Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from migraines. Lasting several hours to as long as a few days, these debilitating headaches are three times more common in women than men.
It is believed that migraine headaches occur when a sudden dilation of the blood vessels creates pressure on the brain. There are numerous triggers for migraines. Dr. Mary Olsen, a chiropractor from New York who specializes in craniosacral adjustments and applied kinesiology, tells about the most common reasons for their occurrence.
Allergies can be dietary or environmental. “Dietary triggers can be foods, food combinations, or additives in foods,” Dr. Olsen says. “Alcoholic beverages, particularly red wine and beer, are among the most common causes of migraines. Tyramine, a chemical found in cheese, smoked fish, yogurt, and yeast extracts, may be involved. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is found in some preparations of Chinese cuisine and most processed foods, is often implicated, as is sodium nitrate, found in cold cuts and hot dogs. Aspartame, a commonly used artificial sweetener, may lower serotonin levels in the body. Some researchers believe that this contributes to severe headaches. Chocolate and other foods containing caffeine can also be dietary triggers. In addition, people can have allergies to such common foods as wheat, dairy products, corn, and eggs. A person can also have environmental allergies to toxic fumes emitted from modern products found in the home.”
Women suffer from migraines to a much greater extent than men. Dr. Olsen explains: “Among women who suffer from migraines, approximately 60 percent correlate headaches to their menstrual cycle. The major contributing factor is the hormone estrogen. We know that women who take oral contraceptives are more susceptible to severe migraines and that women experience a lower frequency and severity of headaches after menopause, when there is a sharp reduction of estrogen. Unfortunately, the widespread use of estrogen replacement therapy has resulted in many women having a return of these headaches. Although the exact relationship between migraines and estrogen is unknown at this time, we do know that estrogen affects the central nervous system, including the systems involving serotonin, which can be involved in the development of migraines.”
“Malposition in cranial bones, or cranial faults, is another factor contributing to migraines,” says Dr. Olsen. “Trauma to the head, such as striking the head on a car door or birth trauma, may be enough to lock a bone into a particular position. A whiplash injury may also result in cranial faults.”
Applied kinesiologists and acupuncturists check for a meridian imbalance. “Meridians are twelve bilateral electromagnetic channels of energy in the body identified within the Chinese science of acupuncture,” says Dr. Olsen. “Blocked energy, or chi, within a meridian causes dysfunction, including migraine headaches.”
Cervical subluxation (partial dislocation) in the upper part of the neck is another common cause of migraine. Dr. Olsen says, “This is especially prevalent among people who use the telephone as a regular part of their work. The tendency to hold the phone between the neck and the shoulder forces the vertebrae in the opposite direction. You also see this with people who tend to read in bed. Propping the head up in one direction causes the vertebrae to shift, which puts stress on the nerves and contributes to the migraine.”
“A number of studies have noted that many people suffering from migraines have low levels of magnesium in their blood,” Dr. Olsen says. “This is also true of people who suffer from fibromyalgia, a myofascial condition that can cause severe pain to the head, mimicking a migraine.”
Medications may also cause migraines. Dr. Olsen explains: “If you use aspirin, acetaminophen, mixed analgesics, or other acute care medications to get rid of your headaches, you may actually be causing them. The use of these painkillers is the single most common reason for migraines. They are called rebound headaches, and this is why they occur: When you take a painkiller often, the body gets used to having a certain amount of that drug in the bloodstream. When the level falls below that threshold, the body begins to experience withdrawal symptoms. One of these symptoms is a headache. If this situation exists, any preventive treatment for migraine will be undermined.”
Finally, Dr. Olsen cites stress as a factor in migraines. “Although stress is not a cause in itself, it can exacerbate the effects of a headache or cause an increase in the frequency of headaches.”
