood flow. Tightness is caused by injury or emotions. Remember back to a time when you experienced an emotion such as anger, sadness, irritation, and frustration… didn’t you tighten up somewhere: forehead, clenched jaws or fists, shoulders up to your ears?

What can you do for yourself to alleviate pain, especially headaches? Pay attention to when and how you tighten your body. Do your grind your teeth or clench your jaws during the day or night? This is common for many people with headaches, neck, shoulder and upper back pain. Our jaws exert a great deal of pressure. Continual pressure constricts blood flow to tissue and leads to pain in the body. If I asked you to clench your fist as tight as you could for an hour, once you opened it would be stiff and painful. That is what is happens to your jaws to cause headaches.

Check throughout the day for space between your jaws. Check up to 100 times: Is there space? Re-teach your body this new comfortable habit. Imagine a pillow or soft cloud between your upper and lower teeth. By instilling this habit during the day your body will automatically repeat it at night. Wearing a mouth guard at night protects your teeth from the damage of grinding. It doesn’t alleviate the pressure that causes headaches. To alleviate or stop headaches you must stop clenching/grinding. Until you do, other treatments are band aids.

If you wake up in the mornings with headaches, check to see if you’ve been chilled at night in your shoulders, neck, or head. Do you have a fan above your bed? Being chilled tightens tissue, constricts blood flow and pain results. Warmth promotes flexibility and movement. Turn down the fan; wear something that keeps you from being chilled. Before sleeping put Tiger Balm or another warming salve on your skin. You can awaken without pain.

Your body is a miraculous communicator. Its prime directive, along with the part of you that beats your heart, is to keep you well. When you receive a body message of pain, which like a cell phone message: respond! Be your own detective to find and change some small action in your daily life. The quicker you respond to your body’s messages the more quickly you will be restored and feel great. Being comfortable and having a sense of well being is what you deserve and the way you are meant to be.