How To Prevent, Heal And Recover Faster From Injury

Migraines occur in about 15% of the general population. A migraine is usually managed by medication, but some patients do not tolerate migraine medication due to side effects or prefer to avoid medication for other reasons. Medications used to treat migraines can cause fatigue and nutritional deficiencies. Some medications can cause headaches and migraines by interfering with DAO enzyme functions or preventing their production.

The highest ideal of cure is the speedy, gentle and enduring restoration of health by the most trustworthy and least harmful way.

~Samuel Hahnemann - Father of Homeopathy

Non-pharmacological management is an alternative treatment option. In a 2011 review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on manual therapy for migraine, the RCTs suggest that massage therapy, physiotherapy, relaxation and chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy might be equally effective as propranolol and topiramate in the prophylactic management of migraine.

For some people, migraines can be devastating, lasting from hours to days, resulting in an inability to function normally resulting in missed work days and general discomfort. Let’s look at the many causes and find solutions for you.
Poor desk sitting posture, forward head carriage, looking down at mobile phones, working on a computer at various locations and in various positions and stressful everyday responsibilities can cause misalignments, muscular aches and pains, muscular contractions, emotional tensions and past traumas and experiences held in the body which develop into Trigger Points which refer pain into the head. Tension headaches can lead to the progression of a migraine.

Where you experience your headache shows me exactly what specific points need to be released to bring instant relief. I can show you how to relieve your headache causing trigger points quite efficiently.

A German Pilot Study in 2017 found Trigger Point Therapy alone, or in combination with Lymphatic Drainage to be beneficial for migraine prophylaxis for 8 weeks after completion of treatment.

In a 2017 Randomized controlled trial 22 outpatients with chronic migraines were studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of Myofascial and Trigger Point Treatment receiving prophylactic treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA and evaluate the treatment effects on headache frequency and intensity, analgesic consumption, cervical range of motion, trigger point pressure pain threshold, quality of life, and disability. They concluded that Manipulative techniques aimed at reducing peripheral nociceptive triggers might add value in the management of chronic migraine symptoms and lower acute medication use. This had a clinical rehabilitation impact being that an interdisciplinary approach comprising pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies can reduce analgesic consumption and myofascial dysfunction symptoms in chronic migraine patients.

A lack of exercise, movement and blood flow or posterior chain weakness can also contribute to postural misalignment and muscular tension which can be easily prevented or corrected by booking a Myofascial Release Session, Trigger Point Therapy Session, Deep Tissue/Sports Therapy Session. I can give you exercises to strengthen your posterior chain and correct head forward carriage or desk posture. Some examples would be: bent over rows, deadlifts, superman pose and seated rows.

Book a Functional Self-Myofascial Release Session if you’d like to learn techniques that encourage myofascial release and trigger point relief to your home program.

Book a Pregnancy Massage session if your headaches are caused by postural changes due to carrying a growing baby.

Stress either physical, mental or emotional from your self talk, incorrect social networks etc can contribute to muscular tension. Self awareness techniques such as meditation, yoga, yoga nidra and breathing techniques can aid in quieting the mind which in turn relaxes the body. Ask me to show you some techniques.

Mitigate stress by selectively choosing carefully who you hang out with and get into a healthy sleep routine.

Nutritional deficiencies such as Magnesium, Calcium, Vit B12, Vit B2, CoQ10 can be triggers for migraines and headaches. These nutrients are critical for brain and neurological function and are found to be suboptimal in migraine sufferers.

Book a Naturopathic consult for recommendations on good supplements and foods high in
these micronutrients.

Hormone disruption can be a trigger also, ask your doctor to check your levels of estrogen and progesterone. Phytonutrients, acupuncture and working on digestive function can be a wonderful way to restore hormonal imbalance.

Neurotransmitter imbalances such as too much serotonin can play a role in headache intensity and frequency. Most serotonin is made in the gut so what you eat and how it affects your microbiome, plays an important role in reducing headaches. We must keep the microbiome and digestion optimal and supply the nutrients for neurotransmitter product on.

Once you book a Naturopathic Coaching or Seven Week Health Transformation Plan you will be sent a Neurotransmitter Quiz to fill out that will point to deficiencies that we can easily correct.

Gastrointestinal disorders, such as leaky gut syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease can cause bacterial overgrowth. Bacteria grows when food isn’t digested properly, causing histamine overproduction. Normal levels of DAO enzymes can’t break down the increased levels of histamine in your body, causing a reaction. Allergenic environmental triggers such as mold, dust, ragweed and pollen are common triggers.

Foods such as gluten, proteins found in grains, dairy, sugar, alcohol and histamine rich foods are also major triggers. Gluten is a known neurotoxin so get genetically tested, or have an allergy or food sensitivity test to know what to avoid.
Dairy contains a protein casein A1 in industrialized areas which has been shown to mimic gluten. Dairy products may also contain added hormones and microbial transglutaminase which is a known blood brain barrier disrupter and gut disrupter leading to a leaky gut and leaky brain. This is a common tripper for headaches and migraines.
Avoid sugar which is a notorious, insidious hidden ingredient contributing to headaches, migraine, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Avoid artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, as research shows that these can spike insulin , blood sugar and cause neurological damage.
A healthy diet contains moderate levels of histamine. However, there are some foods high in histamine that can trigger inflammatory reactions and other negative symptoms. Histamine-rich foods are: alcohol and other fermented beverages, fermented foods and dairy products, such as yogurt and sauerkraut, dried fruits, avocados, eggplant, spinach, processed or smoked meats shellfish and aged cheese.
There are also a number of foods that trigger histamine release in the body, such as: alcohol, bananas, tomatoes, wheat germ, beans, papaya, chocolate, citrus fruits, nuts (specifically walnuts, cashews and peanuts), food dyes and other additives. I suggest following an elimination diet for 14 to 30 days. This diet requires you to remove any foods high in histamine or histamine triggers, and slowly reintroduce them to watch for new reactions.
Your doctor might also take a blood sample to analyze if you have a DAO deficiency. Another way to diagnose histamine intolerance is through a prick test. A 2011 study examined the effectiveness of a prick test to diagnose histamine intolerance. Researchers pricked the skin of 156 people and applied a 1 percent histamine solution. For those with suspected histamine intolerance, the prick test was positive for 79 percent, revealing a small red, itchy bump on the tested area that didn’t resolve within 50 minutes.
Processed foods often contain added sugars, preservatives e.g MSG which is another known neurotoxin found in sauces, seasonings, salad dressings and meat rubs. Sinus infections can be another trigger due to environmental allergies. Be sure to look for hidden causes such as a yeast overgrowth or a mold allergy. Ask your doc for a nose swab to rule out a mold infection. Check your home indoor air quality and use a filter if you can.
Alcohol can cause Vit B deficiencies, damage the liver, create inflammation and feed pathogenic bacteria and yeasts in the gut. Yeast overgrowth is another headache trigger. Try cutting alcohol out and improving liver and digestive function to see if your headaches improve.

Caffeine can be a common cause of migraines stimulating adrenalin and noradrenalin production. Drinks such as energy drinks, green tea, black tea, mate tea and alcohol block DAO (an enzyme diamine oxidase) which breaks down histamine that you take in from food, leading to a possible histamine intolerance. Chocolate contains caffeine and may trigger migraines. According to a 2001 study, women who had experienced migraine in the last year were twice as likely to trigger a headache by drinking cold water.

 I hope this article has helped give you some insight into headaches and migraines.
I look forward to working with you soon!