Migraines differ from regular headaches in that they usually occur on one side of the head. The pain can last from a few hours to a few days. The headaches can be accompanied by lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, fatigue, weakness, irritability, and vision problems. An aura sometimes precedes a migraine. Usually, this is a visual phenomenon that may appear as flashes of light or visual distortions. However, other sensory systems can be dis-turbed, causing the aura to manifest as numbness, tingling, odor hallucinations, language difficulties, confusion, or disorientation. A migraine attack can leave the sufferer listless, exhausted, and vulnerable to other mental or physical conditions.
Conventional treatment usually consists of taking pain-relieving medications and preventive medications, and avoiding triggers.
Complementary medicine offers a host of other remedies, including dietary and environmental changes; herbal, vitamin, and mineral supplements; homeopathy; acupuncture; and biofeedback.
One strategy is to fast for a few days to detoxify the body. A glass of water to which lemon juice and a half teaspoon of baking soda have been added can help eliminate waste in the digestive tract.
Certain foods tend to promote migraines and should be avoided. These include spicy foods; stimulating foods such as chocolate, tea, and coffee; alcohol; and fried food. Obviously, any food to which you personally have a bad reaction should be avoided.
“Since migraines don’t necessarily follow immediately after ingesting a food, it may be difficult to make a connection between a particular food and the resultant headache,” Dr. Olsen says. “We often have patients keep a food diary to record what is eaten and their physical reactions. That makes it easier to correlate foods with delayed reactions. If we suspect that a particular food is troublesome, the patient is asked to place a sample of that food under the tongue. If there is a sensitivity, a muscle that tested strong previously will weaken. The pulse is also evaluated for such changes as increases in intensity or frequency. Treatment can be as simple as removing the offending food.”
If environmental exposure is suspected, houseplants may be helpful. “Different plants have the ability to absorb different toxins,” Dr. Olsen says. “For example, spider plants absorb the formaldehyde released from particleboard, plywood, synthetic carpeting, and new upholstery, while chrysanthemum protects against the toxic effects of lacquers, varnishes, and glues.”
Certain vitamins, minerals, and herbs are very important in the prevention of migraine.
Some herbal extracts and homeopathic treatments have properties similar to conventional medications, but are gentler and may lack the drugs’ side effects. Always inform your medical practitioner of any herbal remedies you may be taking.
Dr. Elizabeth Lipski recommends high-dose riboflavin (400 milligrams), vitamin B12 (1,000–2,000 micrograms), butterbur (25 milligrams twice a day), magnesium, and feverfew. To address hormone imbalance, Dr. Olsen suggests supplementing the diet with vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil around the time of a woman’s menstrual period. For migraine triggered by stress, Dr. Olsen recommends feverfew. “Studies in England suggest that the herbal remedy feverfew can reduce the frequency of migraines,” she says. “Feverfew has sedative qualities and can be taken as a tea. One cup per day is usually effective. In addition, relaxation techniques such as meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and yoga can help to reduce stress. Regular moderate exercise, such as swimming or walking, also lowers tension and creates a psychological sense of well-being.”
According to Dr. Jennifer Brett, director of the Acupuncture Institute for the University of Bridgeport, where she also serves on the faculty for the College of Naturopathic Medicine, “When feverfew is taken with magnesium in doses of 250 to 500 milligrams daily, as well as with ginkgo biloba, most people notice a significant reduction in the number of migraines, even to the point of disappearance. This includes people who suffer daily migraines. Many people come to me who have had no success with more conventional treatments. After I start them on feverfew and magnesium, they get a significant reduction in the number of headaches and the severity of pain. Even when they have headaches, they tend to be less frequent and less painful.” Feverfew should not be taken by pregnant women.
For migraines associated with poor digestion or depression, Dr. Emily Kane, in an article on the website of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (www.naturopathic.org), says that lavender, which calms the nervous system, can be added to your bath water or rubbed into your temples. She also suggests that the following herbal tea, by cleansing the system, can prevent or decrease migraines:
Add a heaping tablespoon to a cup of water that has just boiled and steep for three to five minutes. You can add honey to sweeten. Drink this tea two to three times a day.
