Headaches are the first thing on Dr. Jason R. Brown’s list of conditions we see great results with. At Reston Healing Center, we treat causes, not symptoms. A headache is a symptom. Something caused it, and finding out what caused it and fixing it is what we do best, with no drugs or surgery.

What causes tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They happen when the muscles of the neck and scalp tighten up or contract. Anything that holds your head in one position for a long time without moving can bring one on, and so can stress, poor posture and neck strain, eye strain, clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth, and not sleeping well.

That list describes a lot of days in Reston. Hours at a screen, a commute on the Dulles Toll Road or the Silver Line, and a tense week at work all load the same neck and shoulder muscles. By late afternoon, the tightness has climbed up into your head.

When it’s time to get your headaches checked

Headaches that seem to start in your neck or shoulders
Headaches that build through the workday at a desk or behind the wheel
A stiff neck that won’t turn the way it used to
Headaches that ease up, then keep coming back

Call 911 first if a headache starts very suddenly, feels like the worst headache of your life, or comes with speech, vision or movement problems, loss of balance, repeated vomiting, a high fever or a stiff neck. Those are warning signs MedlinePlus lists for emergency care, not a chiropractic visit.

Your first visit

It starts with a free 10–15 minute consult with Dr. Jason. Tell him what’s going on and ask anything. If you want to go ahead, you know the price before anything happens: $169 cash for your exam, digital X-rays and adjustment, or your price if we work with your insurance.

For every issue, headaches included, we do a consultation and a thorough exam: ranges of motion, muscle testing, posture checks and digital X-rays. That gives each patient an individualized treatment plan to get them on the road back to what they love doing.

How we treat headaches

Each visit is about an hour of hands-on work. You get spinal work with Dr. Jason, then muscle work, stretching and exercises with Dr. Jason or one of our therapists. Not every body likes the same kind of adjustment, so he chooses from methods like Diversified and Gonstead or lighter instrument adjusting. See our chiropractic care techniques.

We also make and mix our own essential oil blends here in the office, and Dr. Jason uses them as part of treatment for headaches, pain and inflammation. Before you leave, you get exercises to do at home and advice on how you sit and set up your desk. Some patients even get told to take more computer breaks.

Why choose us

Our patients have given us a 4.9-star rating across 52 Google reviews. Dr. Jason takes his time, explains what he’s doing and wants to be the most conservative person you see for your pain. If he can’t help you, he’ll get you to someone who can.