Overcoming the Pain of Migraines—A Functional Medicine Approach

When a dull ache in your head turns into a pounding pain that lasts for hours—or sometimes days—it’s possible that a migraine has taken hold, making you long for a quiet dark room to minimize the throbbing discomfort. Way beyond being merely a “bad headache,” migraines can be debilitating until they subside.

In the U.S., migraines affect almost 16% of people, and women have them 3 times more often than men. There may be a genetic link for this condition since it can run in families, and although the headaches typically begin during early adult years, children can develop migraines too. Despite the prevalence, the biological cause of migraine headaches is not fully understood, although progress continues to be made. Some research has indicated that dysfunction in the brain’s vascular system (blood vessels) and electrical signaling processes lead to decreased blood flow and contribute to terrible head pain and accompanying symptoms. However, why this happens remains unclear.

If you suffer from migraines, it’s a good idea to investigate all the possible causes and triggers, which can include physical, psychological, and environmental issues. Functional (also called integrative) medicine physicians can help.

TYPES OF MIGRAINE SYMPTOMS

Some people have migraines infrequently, while others have them many times a month—or even chronically. And there is a lot of variability in how the symptoms manifest. To begin with, there are 2 primary types of these headaches:

1. Common migraines are ones without an aura and may come on quite suddenly.
2. Classic migraines begin with an “aura,” which largely affects vision and can cause colored or blind spots, tunnel or blurry vision, or seeing flashing lights, stars, or patterns. Auras may also cause cognitive issues, fatigue, dizziness, a sensation of “pins and needles” in extremities, and other neurological symptoms.

The accompanying headache, which may be more intense on one side of the head, in the neck, or behind the eyes, can start anywhere from a few minutes to several hours after the aura begins. In addition, many people have other symptoms concurrently, such as nausea, chills, sensitivity to sound and light, brain fog, muscle aches, and other issues that add to the discomfort. Even after a migraine subsides, some symptoms may linger in what is often referred to as a migraine “hangover.”

MIGRAINE TRIGGERS ARE WIDE-RANGING

There are many potential triggers that can start the abnormal processes in the brain which lead to migraines, including:

• anxiety or stress
• physical exertion
• alcohol
• hormonal fluctuations or birth control pills
• changes in the weather
• lack of hydration
• bruxism (grinding teeth, typically while sleeping)
• specific foods, such as
• aged cheeses
• cultured dairy products like yogurt
• dried or aged meats and fish
• certain fruits or fruit juices
• chocolate
• pickled or fermented foods
• artificial sweeteners
• caffeine
• MSG
• yeast (i.e. bread products)
• perfume, smoke, and other intense odors
• loud sounds or glaring lights
• poor sleep or skipping meals

Beyond these common triggers, migraines are also associated with certain neurological disorders. Because of the abnormal vascular function in migraines, research has found evidence that they can be a risk factor for stroke. Literature published in the medical journal, Headache, revealed numerous studies have shown some overlapping neurological processes in epilepsy and migraines, and that the headaches and auras may even trigger seizures. Other research has found that many people who suffer from migraines have a history of mild traumatic brain injury. Furthermore, Irlen Syndrome, which is a visual processing problem that causes certain colors of the light spectrum to irritate the brain, leads to several symptoms, including migraines.

HOW FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CAN HELP MIGRAINE SUFFERERS

Many people who suffer through the often-debilitating pain of these awful headaches struggle to find solutions to manage them. While certain medications can help with pain management, a holistic approach, such as functional (integrative) medicine might yield more effective long-term results for reducing the frequency and severity of migraines.

Functional medicine practitioners have expertise in investigating and treating the root cause of complex health problems. In the case of migraines, the doctor will want to know the details of your symptoms, the frequency with which your headaches occur, lifestyle behaviors, and any other coexisting medical or mental health disorders. For example, it is not unusual for migraine sufferers to also have one or more issues, such as:

• fatigue
• anxiety
• depression
• sinus problems
• muscle or joint pain
• hormonal imbalances
• gastrointestinal disorders
• food allergies/intolerances
• sensitivity to additives in food

In addition, some research has found that pro-inflammatory processes and oxidative stress can contribute to the onset of migraine symptoms.

A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH FOR MIGRAINE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT

Since so many things can play a role in triggering migraines, a functional medicine physician is likely to do testing and recommend different strategies to help figure out the specific factors that are contributing to the headaches. For example, the doctor may want to:

• Run blood and urine tests to assess for any hormonal imbalances or vitamin deficiencies
• Recommend a change of birth control method (if applicable) to see if it changes your headache pattern
• Undergo food allergy testing
• Work with you on an elimination diet for a period of time to identify triggering foods
• Ask you to keep a “headache journal” for tracking your food intake and activities prior to getting a migraine

A multi-pronged investigative approach will provide the integrative healthcare professional with a wealth of information about the underlying cause(s) of these debilitating headaches. From there, an individualized and comprehensive treatment plan with specific recommendations can be created and adjusted as needed. Each person’s recommendations will be different based on their unique needs, but examples may include:

• Specific dietary changes
• A stress management practice, such as meditation, yoga, or tai chi
• Hormone replacement/augmentation
• Improving sleep hygiene
• Focused treatment for co-occurring medical issues
• Psychotherapy to address any mental health symptoms
• Medications or supplements, if appropriate

By following through with the functional medicine doctor’s suggestions and guidance, the recurrence of migraine headaches can be minimized—or potentially prevented—so they do not continue to be so disruptive to your life and sense of well-being.

At Amen Clinics, our Integrative/Functional Medicine physicians are here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.