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Medical Author:

Robert A Hauser, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Where Do I Begin?

Before you seek an alternative approach to your headache pain, make sure that it is correctly diagnosed. Evaluations for your headache may include examinations by your primary care physician, a consulting neurologist, and an ear, nose, and throat specialist. It is important that you have your condition(s) properly diagnosed; if not, any therapy you receive, be it from a Western medical or an integrative approach, will likely not be beneficial. It is essential that all serious, emergent, and urgent causes of your pain are excluded by a traditional medical physician before you try some of the nontraditional approaches.