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You are here: Home / Conditions / The Simple Way to Cure Your Stubborn Migraine Symptoms

The Simple Way to Cure Your Stubborn Migraine Symptoms

February 8, 2019 by Dr. Gil Winkelman 18 Comments

Migraine symptoms can be extremely painful. If you have never had one, you are lucky. Migraine symptoms consist of debilitating head pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to sounds and light. In extreme cases, one can feel weakness on one side of the body that can last minutes to days.  Some people never get head pain; rather they have problems with vision such as an aura around everything (ocular migraine symptom), stomach pain (abdominal migraine), or some other unexplained phenomenon. An article in the Sunday NY Times provides a bit of a first person account of migraines. Natural migraine treatment requires us to know the cause. I have identified at least 9 different causes of migraines. Likely there are more than the nine. Let’s explore the causes of the migraines and possible treatments such as LENS Neurofeedback.

Before we jump into the categories of migraines, I just want to give a brief overview of the scope of the problem.  Estimates vary between 10-20% of the US population suffers from migraine symptoms. It  costs consumers approximately $12.7 billion a year in medical costs plus another $12 billion in missed workdays. People who suffer from migraine headaches make less money than people who don’t.  Not only that, people who get migraines are at a greater risk of heart attack and stroke.

Traditional medicine manages migraines headache symptoms with polypharmacy, or the use of multiple drugs. While providing relief, many of this drugs have side effects too. Determining triggers can help reduce the frequency of migraines. Chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, menses and barometric changes are some of the common ones. A trigger creates a migraine but isn’t necessarily the cause. The cause though is what makes the trigger manifest into a migraine. Not everyone who eats chocolate gets a migraine. For those who are susceptible to migraines, chocolate can create one. By the cause, I mean what is it that allows a trigger to work.  Stress and a lack of sleep may also affect people. The trigger though, isn’t the same as the cause. I work with people to help them understand triggers because it can bring relief. Then we  find the underlying cause so they don’t get sick again. Many of my patients tolerate the thing that made them ill previously. They start to live their life more fully.

The Simple Way to Cure Your Migraine

Understanding the cause is the simple way to cure migraines. Finding the cause is not always so easy. Let’s explore some of the different causes.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): One of the most common causes of migraines is previous head trauma. I discuss the details of head trauma in the last post. Head injury is common and can cause migraines. Even minor bumps on the head or whiplash injuries can add up and lead to headaches later in life. In the last post, I go over the treatments in this situation.

Migraine CausesFemale Hormonal Imbalances: Many women get migraines related to their menstrual cycle. The headaches can occur right before or when their menses start.  While this can be its own cause, it is usually related to liver imbalances. Treatment requires balancing of the hormones first. Ensuring that the cycles are regular is the first thing I do in this case. More often than not, though, it requires looking at the liver.

Liver Imbalance:  Liver imbalance is common for people with migraines. The liver clears toxins from the body, and hormones are no exception. But other imbalances can occur too. The inability to eat rich foods or drink alcohol without a problem maybe a sign of a liver issue. The way I describe this issue to patients is that their liver cells just aren’t working as liver cells. Naturopathic treatments  remind the liver cells how to do their job. Our DNA is more of a blueprint than a hardcoding. The body has flexibility in what it produces. If the liver isn’t doing its job, it means it’s not producing the proper proteins to be doing its job. I use a variety of supplements that assist the liver and others that work to reset the epigenetic state. Gemmotherapy, homoepathy, and low dose botanicals can all help with the liver.

Gastrointestinal: This is distinct from a liver problem. Sometimes, there is a problem with the foods we eat because we aren’t digesting them. This could be due to food sensitivities causing GI distress. For reasons unknown, this can lead to migraines.  Changes in the healthy flora in the intestines can lead to this issue. These organisms help protect the gut and allow us to digest food well. The reason why so many people react to so many foods is that the gut is too loose. Leaky gut is a real problem, and one of its symptoms is migraine. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth or SIBO can be the culprit too. Proper diagnosis of this problem starts with an elimination diet. If the problem isn’t completely resolved, then I run other tests. SIBO, Leaky Gut, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Crohn’s can all be causes of migraines. Treatment varies based on the diagnosis.