Many homeopathic remedies can help relieve migraines; the remedy must be matched to the particular symptoms. Some of those mentioned by Dr. Kane include the following:
ARNICA MONTANA—Arnica montana is for treating migraines that feel as though the head is burning but the rest of the body is cool. There is aching above the eyes that radiates to the temples. Sneezing and coughing cause shooting pains. Arnica is also used for migraines caused by head injuries such as concussion.
LACHESIS—Lachesis is for a severe congestive migraine, usually on the left side, that involves vomiting and loss of sight. There is throbbing and a sense of bursting. The headache is induced by sun (chronic). It is relieved by pressure on the top of the head and gets worse if discharges are suppressed (e.g., with antihistamines).
NATRUM MURIATICUM—Natrum muriaticum (table salt) is particularly effective for chronic headaches that involve intense pain accompanied by a feeling of bursting or of compression, as if in a vice.
NUX VOMICA—Nux vomica relieves migraines associated with stomach, liver, abdominal, and hemorrhoidal conditions. The migraine comes on when the person awakes or gets up, after eating, in the open air, or when the eyes are moved.
PHOSPHORUS—Phosphorus is used to treat congestive migraines in which the head throbs. These headaches are made worse by motion, light, noise, lying down, hunger, and heat; they improve with rest. The person feels cold but likes cold applied to the head.
PULSATILLA—Pulsatilla is used for congestive migraines in which the head throbs and is hot. The headache improves with applications of cold or walking slowly outside. It may be associated with overeating and menstruation.
RHUS TOXICODENDRON—Rhus toxicodendron is used in cases where the person feels intoxicated or stupefied, as though the head were being weighted down. When the person wakes and opens her eyes, a violent migraine comes on. Children may get this type of migraine when they get cold or damp or have wet the bed.
SEPIA—Sepia is used for migraines, especially in women, that are related to nervousness, indigestion, or heartburn, and may be violent or periodic and improve when the person lies quietly. This type is often cured by sleep, by strenuous activity such as dancing, or by long walks outdoors.
SILICA—Silica relieves chronic migraines involving nausea and vomiting that begin at the nape of the neck and move over the crown of the head to the eyes. The headache improves with pressure, lying down, heat, and urination.
THUJA OCCIDENTALIS—Thuja occidentalis is used for the person who feels as though a nail were being driven into the top of the head and who has severe stitches in the area of the left temple and pulsation in both temples. Thuja is effective for severe headaches that follow vaccination.
Meridian imbalance can be addressed by acupuncturists or applied kinesiologists. Dr. Olsen states, “The task of the practitioner is to balance the energy by stimulating the meridians. There are various ways of accomplishing this. Three acupressure or acupuncture points are helpful in treating migraines. Lung 7 is located about two finger widths from the crease in the wrist, on the thumb side of the anterior part of the arm. Bladder 67 is found at the nail point of the little toe, and Gallbladder 20 is located between the mastoid and the occipital protuberance in the skull. These points are stimulated in a circular or tapping motion until there is an effective change.”
Using thermal control, a biofeedback technique, people may be able to control migraines by learning to raise their finger temperatures with a digital-temperature device. They learn the technique in the practitioner’s office and from manuals and audiotapes at home. Generally people need about two months to learn the technique. It appears to work by increasing blood flow, which is decreased by nervous tension.
Another biofeedback technique places sensors on the temples, over the temporal arteries. People learn to change their pulse rates in order to diminish their migraines.
Aerobic exercise, says Dr. Kane, can lessen the frequency of migraines if it is performed regularly, three times a week for a minimum of twenty minutes.
There are many inventive forms of hydrotherapy that involve applying cold to the head and heat to the feet. For example, cold wet packs on the forehead, back of the neck, and head will constrict the blood vessels so that less blood flows into the head. Soaking the feet in a hot footbath in which peppermint and apple cider vinegar are added to the water will bring the blood away from the head and into the feet, and also cool and cleanse the blood. A hot hip bath will also bring the blood away from the head. When the headache is severe, try alternating hot and cold, using towels that are soaked and then wrung out and applied to the face and head. The last application should be cold. You can also alternate hot and cold hip baths.
