Headaches, Chronic Sinus Problems, Jaw & Facial Tension

Dr. Walsdorf's specialty is resolving headaches, chronic sinus issues, as well as jaw and facial tension. There are three parts to his successful program to improve the functioning of this upper most part of our human anatomy. Probably the most important are the gentle hands–on procedures that make up Cranial–Facial and Sinus Therapy. There are other therapies that prove important as well to heal long–term headache and sinus issues. These include therapies that work to correct Forward Head Posture, and others that clear out hidden digestive issues (which often underlie allergy problems). These digestive issues are part of the Allergy/ Organ Health/ Nutrition work we do.

Cranial–Facial and Sinus Therapy

Most medical therapies for the head and sinuses focus only upon the end result of a problem, whether it be inflammation of sinus tissue, or nerve, muscle and even vascular irritation within the skull, face, and jaw.

However, an interesting thing to know about this important region of the body is that it is, next to the foot, the region of the body that is most sculpted by bones. The skull is a place where bones play a major role in maintaining our well–being.

Cranial–Facial and Sinus Therapy builds upon osteopathic and chiropractic research over the last 100 years. Research shows that there is a normal rhythmic motion occurring within the skull that invigorates the tissues therein. These tissues include the sinuses, circulatory vessels for the brain and nerves, and even important endocrine organs.

While sometimes people are aware of the relationship of an obvious bone alignment issue within the head to a problem — as in the jaw, few people realize that their headaches, sinus issues and facial tensions have a relation to the way the bones of the skull are positioned, inter–relate, and move rhythmically together.

The skeletal parts of the cranial whole actually move in a rhythmic manner relative to each other as we breathe. This cranial–respiratory rhythm initiates the pumping of the cerebral spinal fluid throughout the brain and the whole of the nervous system. Interestingly, at the center of all this motion, lies the master endocrine gland, the pituitary. Research shows that the vitality and resiliency of the pituitary gland, is affected by the ability of this cranial–respiratory rhythm to maintain this rhythmic movement within our skull.

The vitality of the sinuses — their ability to maintain the proper balance of air and fluid — is to no small degree, the product of how well this motion is occurring. Sinus congestion comes often, as the inner resilience of the tissues that line the sinus is lost. When there is a breakdown in this cranial respiratory rhythm, the sinus tissues are put into a more strained position. This is thought to occur by way of the loss to an inner circulation of nutrients into the local tissues.

Most headaches come, similarly, as local cells within the cranium or face become irritated in some way. Eventually, this irritation triggers nerve activity, interpreted by the brain as a headache.

The gentle contacts and motion induced with Cranial–Facial and Sinus therapies bring greater nourishment into the local cells of the skull. All health begins in the local, or cellular, environment of an organ like the eyes, or tissue systems like the sinuses. The sinuses depend upon the local circulation of nutrients in, and waste products out from the cells that sustain the sinus lining.

The more there is this movement happening on a local environment, the more the local tissues therein have the optimal environment to grow, have the nutrients to do what they are meant to do as well as produce what they are meant to produce. This same rhythmic motion is thought to be what is responsible for the improved vitality of the pituitary when cranial–respiratory rhythms are optimized.

When you receive Cranial–Facial and Sinus therapies, the skull 's skeletal system and all the tissues that depend upon the proper alignment and rhythmic motion of them gain an opportunity to release the stored tension within them. And not only is strain removed, but vitality is brought into the eyes, sinuses, brain, and facial tissues.

Forward Head Posture (FHP) Correction

Part of the mission of Dr. Walsdorf is to help his patients to see the connection between their head and the other parts of their physical body — so they might better maintain the success of their work with us. Looking at things from a structural perspective, it is not hard to sense that if the head is two, three, or even more inches forward from where it should be — each and every day, year in, year out, you are setting your self up for upper level problems. The head is the weight of a bowling ball. The more the head is forward of being "plumb" with your ankles, the more your skull and neck tissues will be strained.

The correction of Forward Head Posture removes those significant structural strains, which occur as the battle between you and gravity takes hold within the cranium and face. Poor posture can create "structural fatigue" in tissues — something most medical doctors unfortunately ignore. FHP causes structural fatigue as cells are constantly put under those increased strains that come when they are moved off from a stable, structural foundation.

A forward head pushes more of gravity 's downward forces into tissues that abut bone. Because so much of the soft, functional tissues of the skull (like the sinuses, the eyes, and the headache–inducing nerves), lay next to bone they are particularly vulnerable to the strains that come with forward head posture. Importantly as well, this forward head posture induces the muscles of the neck and the back of the skull to over–contract to keep the head from falling forward under the weight of gravity.

This is why Dr. Walsdorf enjoys working with people with chronic neck problems — their FHP is causing their muscles at the back of the neck, skull, and the top of the shoulders, to spasm. This spasm works to keep the head from falling forward as what happens when you fall asleep while reading.

FHP correction can be life–changing because it pushes you to use your body in more self–empowering, even elegant, ways. As you become aware of the way forces work through you, life actually becomes more interesting. You will find that you will walk with more gusto, breathe with more vitality, think more clearly, and we suggest, live a more inspired life. People will notice that you have a greater sense of vitality.

Allergies/ Organ Vitality/ Nutritional Therapy

We have found over the years that many patients with headaches and sinus issues have a fair degree of deeper organ system weakness. Oftentimes it involves, in our experience, stomach digestion, or liver congestion. This is generally helped with special nutritional supports. One reason the stomach weakness is part of the problem with sinus problems (especially those involved with allergies) is that when the stomach is not digesting protein well, allergens from food get more easily into the body (instead of being destroyed by the stomach's acidity).

The increase of such undigested proteins in our food keys up, or heightens the immune system 's over–production of certain immune system inflammatory cells. We have natural supports that modulate this inflammatory response, so as to decrease your allergy symptoms and the subsequent sinus issues that are built upon such allergic reactions. We will work with these as we improve your stomach 's digestive abilities.

Still for others we may find a tired kidney, or spleen, thyroid or pancreas. Still, more often we find a patient 's adrenal system needs to be strengthened. The adrenals — the fight or flight endocrine organs above your kidneys — play a particularly important role in helping us combat stress. If you have been under stress for too long, your adrenals may be found to need some support.

As far as the liver, many people today have livers that are over–worked and strained — generally because we eat too much. We have special detoxifying programs that help to give your liver more resiliency. There is a good chance that if you are overweight, and if you are a woman, your menstrual cycle is associated with your headaches, or sinus issues, that your liver is involved. Dr. Walsdorf has been a leader in Syracuse for over 25 years in using nutritional supports effectively for helping his patients renew their health. When you work with him, you have the opportunity to have him help you and your sinus problems and headaches by way of leading–edge nutritional work. The more your organs are vitalized with this kind of biochemical nutrition, the healthier you will be on all fronts.

While you work with the UpCenter, then, your headaches, sinus, other skull–centered issues, and related neck problems will be helped with a set of tools that few doctors in Syracuse have the skills to use. Whether it be with our hands–on Cranial–Facial and Sinus therapies, our warm sinus compresses, our neck adjustments, our attention to your whole body biomechanics, and such things as your digestion and whole body health — our aim is to bring you upwards, toward fullest vitality and health, naturally.