Functional Medicine for Chronic Headaches: Looking Beyond the Symptoms
A trauma-informed approach to root cause healing in Minneapolis
"Have you tried drinking more water?"
If you're reading this, you've heard that dismissive question too many times. You've been told your headaches are "just stress," handed prescriptions that barely help, or worse—had someone suggest it's "all in your head."
You know your body. You know this isn't normal. And you deserve a practitioner who understands that chronic headaches are your nervous system's way of asking for help—not a character flaw to manage with willpower.
Chronic headache relief through functional medicine and nervous system care
Why Your Body Keeps Sending the Same Signal
Here's what I've learned in my practice: chronic headaches are rarely about just your head. They're often your body's way of communicating that multiple systems are struggling—your nervous system is stuck in protective mode, your hormones are imbalanced, or your body is working overtime to process inflammation, toxins, or unresolved stress.
Most practitioners treat headaches as isolated symptoms. But what if we looked at them as valuable information about deeper imbalances?
A Different Kind of Investigation: Science Meets Intuitive Care
In my practice, I combine evidence-based functional medicine with trauma-informed chiropractic care—specifically, I'm the only DNFT (Directional Non-Force Technique) practitioner in Minnesota. This unique combination allows me to address both the biochemical AND nervous system components of chronic headaches.
My Strategic Testing Philosophy: Start Smart, Expand Wisely
I know you've probably spent thousands on testing that led nowhere. Maybe you've been subjected to expensive panels that didn't change your treatment plan, or told you needed numerous specialized tests before anyone would listen to your concerns.
Here's my different approach: I start with strategic, cost-effective blood work that reveals crucial clues about deeper imbalances. This isn't about cutting corners—it's about clinical wisdom. Medicine is both science and art, and the art lies in knowing which tests will actually change your treatment plan.
Phase 1: Foundation Testing (accessible and informative)
Complete thyroid assessment (not just TSH)—including reverse T3 and antibodies that most doctors skip
Inflammatory markers that reveal hidden immune system activation
Key nutrient levels like magnesium, and vitamin D that directly impact neurological function
Basic blood markers that show us where to look deeper if needed
This foundation gives us a roadmap and often reveals significant findings that explain your symptoms. Only when these initial results point us toward specific imbalances do we consider more specialized testing like comprehensive stool analysis, detailed hormone panels, or food sensitivity testing.
Why this matters: You get answers faster and more affordably, while building a complete picture of your health systematically rather than throwing expensive tests at the wall hoping something sticks.
For women dealing with multiple chronic symptoms, our comprehensive guide to autoimmune wellness explores how functional medicine addresses complex, interconnected conditions.
The Nervous System Connection Most Practitioners Miss
Here's where my trauma-informed chiropractic background becomes crucial: chronic headaches often involve a nervous system stuck in survival mode. When your body perceives threat (whether from physical stress, emotional stress, or chemical stress), it activates protective patterns that can become chronic.
DNFT is an incredibly gentle technique that works with your nervous system rather than against it. Instead of forcing adjustments, we work with your body's innate wisdom to release tension patterns and support nervous system regulation. Many of my clients are surprised by how gentle yet effective this approach can be. Read more about DNFT Here:
What Your Body Might Be Trying to Tell You
Through years of practice, I've seen how chronic headaches often connect to:
Unprocessed Stress Living in Your Tissues
Your body keeps score. Chronic stress, past traumas, and ongoing life pressures can create physical tension patterns that contribute to headaches. When we address these patterns through gentle nervous system work, many clients experience significant improvement.
Hormonal Chaos That Goes Deeper Than Your Cycle
Yes, many headaches correlate with your menstrual cycle—but that's just the beginning. We investigate thyroid function, adrenal health, and how stress hormones might be creating inflammation that triggers your symptoms.
Hidden Inflammatory Triggers
Food sensitivities, gut imbalances, environmental toxins—these can all create low-level inflammation that makes your nervous system hypersensitive to triggers that wouldn't bother someone else.
Nutritional Deficiencies That Affect Brain Function
Magnesium deficiency, B vitamin insufficiency, and other nutrient gaps can directly contribute to headache patterns. But we don't just supplement blindly—we test first, then address what your body specifically needs.
Real Stories from Real Women
Lisa came to me after eight years of chronic daily headaches. Three neurologists, multiple medications, and thousands of dollars in testing had given her no answers. Her life revolved around managing pain.
Through our initial blood work, we discovered severe vitamin B12 deficiency and markers suggesting gut inflammation. Her nervous system was chronically activated—something we could feel in her tissue patterns during our gentle chiropractic work.
Six months later, she's had only two mild headaches. She sleeps better, has energy for her family again, and feels heard and understood for the first time in years.
This isn't about miracle cures—it's about thorough investigation and personalized care that honors both your biochemistry and your nervous system.
How We Work Together: A True Partnership Approach
If you've felt dismissed or rushed through appointments, you understand how healing happens differently when someone truly listens. My process is designed to honor both your intelligence and your body's complexity:
Discovery Session: Testing the Waters
We start with an affordable discovery session where you can share your story without pressure, ask questions about my approach, and determine if we're a good fit. No commitments, no sales pressure, just an honest conversation about whether this approach makes sense for your situation.
Comprehensive 90-Minute Intake: The Deep Dive
When you're ready to move forward, we schedule a thorough 90-minute session that includes:
Complete health history taking time to understand your full story and patterns
Neurological assessment to evaluate nervous system function and stress response
Orthopedic examination to identify physical tension patterns and structural contributors
Your first DNFT treatment so you can experience this gentle nervous system approach immediately
This isn't rushed medicine. This is comprehensive care that honors the complexity of chronic conditions.
Ongoing Partnership
From there, we work together to:
Interpret your test results in the context of your whole story
Design a treatment plan that addresses both biochemical and nervous system factors
Monitor progress and adjust our approach based on how your body responds
Provide education so you understand what we're doing and why
For more insights on functional medicine approaches to complex health conditions, explore the Patterns We Know By Heart
What Comprehensive Care Actually Looks Like
My approach typically involves:
Strategic functional medicine testing starting with cost-effective blood work
Gentle DNFT chiropractic care to support nervous system regulation and release chronic tension patterns
Targeted nutritional interventions based on your specific test results
Trauma-informed nervous system support that honors your body's protective patterns while encouraging healing
Lifestyle modifications that support your body's natural healing capacity without overwhelming an already stressed system
Most clients begin experiencing shifts within the first month, with continued improvement over 3-6 months as we address deeper layers of imbalance.
If you're curious about the nervous system's role in chronic pain, our article on trauma-informed approaches to chronic illness explores this connection in depth.
The Integration Your Body Has Been Asking For
You don't need another practitioner who sees your symptoms in isolation. You need someone who understands that chronic headaches often reflect nervous system dysregulation, biochemical imbalances, and the body's accumulated response to stress—all interconnected.
You deserve care that combines rigorous scientific investigation with gentle, trauma-informed treatment that honors your body's wisdom and capacity for healing.
Your headaches have a story. When we listen carefully enough and investigate thoroughly enough, that story usually points toward real solutions.
Ready to discover what your chronic headaches are really trying to tell you?
If you’re ready to calm your nervous system and explore true root cause healing, we’d love to support you.
Book Your Discovery Session → Start with an affordable consultation to explore if we're a good fit and discuss your unique situation
Schedule Your Comprehensive 90-Minute Intake → Complete history, neurological and orthopedic exam, plus your first DNFT treatment
📍 Serving the Twin Cities, including Minneapolis, Uptown, and South Minneapolis
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