Drug-free · Calabasas · Same-week appointments
Headache & Migraine Specialist
Calabasas
Living in fear of the next attack is not living.
The stabbing pain behind your eyes, the throbbing temples, the lights you can't bear — chronic headaches quietly take over your focus, your relationships, your plans. At California Brain & Spine Center, Dr. Alireza Chizari, DC, DACNB, our board-certified functional neurologist, treats the neurological root of your headaches — not just the symptoms, and not with more pills.
The root cause
Headaches are neurological events — not just pain
Headaches and migraines arise from complex interactions between your central and peripheral nervous systems, your musculoskeletal system — especially the neck and jaw — your vascular system, and your hormonal and biochemical balance. No two patients share the same combination.
That's why masking symptoms with medication alone so often fails. As your migraine specialist in Calabasas, we identify the true neurological and mechanical drivers behind your pain — episodic or chronic — and treat those, so relief actually lasts. Patients visit us from Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Malibu, Agoura Hills, and across the San Fernando Valley.
Start your evaluation →Understanding headaches
Headache and migraine types we treat in Calabasas
"Headache" is a symptom with very different causes — and the right treatment depends entirely on which type is yours. Identifying it correctly is step one.
Migraine
Throbbing, usually one-sided pain with nausea, light and sound sensitivity — sometimes preceded by visual aura
Tension Headache
A tight, dull band of pressure around the head or temples — often driven by neck and jaw tension
Cervicogenic Headache
Head pain referred from the neck — tightness in the neck, trapezius, or shoulders travels upward
Cluster Headache
Excruciating pain around one eye, arriving in cyclical "clusters" over weeks — among the most severe headaches
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Sudden, sharp, electric facial pain on one side — triggered by everyday actions like eating, talking, or touch
Post-Traumatic Headache
Headaches that begin after a concussion, TBI, or whiplash — they can mimic migraines or tension headaches
Why it keeps coming back
Migraine triggers are personal — finding yours changes everything
Most chronic headache patterns have multiple overlapping triggers that differ from person to person. Part of your evaluation is mapping which of these are driving yours.
By the numbers
A global burden — hiding in plain sight
- Roughly 40% of the global population experiences headache disorders
- About 1 in 6 Americans report migraines or severe headaches
- Headache disorders rank among the top causes of disability worldwide
- Women are affected roughly twice as often as men — hormonal fluctuation is a key driver
Your path out of the cycle
How headache treatment works at our Calabasas clinic
A root-cause approach in three stages — built around your specific headache type and triggers, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Diagnosis & headache profiling
A detailed symptom history and headache profile, a functional neurological examination, musculoskeletal and postural assessment, and visual or vestibular testing where needed — to separate central from peripheral drivers.
Customized, drug-free care
Dr. Chizari builds a personalized plan from neurological retraining, postural correction, cranial nerve and vagus support, oculomotor therapy, breathing retraining, and trigger modification — matched to your headache type.
Monitoring & long-term relief
Ongoing check-ins track your response, your plan evolves with your progress, and you learn strategies that reduce flare-ups and extend headache-free days — long after the program ends.
Inside the program
Therapies that calm overactive pain pathways
Depending on your headache profile, your plan may combine:
Know the difference
Headaches we treat — and when to go to the ER first
The overwhelming majority of headaches are treatable, not dangerous. A few warning patterns need emergency evaluation before anything else.
We help with symptoms like these
- Throbbing or pulsating head pain
- Pressure behind the eyes or in the temples
- Sensitivity to light, sound, or smells
- Aura or visual disturbances
- Nausea, dizziness, or light-headedness with headaches
- Brain fog or slowed thinking during or after an episode
- Neck stiffness and tension-type pain
If you live in fear of the next attack, you're not stuck — a neurological evaluation can usually identify what's driving it. No referral needed.
Call 911 or go to the ER first if a headache is
- Sudden and explosive — the worst headache of your life ("thunderclap")
- Accompanied by fever and a stiff neck
- Following a head injury, with confusion or repeated vomiting
- Paired with one-sided weakness, slurred speech, or vision loss
- A brand-new, escalating pattern after age 50
These patterns need emergency medical evaluation first. Once you've been cleared, we'll help you deal with what remains.
Patient stories
Lives reclaimed from chronic pain
My migraines ruled my life for years. I used to cancel plans constantly. After just a few weeks of treatment, my episodes have almost disappeared — and when they do happen, I can manage them. This gave me my life back.
I never thought posture and brain exercises would help my headaches more than medications ever did. The team at California Brain & Spine treated me as a whole person, not just a diagnosis.
Watch
Break the cycle — see how GammaCore works
Stronger drugs shouldn't be the only answer. In this one-minute clip, see how stimulating the vagus nerve restores healthy brain-stem signaling — no prescriptions, no rebound headaches.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a tension headache and a migraine?
Tension headaches feel like a tight band around the head and rarely involve nausea or light sensitivity. Migraines typically throb on one side, intensify with movement, and may include visual aura, nausea, or light and sound intolerance — driven by neurological changes in the brain stem.
How many migraine days per month means I need specialist care?
Headache pain on 15 or more days per month — with at least eight episodes meeting migraine criteria for three consecutive months — meets the definition of chronic migraine. At that point, a comprehensive neurological evaluation and a preventive plan matter far more than stronger rescue medication.
Can migraines really be treated without medication?
For many patients, yes. Functional neurology addresses the drivers behind chronic headaches — neck mechanics, vagus nerve dysregulation, visual and vestibular dysfunction, and trigger patterns — through retraining rather than prescriptions. Drug-free care can also work alongside any medical treatment you already receive.
What are the most common migraine triggers, and how do I track mine?
Sleep deprivation, skipped meals, dehydration, hormonal fluctuations, certain foods like red wine and aged cheese, and barometric pressure drops are the most common. A daily headache diary or tracking app helps you spot personal patterns and lets your functional neurologist or healthcare provider target them precisely.
What are the 4 stages of a migraine?
Prodrome (early warning signs), aura (in some people), the headache phase itself, and postdrome — the "migraine hangover." Not everyone experiences every stage with every attack, and recognizing your early stages creates a window to intervene before the pain peaks.
Where can I find the best migraine treatment in Calabasas?
Look for a provider who diagnoses your specific headache type before treating it. At California Brain & Spine Center, our functional neurology clinic in Calabasas, Dr. Chizari, DC, DACNB profiles your headaches and builds a drug-free plan — and for prescription preventives such as Botox or CGRP therapy, we coordinate with your medical neurologist or healthcare provider.
Take the next step
Don't give headaches
one more day of your life.
Reclaim your clarity, energy, and freedom — naturally, gently, and effectively. Dr. Chizari, DC, DACNB and the team at our Calabasas clinic will find what's driving your migraine pattern and build the plan to break it.
California Brain & Spine Center · 4768 Park Granada, Ste 107, Calabasas, CA 91302