Migraine headaches are a neurological disorder that affect more than 3 million Americans. This chronic health condition can have devastating effects on one’s life, in fact, the World Health Organization considers migraines one of the 10 most disabling conditions in the world!  Women are about 3x more likely to suffer with migraines than men and only about 20% of all migraines sufferers are accurately diagnosed according to the American Migraine Foundation.

Nobody knows exactly why people get migraines but we do know it has a very strong neurological component. Researchers have also been able to narrow down the area of the brain involved; called the brainstem. The brainstem is located near the base of your skull and controls many of the functions necessary for keeping your body alive. It is also where many brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) are produced including one that that been linked to migraine headaches called serotonin. In addition to keeping you alive and producing lots of neurotransmitters, your brainstem contains the nerves that cause the pain, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound that can occur during a migraine attack. This may sound like a lot happening in such a small region of the human brain but I could go on for days talking about everything going on in your brainstem!

So let’s summarize; migraines originate in a region of the brain called the brainstem and brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) like serotonin are involved.

It should also be mentioned here that there are changes in how blood flows in the brainstem during a migraine. Serotonin has a powerful influence on the blood vessels of the brainstem and is believed to be a major causative factor in the cause of a migraine and the pain one experiences. According to the Mayo Clinic “Serotonin levels drop during migraine attacks.”

So the next logical question would be “why” does this happen. What is causing this abnormal function of the brainstem?  Many people who suffer from migraines are aware of certain factors that “trigger” a migraine.

Migraine Triggers  

• Hormone changes

• Food additives like MSG or aspartame

• Alcohol

• Foods / diet

• Poor sleep / fatigue

• Stress or emotionally upsetting events

It is interesting that all of the triggers listed have the ability to alter normal brain chemistry! Any of these triggers can upset the fragile balance of neurotransmitter function in the brainstem. The goal of functional medicine is to get to the root of the problem and support the body so it can function properly again. The information available today regarding migraines points to neurotransmitter problems which can very often be effectively treated with proper diet and or key nutrients.

I can drive this neurotransmitter point home even further. Listed below are other health conditions that migraines suffers commonly deal with.

• IBS

• Depression or anxiety

• Sleep problems

• Obesity or overweight

• Fibromyalgia

• Hormone imbalances

If you are wondering how these conditions are related to neurotransmitters, I have covered each of these conditions in previous articles that can be found on our website.

Natural Treatment for Migraines

There are countless natural migraine treatments! This can make the whole “natural” treatment approach a bit overwhelming. Almost anything and everything has been reported to help someone with migraines. Yoga, magnesium, essential oils, pressure point therapy… I could go on and on. While it is true that these have helped some migraine suffers, at our Naperville office, I prefer a more direct approach. Focus on treatments that take stress off the brain (brainstem) and enhance neurotransmitter production and balance. So how can we take stress off the brain? One of the most powerful and modifiable factors is diet. If various foods are causing inflammation and inappropriate immune system responses, this can affect the brain. How, you ask? There are several biological mechanisms that could be discussed, but I will choose the blood-brain barrier today. There is a direct connection between the health of your gut and something called the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This is a highly selective membrane barrier that separates the blood (in your blood vessels) from your brain. It keeps unwanted chemicals and toxins (in your bloodstream) away from your brain cells but allows good things like glucose and key nutrients to enter and reach neurons. Have you ever heard of “leaky gut?” Well, if you can get a leaky gut you can also get a leaky BBB! If you have a “leaky” BBB, then you will be more susceptible to unwanted chemicals reaching the neurons in your brainstem and this can interfere with neurotransmitter production and normal neuron function.

The other approach I often take with migraine suffers is to directly increase neurotransmitter production and balance. By administering the correct amount of key nutrients, the brainstem is able to produce and maintain serotonin at proper levels. Some individuals simply require extra nutrient support for their bodies to work properly. This may be due to genetics, medications or poor neuron health.

It has been my experience that if a person does in fact have migraine headaches (and not some other form of headache) dietary modification and or key nutrient support can be extremely effective.

If you would like more information about functional medicine or Dr. Sexton go to napervilleintegratedwellness.com

Do your own research, inform yourself and ask lots of questions. When collecting information you MUST consider the source. There is no shortage of false, misleading, outdated, profit-driven and utterly biased information in healthcare today; even from the most respected sources.