Migraines can have many causes which are often not investigatedd, and a tablet is taken to relieve the pain, but this is not the answer. Regularly taking painkillers can cause problems for the kidneys and liver and does not resolve the problem.
Causes of migraines
Migraines are caused by a misfiring of the nervous system. There is an overwhelming build-up of nerve cell activity in the brain stem at the base of the brain and the effect of these spreads in a cascade to produce the migraine headache that lasts for several hours to a day or more before it gradually recedes.
The misfiring can spread to other parts of the brain to produce visual distortions, pins and needles in the face and strange tastes before the headache starts. Some sufferers may recognise that they are building up to an attack days before it starts. Different sufferers have many different patterns of symptoms.
Food allergies, certain nutrient deficiencies, especially minerals and vision defects can cause migraines as well as dehydration.
Migraines can also cause nausea (feeling sick) and an increased sensitivity to light or sound.
Migraine sufferers have trigger zones, the most common ones being at the back of the head, over the eyes and over the temples. These are due to the distribution of the occipital nerve and the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve.
Migraine aura
Migraine sufferers commonly experience an ‘aura’ between 20 minutes and one hour before the headache stage of their migraine. An aura is a warning sign that a migraine is about to happen. The main symptoms of an aura are visual problems such as blurred vision (difficulty focussing), blind spots, flashes of light, or a zigzag pattern moving from the central field of vision towards the edge.
Other aura symptoms include tingling sensations (pins and needles) in the face, lips and tongue, or in the arms and legs; speech problems such as slurred speech; dizziness; a stiff neck; and, very rarely, loss of consciousness.
The main symptoms of migraine are an intense, throbbing or pounding headache often affecting the front or one side of the head, nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick), and an increased sensitivity to light and sound.
The throbbing headache is often made worse by the person moving. Other symptoms of migraine might include poor concentration, feeling hot or cold, perspiration (sweating), and an increased need to pass urine. People might also experience stomach aches and diarrhoea.
It is common for people to feel tired for up to two or three days after a migraine.
Triggers for migraines
- Alcohol because it causes dehydration and expulsion of many nutrients.
- Allergies to foods containing certain elements.
- Aspartame (artificial sweetener)
- Bright lights
- Caffeine laden beverages
- Dehydration
- Dental problems (for example, teeth grinding) can bring on a migraine.
- Eye strain. Have the vision tested to ensure this is not the cause of frequent headaches.
- Glutamic acid: Yeast products like torula yeast, brewer’s yeast, yeast spreads etc contain glutamic acid which can cause migraines.
- Heavy metals especially mercury that can come from fish consumption or dental fillings.
- High blood pressure
- Hormonal changes: During a woman’s menstrual cycle she may be more prone to migraines.
- Irregular meals.
- Irregular or too little sleep.
- Lack of food (dieting).
- Loud noises.
- Mineral deficiencies
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Parasites and worms
- Sleeping tablets: certain tablets can cause migraines.
- Smoking tobacco.
- Tension in the neck or shoulders.
- The toxins from the excrement from the worms that live in beer pipes can cause bad headaches if the publican does not clean the pipes regularly once a week at least.
- Tannins found in many foods can cause migraines. Tea being one of them.
- Tin deficiency can cause migraines.
- E621 monosodium glutamate found in most processed meat products and Chinese meals can cause headaches and migraines.
A deficiency of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) has been observed to cause migraines and increase frequency.
If food is the cause of migraines, eliminating these from the diet then introducing one at a time can help discover triggers for migraines. Try eliminating the following reported migraine triggers from the diet and introducing one at a time over a period of a few days.
- Apples
- Bananas
- Berries
- Black tea
- Carob beans
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Coffee
- Cumin
- Citrus fruits
- Grape juice
- Ice cream
- Legumes (dark coloured)
- Nitrates can trigger a migraine
- Nuts
- Sour cream
- St John’s Wort
- Tarragon
- Tyramine can trigger a migraine. Foods containing considerable amounts of tyramine include meats that are spoiled or pickled, aged, smoked, fermented, or marinated (some fish, poultry and beef) and most pork (except cured ham).
- Vanilla
- Wood smoked fish or meat
Emotional migraine triggers
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Excitement
- Shock
- Stress
Natural remedies for migraines
To alleviate migraines, rest and the consumption of natural nutritious foods that rehydrate and reduce inflammation as well as cleanse the body of toxins are the best way to recover.
- Alfalfa is a rich source of many nutrients due its very long tap root that can get down to certain minerals other food crops cannot reach. Therefore, the sprouts of alfalfa may be of help to headache and migraine sufferers.
- Algae and seaweed can remove heavy metals like mercury and other toxins from the body which can cause headaches. They also provide the minerals that may be missing in a diet of land-based crops.
- Almonds: eating 10 – 12 almonds can provide the same relief as two aspirins.
- Black seed has head pain relieving properties.
- Broccoli and other brassicas can remove heavy metals from the body due to their sulforaphane content.
- Coconut water can rehydrate when dehydration is the cause.
- Coriander can help to remove heavy metals from the body.
- Ginger has been found to relieve migraines and make recovery faster in some people. Consuming ginger tea as soon as a migraine starts to show symptoms may help. It can also help reduce the nausea felt by some people.
- Himalayan pink salt crystals. Add one to two teaspoons of the pink crystals to a cup of warm water and add the juice and zest of half a lemon and one teaspoon of honey for instant migraine relief. WARNING: Do not try this remedy if suffering with high blood pressure.
- Magnesium can be low in the diet as many land-based crops are lacking in it due to intensive farming techniques therefore, consuming algae and seaweed can help provide sufficient amounts. Migraine sufferers are often lacking in this mineral.
- Three mint leaves, 1/2 a sliced cucumber and 1/2 a lemon squeezed (all organic) in a glass of mineral water can help to relieve migraines.
- Mustard seeds consumed on a regular basis have been found to be beneficial for reducing the frequency of migraines.
- Passion fruit contains components which have the ability to relax the nerves and relieve migraines.
- Psyllium husks: take one tablespoon per day with plenty of water in case digestive or colon issues are the cause of migraines. Toxins in the from fermenting foods in the intestines due to slow transit may cause problems and psyllium husks will correct the flow.
- Pineapple juice can rehydrate when dehydration is the cause.
- Quinoa is high in magnesium and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) which can often provide relief for migraine sufferers.
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): Foods rich in this, often lacking, vitamin can proved relief for migraines.
- Water: Drink six glasses of filtered or bottled mineral water. One should be drunk just before bed so that toxins can be flushed out of the brain more easily during sleep.
Vegetables that may help with migraines
- Alfalfa
- Algae
- Chicory
- Cucumber
- Okra
- Parsnips
- Spinach
- Watercress
Fruit that may help with migraines
Herbs that may help with migraines
- Basil
- Black seed
- Borage
- Burdock root
- Dandelion
- Holy basil
- Feverfew
- Linden
- Mint
- Motherwort
- Noni
- Wood betony
Spices that may help with migraines
External remedies for migraines
Coconut oil, lavender essential oil and peppermint essential oil can relieve headaches when rubbed onto the temples and forehead.
WARNING: Essential oils are not suitable for pregnant or breast-feeding women or children under five.
Related subjects
- A-Z of ailments
- Allergies
- Eye disorders
- Dehydration
- Headaches
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Pain and inflammation
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