Hormonal: Other hormonal imbalances can lead to migraines. Adrenal imbalances causing rapid changes in cortisol or epinephrine can cause migraines. The adrenal gland is also responsible for instructing the liver to produce certain proteins. Sometimes the liver is fine but the adrenals aren’t directing it appropriately. Or the thyroid may be out of balance. An imbalance in either could disrupt sleep, and fatigue is a common trigger for migraines.

Metal Imbalance: This is a new one for me although the research about this is almost 30 years old. The main culprits here are Zinc and Copper. The body requires both metals for proper functioning. In general, Americans are low in zinc and high in copper. This may be due to the effects of food processing, but it is unclear why. High copper levels may cause both migraines and menstrual difficulties. It also exacerbates low zinc. Zinc supplementation has shown promise in research studies as a treatment for migraines. (Med Hypotheses. 2011 Jul;77(1):147-51.  A new horizon into the pathobiology, etiology and treatment of migraine. Dillion, Singh, Lvall) Simple testing of blood and/or hair can help reveal this issue.  Zinc supplementation can be effective for raising zinc levels. Vitamin E and other nutrients can lower copper levels.

Heavy Metals: Another issue with metals is the heavy variety. Mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and aluminum can all contribute to migraines. Heavy metals can come from a variety of sources, and often the headaches come on as the body is trying to get rid of them. Elimination of metals needs to be gradual to prevent severe symptoms. A simple mineral prescription can start to mobilize the offending metals out of the body. Headaches will be completely gone in months.

Inflammation: Inflammation is starting to gain traction as a cause of many different conditions. Recent publications have suggested that migraines may be inflammatory. What does this mean?  Inflammation is the process the body uses to heal damage. It is to be a short-term activity to do so. Cells release hormones called cytokines that are signals to repair damage. These make us feel achy, sluggish, and depressed. For various reasons, the body sometimes gets into a chronic inflammatory state. This means that the entire body feels down, as if ill. In some people, the inflammation leads to headaches. The reasons aren’t completely clear. Treatment would consist of lowering inflammation in the body. This is probably a good idea for most people. An anti-inflammatory diet, omega-3’s (fish oil), and turmeric are simple ways to reduce inflammation.

Cardiovascular:  Changes in arterial pressure may also contribute to migraines. In this situation the pain doesn’t start with stress but when there is relaxation. Patients get migraines on the weekend or on vacation. What is interesting is that some of these patients may have had asthma earlier in life. There appears to be changes in the autonomic nervous system affecting the arteries. Another issue that can arise is that the person with migraines has a small hole in their heart. We have no idea what the relationship is between the two and it is somewhat rare.  Treatment here definitely varies depending upon the situation. Neurofeedback or biofeedback can be helpful to stabilize the nervous system.

Musculoskeletal Issues: TMJ, neck issues, and shoulder injuries can all cause migraine symptoms. I didn’t include this in the first iteration of the article and a chiropractor reminded me of this. We don’t know the exact mechanisms of this but there may be a stress or emotional component. Many patients find relief with physical adjustments, massage, and craniosacral therapy.

Emotional: Mental/emotional issues can cause migraines. And what comes first, is not clear. LENS Neurofeedback can be extremely useful for decreasing migraine symptoms (or even curing them entirely.) But for many people, simple exercises that reset the autonomic nervous system can improve people’s lives.

These are some of the causes of migraine. Others exist, of course, but these are the ones that I see most commonly in my practice. As you can see, it is a complex problem, and just treating the symptoms won’t change the issue. Treating the underlying cause helps reduce the problem. If you or someone you love suffers from migraines, please call me. I have a Naturopathic practice in Portland but can work with people remotely using Skype or telemedicine. While my I delight in helping people. And maybe you too can one day be migraine free.

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Filed Under: Conditions, Treatments Tagged With: cure for migraines, Migraine Symptoms, migraines, Neurofeedback

Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    February 18, 2018 at 9:22 PM

    This is the first time I’ve seen reference to rest as a migraine trigger being associated with cardiovascular issues.
    Any thoughts on why migraine intensity would increase with improving ferritin levels (from 3 to about 20) ?

    Reply
    • Dr. Gil Winkelman says

      April 29, 2018 at 3:47 PM

      Strange as I thought I had replied to this some time ago. My best guess is that there is great oxygen profusion in the brain as a result of the increase ferritin. There is some evidence that can cause migraines. But 20 is still low for ferritin.

