Unexplained Migraines?

Migraine. The word is right there in the name "mi-GRAIN-e." It is now small wonder that your-grain-es can be what are causing your unexplained migraines.

While there are many type so of headaches and migraines, one common cause is gluten intolerance or celiac disease. A study by Zis, Julian and Hadjivassiliou (see sources) found that 26% have headaches, most of which are migraines. They were often reported as the first or presenting symptoms. The incidence of headaches in gluten sensitivity appears to be similar at 25%.

Headaches are most often treated with pain killers and other prescription medications. However, these treatments never address the underlying problem. They cannot eliminate your triggers. Plus, there is a risk of addiction as well as other serious side effects. Not good.

In many ways pain killers are the easiest "solution" but haste makes waste. I don't know if emotional eating, or if simply habit, is the cause of this but I bet you that most people would rather take a pill to numb a problem than change their diet. However, there is undeniable evidence that gluten is associate with a long list of mental and cognitive symptoms and conditions. It not surprising than that migraines are among them.

There is a terrific info-graphic on My Gluten Miracle can summarized gluten and brain function as this:

LEAKY GUT + MIGRAINE = CHRONIC INFLAMMATION/SPOTS ON MRI = RISK OF MORE MIRGAINES, STROKE, DEMENTIA AND DEATH.

---

Is food triggering your head to explode?

Food: Gluten elimination often decreases or eliminates headache symptoms. But this is not always the case. Other foods are notorious for triggering migraines include chocolate, MSG, aspartame, aged cheeses, red wine, beer, and yeast. But, any food can be a trigger.

investigating your trigger

When my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, he was given a meal log along with his blood test kit. For the first three months his general practitioner wanted him to journal his diet, blood sugar levels, and any noted symptoms.

I think that keeping a headache journal can give you deeper insight into your praticular migraine triggers. When you experience a migraine, keep a note of all the possibilities listed above and see if you can discover a pattern to your onset. Make sure to keep track of any other items of importance on your headache days.

tip for stopping a migraine after it starts

I am not a health practitioner but these are the top tips I have found and round the internet, in books, and from personal experience. Of course there effectiveness will depend on the type of migraine you have. For more information of these tips see the sources below.

Ginger: Ginger works to alleviate nausea associated with migraines. It is available in raw form as a root – this can be made into a tea, or ginger tea can be purchased. It is also available in a chew form as a supplement, capsule, or tinctures.

Magnesium: Magnesium can be used preventatively or as a treatment. It can also be used safely in pregnancy. Please consult your obstetrician before use if you are pregnant.

Chiropractic: Manipulation may decrease the frequency, severity, and duration of migraines.

Acupuncture: Current evidence shows it to be a helpful addition to treatment. Patients often express terrific results with acupuncture.

Acupressure: Accupoint PC6 may be used without harm to alleviate nausea associated with headaches. Sea-Band ® wrist bands can be used to activate this point. LI4 is also easily located and used. Several YouTube videos will instruct you on this frequently helpful technique. If you are further interested in acupressure, you may wish to consult a certified Chinese medicine practitioner for additional points.

Avoid known triggers if possible: Once you have identified your triggers, do your best to avoid them. It sounds simple, but everyone loses sleep sometimes or gets in an unavoidable situation where a trigger may be present.

De-Stress: If all this information seems scary or overwhelming. Please go listen to calming classical music because stress still one of the leading factors for headaches and migraines. Let go and let God.

Sources

Nutrients 2018, 10(10), 1445; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10101445
Received: 18 September 2018 / Revised: 25 September 2018 / Accepted: 29 September 2018 / Published: 6 October 2018

Dr. Amy Burkhart is a doctor (M.D.), Registered Dietitian, R.D. https://theceliacmd.com/migraines-gluten/

Kruit MC, van Buchem MA, Hofman PA, Bakkers JT, Terwindt GM, Ferrari MD, Launer LJ. Migraine as a risk factor for subclinical brain lesions. JAMA. 2004 Jan 28;291(4):427-34.

Bashir A, Lipton RB, Ashina S, Ashina M. Migraine and structural changes in the brain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurology. 2013 Oct 1;81(14):1260-8.

Debette S, Markus HS. The clinical importance of white matter hyperintensities on brain magnetic resonance imaging: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2010 Jul 26;341:c3666.

DosSantos MF, Holanda-Afonso RC, Lima RL, DaSilva AF, Moura-Neto V. The role of the blood-brain barrier in the development and treatment of migraine and other pain disorders. Front Cell Neurosci. 2014 Oct 8;8:302.

Visser J, Rozing J, Sapone A, Lammers K, Fasano A. Tight Junctions, Intestinal Permeability, and Autoimmunity Celiac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes Paradigms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2009;1165:195-205.

Arrieta MC, Bistritz L, Meddings JB. Alterations in intestinal permeability. Gut. 2006;55(10):1512-1520.

Hadjivassiliou M, Grünewald RA, Lawden M, Davies-Jones GA, Powell T, Smith CM. Headache and CNS white matter abnormalities associated with gluten sensitivity. Neurology. 2001 Feb 13;56(3):385-8.