Headaches & Migraines
Tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and migraine patterns — what responds and what to try.
Headache and migraine treatment at Meridian Osteopathy in Christchurch combines osteopathy and acupuncture to reduce frequency, intensity, and duration. We treat tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches driven from the neck, jaw-related headaches, and many migraine patterns. Most patients need 2–6 sessions depending on the type. No referral needed; you can book directly. Headaches and migraines are among the most common reasons people seek osteopathic care — and among the most responsive conditions when the right cause is identified. Tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches (coming from the neck), and some migraine patterns all have a significant musculoskeletal component that hands-on treatment can address. The first step is always to understand which type of headache you are having — because the right treatment depends entirely on the right diagnosis. A good assessment looks at your pattern (when, how often, how long), your triggers, your posture, your jaw, your sleep, and the way your neck actually moves. From there, we build a plan that usually combines in-clinic treatment with a small number of self-care changes.
Common signs of headaches and migraines
- A dull band of pressure around the head that builds through the afternoon or after long screen sessions
- One-sided throbbing pain often paired with nausea, light or sound sensitivity, or visual aura
- Pain that begins at the base of the skull and travels up over the head or behind the eye
- Tight, tender muscles in the upper neck, shoulders, and jaw that flare ahead of the headache
- Headaches triggered by poor sleep, missed meals, hormonal changes, weather shifts, or stress spikes
- Mornings dominated by headache after a night of clenching, grinding, or restless sleep
- Patterns that change with neck movement, head position, or sustained postures at the desk
When to see an osteopath for headaches
- Headaches happen more than once a week or are starting to interfere with work, family, or exercise
- You notice a clear link between neck stiffness, jaw tension, or posture and the start of a headache
- Migraine frequency or intensity is climbing despite medical management and lifestyle changes
- Painkiller use is creeping up, raising the risk of medication-overuse headache
- A new pattern has emerged after a whiplash, concussion, or sustained period of poor sleep
- Tension-type headaches keep returning despite rest, hydration, and regular screen breaks
- You want a non-drug option to add alongside your existing migraine plan
What to expect at your first appointment
- A detailed headache history — frequency, duration, intensity, triggers, aura, and any current medication
- Screening questions to rule out red-flag patterns and decide whether onward referral is needed first
- Assessment of the cervical spine, jaw, upper back, and shoulders to find the musculoskeletal drivers
- A plain-language explanation of which headache type you have and how osteopathy can realistically help
- Hands-on treatment of the upper neck, suboccipitals, jaw, and shoulders, with dry needling where it helps
- Two to three exercises and self-care strategies — posture resets, jaw relaxation, sleep and trigger tracking
- A realistic plan: 2–4 sessions for tension-type, 4–6 for migraine-pattern, with clear review points
Common questions about headaches & migraines
Headaches and migraines are both head pain, but they differ in intensity, associated symptoms, and underlying mechanism. A typical tension headache feels like a dull band of pressure around the head, often worse late in the day. A migraine is usually one-sided, pulsating, more severe, and comes with nausea, light or sound sensitivity, and sometimes visual aura. Migraines involve nervous system changes; tension headaches are more muscular in origin.
Tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches (pain coming from the neck), jaw-related headaches, and some migraine patterns respond well to hands-on treatment. Osteopathy is less useful for cluster headaches, headaches caused by medication overuse, or headaches with a clear non-musculoskeletal cause — but your osteopath will recognise these and refer on appropriately.
Tension headaches are often driven by tight muscles in the upper neck, jaw, shoulders, and upper back, combined with joint stiffness in the cervical spine. Osteopathic treatment releases these restrictions, improves blood flow to the area, and gives you posture and movement strategies to stop the pattern returning. Most people notice a difference within 1–3 sessions.
Yes — especially when neck dysfunction, jaw tension, or postural strain is contributing to migraine frequency. Research supports manual therapy as a useful adjunct for migraine management, reducing both frequency and intensity for many patients. It is not a replacement for medical migraine care, but it fits alongside it — addressing the physical triggers medication cannot reach.
Yes. Acupuncture is one of the best-researched complementary treatments for migraine — with evidence supporting it for both acute attacks and prevention. It is thought to work by modulating pain pathways, reducing neurogenic inflammation, and balancing autonomic nervous system tone. Our practitioners combine traditional point selection with modern neuroanatomy to target your specific pattern.
For uncomplicated tension or cervicogenic headaches, 2–4 sessions is usually enough. Migraine management is typically a course of 4–6 weekly sessions, followed by less-frequent maintenance. Your practitioner will reassess at each visit and adjust — the goal is always to get you to a point where you are managing well between appointments.
Yes. Osteopathy and acupuncture are both safe alongside prescribed migraine medication, including triptans, preventatives, and CGRP-targeting drugs. Tell your practitioner what you are taking so they can time treatment appropriately — for example, avoiding treatment immediately after a triptan. If herbal medicine is part of your plan, we specifically check for interactions.
Regular sleep, steady hydration, and consistent meal timing reduce migraine triggers significantly. Moving your neck through its full range several times a day, breaking up screen time with micro-movements, and managing jaw tension (especially if you clench) all help. Tracking your headaches — timing, triggers, sleep, stress — for 4 weeks often reveals patterns you can then change.
How we treat headaches & migraines
Osteopathic treatment for headaches focuses on the upper neck, jaw, shoulder, and upper back — areas that commonly refer pain into the head or drive migraine triggers. Techniques include gentle joint mobilisation, soft tissue release, and cranial approaches where appropriate. Where migraines are the primary pattern, acupuncture is often combined with osteopathy for better outcomes.
Related conditions we treat
- Neck pain — neck stiffness and upper-back tension often sit alongside cervicogenic headaches and tension-type headache.
Last updated: 24 April 2026