      Reply
  2. Akash says

    April 5, 2019 at 3:11 AM

    This is indeed an amazing article on migraine and I respect the time you have invested in research and sharing it. Thank you for educating the audience and spreading awareness on ways to cure migraine. Will definitely share this article to someone who is looking for migraine cure. Keep up the good work!!

    Reply
    • Dr. Gil Winkelman says

      June 5, 2019 at 8:02 PM

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Natasha Cornellisson says

    May 22, 2019 at 1:48 PM

    Greetings.
    I write in the hope of finding some help for my family. My husband is a chronic headache sufferer and 2 of my 3 daughters are suffering from the same with the eldest suffering most severely. I would like to set up time to Skype you if you are able.

    Reply
    • Dr. Gil Winkelman says

      June 5, 2019 at 8:03 PM

      Hi Natasha,

      Please contact my office at info@askdrgil.com to arrange an appointment.

      Reply
  4. Hannah Ward says

    January 31, 2020 at 2:15 AM

    Hi

    I have suffered with chronic migraines for 2 and a half years with a 24/7 headache and I have tried a lot of things with no luck. This article has really sparked my interest again in finding the cure rather than the trigger as in the UK the cause is never a thought they just want to eliminate the pain, with no success. Would love to speak to you about my issues.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Dr. Gil Winkelman says

      February 25, 2020 at 1:00 PM

      I’ll send you an email.

      Reply
  5. Tracy Clayton says

    February 11, 2020 at 6:08 PM

    Excellent article

    Reply
    • Dr. Gil Winkelman says

      February 25, 2020 at 12:59 PM

      Thank you!

      Reply
    • Hannah Ward says

      January 11, 2021 at 6:06 AM

      Hi

      I have suffered with chronic migraines for 2 and a half years with a 24/7 headache and I have tried a lot of things with no luck. This article has really sparked my interest again in finding the cure rather than the trigger as in the UK the cause is never a thought they just want to eliminate the pain, with no success. Would love to speak to you about my issues.

      Thanks

      Reply
  6. noreen strauch says

    July 15, 2020 at 11:55 AM

    Please could we have a phone conversation. I am complex…had my RA under control then moved to Fl and got heatstroke/sunstroke.
    Main symptom is lightheaded all the time to the point of having become bedridden.
    You Then became food intolerant. Now down to 5 foods and worried about dying. tsh is 6.3 t4 and t3 normal was not able to tolerate thyroid med.
    Have had all tests done…stool, nutrieval, cortisol etc. Have seen 40+ doctors and no answers or solutions. You wrote about low histamine and overmethylation which might relate to me….

    Reply
    • Dr. Gil Winkelman says

      October 29, 2020 at 1:53 PM

      Apologies for the delay. Feel free to call my office. 808-726-2772

      Reply
  7. Sandy says

    August 28, 2020 at 8:29 AM

    I was excited when I saw the word “simple” and way to cure your migraine! It is great that you cover most of the causes, but how do we know which one we are suffering from? And what is the simple way to cure them? I really need to find an answer!

    Reply
  8. Amanda says

    October 27, 2020 at 3:18 PM

    Great article – thank you. I’ve suffered from chronic vestibular migraine for 11 years (after a lot of persistence I was finally diagnosed 4 years ago). But no one has ever been able to help me with the cause. I’d love to get to the bottom of it so I can attempt to fix the root cause rather than the symptoms, but over the 11 years I’ve run out of doctors who are willing/able to help me. This gives me renewed hope that one day I might figure it out!

    Reply
  9. Janet says

    April 17, 2021 at 11:16 PM

    I have suffered from migraines the last 50 years this article was very interested in Reading I’ve seen many doctors I tried many things to get rid of my migraines looking nice to get some good news

    Reply
  10. Milly says

    January 4, 2022 at 6:32 PM

    I was happy to see this great article I believe it should help and have helped alot of people.this is my first time to face this kind of headache I’d suffered from imbalance hormonal for a couple of months now and I’d like to seek more advise from you how to go about it cause the pain is really killing me right now thankyou.

    Reply
    • Dr. Gil Winkelman says

      February 24, 2022 at 4:19 PM

      Thank you!

      Reply

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