What Are Migraines?
If you’ve ever had migraines before, you know how debilitating they can be. I’ve been there. I too was a chronic migraine sufferer for as long as I can remember. In university is when I was at my worst – I would go through a bottle of ibuprofen monthly (it’s a miracle my stomach survived!). My migraine would go away for a day or two and then come right on back.
Looking back, I’m sure the stress of being a student, the Mr. Noodles and frozen meals that I consumed nightly, the birth control pill I was on for my acne, the overuse of ibuprofen, and the poor sleep habits had something to do with it… If only I knew then what I know now!
So what is a migraine and what actually causes them to happen?
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t black and white. There is still a lot of uncertainty about what causes a migraine, but here are some possible triggers/causes:
- Genetic susceptibility – they tend to run in families
- Neurotransmitter imbalances – serotonin, for example
- Hormonal fluctuations – a reason why women often get cyclic migraines
- Food sensitivities – a good reason to have your sensitivities checked
- Medication use – such as oral contraceptives, but also overuse of pain medication (a vicious cycle!!)
The cause for you may be one or a combination of these things. Determining which treatment is best will depend on the cause.
So How Do You Know?
Keeping a migraine log can help us determine what the cause is for you. A migraine log involves writing down things such as when you get a migraine, the intensity of it, any associated symptoms (such as nausea, aura, hunger, light sensitivity), use of medication, as well as noting potential triggers (weather patterns, where you are in your cycle, what you ate) to see if we can make any connections.
And Then What?
Once we determine what the potential cause is for you, we then work to remove or treat the cause. If the cause is cheese, for example, it’s a pretty simple fix of removing the cheese (I know, easier said than done). If you feel like it is a food trigger, but are not sure which ones, a food sensitivity test can help pinpoint the triggers.
If the cause is a little more complex, such as a hormonal or neurotransmitter imbalance, we may need to do some further testing to determine the best way to treat. The test I will often use in these cases is a dried urine hormone test that shows not only the breakdown of hormones, but also nutrient status and certain neurotransmitter levels.
Are There Alternatives to Medication?
Luckily, while figuring out the cause, we also have some pretty awesome treatments for migraines that are safe to use with your current migraine medication, or in place of medication if you’d prefer. For example:
- Acupuncture is an effective therapy for preventing migraines. It has been shown to decrease frequency of migraines significantly better than medication with less side effects
- Ginger has similar efficacy to sumatriptan (a common migraine medication) for the treatment of acute migraines, and is better tolerated
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an effective therapy for migraine prevention, and is well-tolerated
- Other options include: Coenzyme Q10, Feverfew, Vitamin D, 5-HTP, Mindfulness, Yoga, Magnesium, and Omega 3
It is important to note that dose and form of supplements does matter. Working with a Naturopathic Doctor is important for determining not only which treatment would be best, but also to determine appropriate dose for optimal outcomes. In my practice, I will often use a combination of therapies for best outcome. Interested in working together? Send me a message or book online here.