Ash Norris
I am Ash, a headache specialist massage therapist. I do other modalities as well, including lymphatic drainage and therapeutic bodywork. I enjoy using cold stones and compresses, headache-targeting essential oils, cupping, trigger point and traditional Swedish massage therapy. I am capable of a wide range of pressure, but my massages are never painful. Five years ago I had daily, debilitating migraines. I had all the tests done, taken several different medications with horrible side-effects, and had my blood drawn about 8-million times. I didn't have the energy to do art (which I am lost without) let alone argue with doctors who all agreed, "it is just stress". I pursued my own methods of treatment until I recovered enough to go to school again - this time for a massage therapy license. Bodywork is not the only treatment necessary to see improvement in headaches in everyone, but it was the one that made the biggest difference for me. Receiving massage regularly allowed my body to recover and stop my over-sensitized nervous system from overreacting. That meant I had the time and energy to track my headache symptoms, know my triggers, and plan to stop tasks before I was totally exhausted. Today, I have an occasional headache maybe once a month. Armed with research articles, specialized books, and tips or tricks I learned from word of mouth, I guide, inform, and advocate for others in their journey to managing and reducing chronic pain.