An enema with cool water may give relief, since migraines are frequently related to wastes remaining in the colon.
Dr. Kane describes acupressure points that can be used to relieve different types of migraines. A point known as Wind Gate is effective for migraines related to the change of seasons. It is actually two points located at the highest point of the neck just below the hairline on either side of the muscles that run up the spine. You can press these points or put two tennis balls in a sock and lie on your back so that the balls press into these two points.
Another point is in the fleshy area between the thumb and forefinger. Squeezing it can reduce migraine pain and also stimulate a bowel movement, which itself often relieves the headache. A point below the bottom of the big toe can relieve migraines that affect the upper part of the face and the eyes.
Dr. Kane suggests pondering some themes that make connections between migraines and a person’s emotional or mental condition. Insight into hidden stresses that manifest physically as migraines may help you release the tensions that lead to the migraine. For example, Dr. Kane explains, some experts believe that migraines represent an attempt to live out one’s sexuality through the head. On a physiological level, the pattern of tension manifested as constricted blood vessels releasing into relaxation when the vessels finally dilate and the pain is relieved can be compared to an orgasm. This type of migraine can frequently be relieved by masturbation, although it may require more than one orgasm to bring relief. Dr. Kane notes further that constipation and problems with digestion are often associated with migraines. This indicates a “closed-up” condition in the lower body.
Dr. Kane describes the use of color to relieve migraines as well as other ills. You can wear certain colors or use gels placed over lamps or other light sources. The colors most effective during a migraine, she says, are purple and scarlet. Purple increases the ability to tolerate pain and makes a person drowsy when a purple light is shined on the chest, throat, and face. Scarlet can be shined on the face to raise blood pressure, though only for migraines caused by decreased blood flow. For migraines that affect the right side of the head, shine blue on the face or the liver for five minutes.
In between migraine attacks, use lemon (said to dissolve blood clots) and yellow (which works on the lymphatic system and motor nerves) for two weeks. Then use lemon and orange, which act as decongestants, for four weeks. Repeat this pattern for as long a period as required.
Applying pressure to the feet can alleviate migraines because specific reflex points correspond to the head area. Reflexologist Gerri Brill says that the greatest benefit comes from a routine that encompasses all body systems. Here she gives a detailed description of her program:
CREATING A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT—“I start off by getting you to feel relaxed. Sometimes I use a foot basin to soften and warm up the feet. Then I have you lie down on my massage table while I explain the anatomy of the foot and the idea that each part corresponds to an area of the body. The big toe relates to the head, and the little toes relate to the head and sinuses. Under the toes is a ridge that corresponds to the neck and shoulders. The chest-lung area corresponds to the ball of the foot. The narrow part is the waist area, and at the heel you have the small and large intestines, the sciatic nerves, and the lower back.”
RELAXING BREATHING—“There is a special place on the foot that corresponds to the solar plexus. This is a little notch just below the ball of the foot. The solar plexus is the seat of the emotions. By placing my thumb in this little notch as you inhale and releasing as you exhale, I help you to let go of a lot of stuck feelings held inside. It helps promote relaxation and is good to do at the end of the session as well.”
WRINGING THE FOOT—“As you lie down, I wring out your foot three times or so, as if I were wringing out a washcloth. That helps the foot relax.”
LUNG PRESS—“This is where I press the fist of my right hand into your chestlung reflex while holding your foot with my left hand. This area is on the pad of your foot, directly beneath the ridge of the toes. As I press, I slowly bring the flat of my fist down to the heel. I repeat this action three times. It is another relaxation technique.”
FOOT-AND-TOE BOOGIE—“Next I do what is called the foot boogie. That means rocking your foot back and forth to loosen it up. Then I do the same with your toes. I place my hands around each toe as I shake your toes back and forth. It sounds silly, but it feels great.”
