The sternocleidomastoid muscle, which connects the head, neck and upper spine, has direct neurological relationships with both the trigeminal system and upper cervical nerves. When irritated or tight, this muscle can mimic or drive migraine symptoms – headache, eye redness, drooping eyelids, and restricted neck movement. This case demonstrates how important it is to assess and treat the musculoskeletal system in patients whose migraines don’t respond to conventional care.
In the U.S alone, approximately one in nine adults (11.1%) report experiencing subjective cognitive decline. A comparable percentage will go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. As researchers and clinicians seek integrative solutions outside of conventional pharmacological approaches, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) emerges as a promising, multimodal strategy in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline.
An anxious part of the self can be very persistent. It is a self-contained story with a pattern of somatic repercussions based on beliefs and coping strategies from life experiences that often start in childhood. The good news is that since anxiety presents with a repeatable pattern, we can start to recognize it as such and begin to question its validity in the moment. In the following case study, I outline three “heartmind” techniques that preceded acupuncture and took about 20 minutes.
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