ZONE WALKING—“Zone walking is performed with the outer aspect of the thumb. If you place your thumb on your lap, it is the area that rests on your lap. It’s important to keep the fingernails short to avoid digging into anyone. Using the outer aspect of my thumb, I start way down at the heel. I mentally divide the foot into five zones, with each zone leading to a different toe. Starting at the outside portion of the foot, the fleshier part, I bend the working thumb at a fortyfive-degree angle and apply pressure as I creep up the foot ever so slightly. Each move is no more than a sixteenth of an inch. There are a lot of nerve endings in the feet, and I want to hit all of them. Applying steady pressure, I work my thumb upward all the way to the tip of the toe. When I reach the top of the toes, I go back down to the heel again to repeat the process. These steps are repeated for all five zones. By covering the whole body in this way, I help to create an equilibrium.”
SPINE REFLEX—“Now I am at the inside aspect of the foot. That’s the spine reflex, and it is very important because the spine supports you and holds you erect. I start at the bottom by your heel with my thumb. Again, I work with the outside corner of my thumb held at a 45-degree angle and walk up your spine. I go all the way up to the big toe. Then I turn around and thumb-walk down, using little steps and steady pressure. I don’t want to hurt you, but I do want to exert a good amount of pressure since this is pressure therapy.”
SHOULDER AND NECK REFLEX—“Now I move to the ridge underneath the toes. This corresponds to the neck and shoulder line, and it is important for headache relief because when people have tension and headaches, their neck and shoulders are usually tense. Again, I use the thumb-walk. I start at the outside of the big toe and thumb-walk to the ridge. I bend the toes back slightly to get inside. This is repeated until I get to the little toe. Then I turn around and thumb-walk back.”
HEAD AREA—“The big toe relates to the head, so of course I want to work this area. I place the fingers of my right hand over my left hand and thumb-walk down the fleshy part of the big toe. I divide the big toe into five zones and work down each area using very, very tiny bites or steps. My aim is for twenty-five bites on that big toe. That covers the whole area. I do that five times. This is very important.”
BRAIN REFLEX—“Rolling my index finger over the top of the big toe stimulates the brain and relieves aches caused by migraines. Often this area feels sensitive because of crystal deposits that accumulate. These deposits need to be broken up.”
HEAD AND SINUSES—“After finishing the big toe, I move to the little toes. Again, using my thumb, I divide each toe into three zones and thumb-walk, using little bites. This is repeated three times on each toe. This is another place where I feel tiny grains of sand. Breaking them up is the main way to relieve migraines.”
CLOSING THE SESSION—“Just to make the session complete, I go back to the top of the foot while supporting the heel with the fist. I finger-walk with the right hand between the little bones on the top of the feet. This area helps the lymphatics, chest, breast, and part of the back. Massaging here helps you to achieve a state of balance. Then I work around the ankle areas. The ankles relate to the reproductive organs and alleviate headaches caused by PMS. That’s just one foot. Now I wrap up the foot that was worked on and start over on the other side. Afterward, I massage both feet at the same time, which is very soothing. At this point, you know that the session is coming to an end. Once again, I massage your solar plexus area and have you take a deep breath. Finally, I do a nerve stroke to soothe the feet. This is where I ask you to imagine taking in peace and balance with each breath. This promotes a profound sense of relaxation. At this point the session is over, but you should rest a few moments instead of getting up quickly. Just relax and acknowledge how great you feel. Be sure to drink some water after the session to flush out the deposits.”
In some cases, correcting cranial faults is crucial to treatment. Dr. Olsen says, “Since migraines involve the cranial nerves, patients suffering from migraines should always be examined for cranial faults. These faults are extremely difficult to evaluate, due to the subtle movement of bones, but correcting them can be key to healing.
“One of my patients responded only partially to treatment after we corrected other findings that contributed to her headaches. Although the frequency decreased, she still reported migraines. At first, she had a general examination for cranial faults; there were no positive findings. Finally, after examining every single sutral point (or area of articulation) along the frontal bone in the forehead, we found the problem and corrected it. Her headaches stopped. In this case, the patient had an internally rotated frontal bone. Applied kinesiologists find this to be the most common cause of migraines from a cranial fault. This is particularly true if the patient reports eye pain with the migraine.
“The correction for this is done in three steps. First, pressure is applied to the posterior aspect of the palate on the side of internal rotation. Then light pressure is applied on the lateral pterygoid muscle, located behind the upper molar in the mouth. Next, pressure is applied to the medial pterygoid on the opposite side. That completes the treatment.”
Neurofeedback, also known as brainwave training or EEG biofeedback, is being used as a safe, drug-free alternative to impact stress, migraines, chronic pain, seizures, and more. Painless electronic sensors are placed on the scalp and earlobes. These sensors record the brain’s activity, registering relaxed and focused brain waves with a video game–like pattern on a computer screen. When the mind drifts, the screen goes blank. Neurofeedback is being used to reset particular brain patterns associated with certain illnesses or conditions, so that the brain is able to perform at optimal levels. The effects that are experienced with the computerized biofeedback device are practiced and learned until the exercise and its effect on the brain can be reproduced at home without the device.
The following chart summarizes the supplements I recommend adding to the protocol for overall brain health from chapter 16. In some cases, I recommend increasing the dose of a particular vitamin or supplement to specifically impact headache. In these cases, you should increase the daily dosage from chapter 16 to the level recommended for this specific condition. This protocol is designed for individuals who suffer from or are specifically concerned about headache. If you are concerned about additional conditions discussed in other chapters, consult with a health professional about how you can safely impact multiple conditions. If you are taking medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, or have any food restrictions, consult with your doctor before beginning any supplement program. Your health care provider should always be up-to-date on all vitamins, supplements, and herbal or homeopathic remedies you are taking. Supplement overdoses are rare, but possible, and certain combinations may affect individuals adversely.
| SUPPLEMENT | DOSAGE | CAUTIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) | 50–100 mg | Several months of 5-HTP treatment may be needed for maximum benefit.Nausea is the main side effect, but if it occurs, it usually dissipates within several days.Do not combine with prescription antidepressants. If you are taking prescription medication for depression, you should consult with your doctor before taking 5-HTP. Excess levels of serotonin in the blood can be dangerous in case of coronary artery disease. |
| magnesium | Up to 1,000 mg | May take six weeks or more for effects to be felt. |
| melatonin | 1–5 mg two to three nights per week | Tolerance may develop with regular use. Long-term effects of nightly use are unknown. |
| vitamin B2 | Increase daily dosage from 50 mg to 150 mg | May build up to a therapeutic level. May not show results for several months. Do not exceed a daily supplement of 150 mg. |
| vitamin B3 | At the onset of migraine aura 100–150mg | High doses of niacin may cause a “hot flash” sensation. Some varieties are advertised “flush free” to prevent this. |
An increasing body of evidence is showing the benefits of natural modalities to overall health and well-being. Following is a sample of recent peer-reviewed scientific studies relating to migraines.
According to a 2015 report in BioMed Research International, vitamins could play an important role in migraine prevention given the association of the headaches with deficits in mitochondrial energy and increased homocysteine. VitaminsB6,B12, and folic acid are potentially useful for treating migraine with aura. Vitamin E can help with menstrual migraine, which is linked with increased prostaglandin levels in the endometrium, and vitamin C can be used as a scavenger of reactive oxygen for treating neurogenic inflammation. A 2015 study in the Journal of Headache and Pain reported that participants in a randomized, placebocontrolled, multicenter trial who took a proprietary supplement containing riboflavin, magnesium, and coenzyme Q10 experienced a significant reduction in intensity of migraine pain, as well as fewer days per month of symptoms. In the journal Headache, researchers administered a homeopathic blend of ginger and feverfew to patients suffering from migraine headaches, and found that 63 percent experienced a reduction in pain, while only 39 percent in the placebo group noticed improvement. According to a 2011 study in Headache, 4.5 percent of adults with migraines/severe headaches reported using complementary and alternative medicine specifically to treat those ailments. Mind-body therapies such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga were used most often.