A Migraine Sufferers Guide to Natural Relief Three things you can begin doing today to slow, decrease or stop your next migraine Dr. Marc McDade Neurologically Centered, Upper Cervical Chiropractor
This short, but jam packed guide, is dedicated to all the migraine sufferers looking to live a higher quality of life. Using the information and suggestions in this guide on a daily basis or help remove stressors that may be contributing to your migraines. These suggestions can be used as a stand-alone activity or in conjunction with other healthcare providers. Disclaimer This parent guide is not intended to diagnose or treat ADHD or any other health issue. It is designed to help parents learn more about some of the underlying neurologic weakness seen in many children and adults with neurodevelopmental issue. For specific diagnosis and/or prescribed treatment for you, your child or other family member it is recommended that you consult a trained and licensed healthcare provider. Question concerning how to find a qualified provider can be sent to drmarc@drmarcmcdade.com or by contacting a local neurodevelopmental clinic in your area.
Medical Researchers, doctors and specialists don t know exactly what causes migraine headaches, but do agree that migraines are a neurologic disorder that affects several regions of the brain and the neurovascular (blood vessels) tissue surrounding the brain and brain stem. This lack of understanding and inability to find the cause often leaves doctor and specialists guessing at the best treatment. Resent research suggests there may be a connection with the immune system and inflammation of the brain that could play a role in migraines. Patients are often left with a list of triggers to avoid recommendations to and many times given medication after medication looking for the right one to manage their pain, with the fewest negative side-effect and least impact on their daily lives. Searching for Natural Solutions? Start here Know your triggers. While no two migraine sufferers have the exact same set of triggers, researchers have found several common factors to be aware of. For some, determining triggers is a very simple process, like every time I eat dark chocolate, I end up with a migraine. side-effects and/or the lack of long term pain relief sends many migraine suffers on a search for natural treatment options. However for others it can be a daunting task to figure out what triggers their migraines. Some of the most common triggers and suggestions to handle them
Changes in Sleep Patterns: Too much or too little sleep may trigger a migraine. Set a sleep schedule for yourself. Stress: Emotional of mental stress associated with personal or work life can trigger migraines. Start saying no more often and get some down time, and start a relaxation or meditation practice. Medications: Oral contraceptives and vasodilators are common triggers. Discuss this with your prescribing doctor to see if a different medication may be helpful Bright lights and Loud Noise: If you know these are triggers try avoiding loud areas and carry sunglasses with you. Foods: there are several common foods triggers to watch out for Artificial Sweeteners like aspartame Aged foods and foods containing tyramine including aged cheeses, hard sausages, Chianti wine and onions MSG (monosodium glutamate) often found in Asian foods, and processed foods including most store bought soup and soup broths and many pickled foods Caffeinated or alcohol drinks, particularly beer and red wine; Nitrates (a preservative used in many processed meats) hot dogs, bacon, and salami. Skipping Meals: this can cause fluctuations in blood sugar that may trigger a migraine. So eat regular meals particularly meals with fresh vegetables and protein Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in estrogen, caused by menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, may cause a migraine. Hormone medications, including oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, can trigger or even worsen migraines. Avoid soy products and plastics as much as possible. Both have estrogen mimicking properties. Over Exertion: while moderate exercise is healthy and may ward off migraines, over exerting yourself through exercise, sexual activity, or physical labor migraine.
Beyond Avoiding Triggers Several specific nutrients have been found to help reduce and/or manage migraines Vitamin B2: Multiple studies have shown B2 may be useful in preventing migraines. General recommendations from the research is to take 400 mg/day. The easiest way to get the daily dose is to supplement along with eating foods high in B2 such as almonds, broccoli and brussel sprouts. Co-Q10: This is another very important enzyme that supports healthy brain function, but can be depleted especially if you are taking birth control, antacids, cholesterol or blood pressure meds. This can also be found in supplement form, along with eating grass feed beef, wild caught mackeral, sardines, organ meats, spinach, cauliflower and broccoli. Magnesium: This is a big one with migraines and several other neurologic conditions. You should aim to get 500 mg/day from supplementation and diets high in magnesium rich foods like nuts and seeds, dark leafy greens, bananas, avocados and for the sweet tooth dark chocolate. Correcting the Cause Most researchers agree that the cause of migraines lies within a nerve imbalance in the lower part of the brain called the brain stem. The brain stem is the control center for what s called the autonomic (or automatic) nervous system that controls the organs and glands within our bodies. This irritation accounts for the wide array of symptoms seen with migraines including nausea, vomiting, changes in vision, taste and sound, along with the pain and numbness and tingling often experienced.
A growing body of research is showing a strong connection between the balance and movement of the upper cervical spine (the junction between the head and neck) and the proper function of the brain stem and other brain centers. This region provides for a lot of mobility and range of motion, allowing us to move our head, but with that increased mobility is also an increase susceptibility to become damaged or misaligned. As a matter of fact several research articles show a strong connection between whiplash injuries to the head and neck and migraines. Unfortunately, this is often missed during the initial history taken by a doctor because people rarely remember to tell their doctor or connect the dots themselves. One of the main reasons people neglect to tell the doctor is because the whiplash injury itself often happened years before the migraines started or may have been from a minor trauma like banging your head or falling while playing sports. A specific type of chiropractor called an upper cervical specialist is specifically trained in examining this important connection point for signs of irritation, stress and trauma. And make very gentle corrections without pulling, popping or twisting the neck, avoiding the possibility of doing more harm. Once corrected the irritation to the brainstem is reduced or eliminated allowing many people to heal from their migraines naturally without the use of drugs. Next Step If you re ready to say good bye to your migraine and the pain so you can begin enjoying a higher quality of life take the next step. Requesting this report entitles you to a free 15 minute phone consultation with our office valid for the next two weeks.
During the phone call we will: Talk about your migraine history to learn more about how they are affecting your life. Ask you a series of questions to try and determine what caused the migraines to start in the first place. Once we find the cause we can recommend make recommendations for your next step. After the phone call, if we feel like you re a good candidate for upper cervical chiropractic care and you d like to make an appointment for a detailed neurospinal exam you can schedule the exam for only $97 (that s a saving of $100). We are able to give offer this savings to you because you have already begun the learning process on what s causing your problem, which saves us a lot of time during your first few visits. So call us today at 585-241-9990 to schedule your 15 minute phone consultation and start living the life you deserve. Dedicated to you and your families wellbeing, Dr. Marc McDade Pediatric and Family Wellness Chiropractor Free 15 Minute Phone Consultation Call 585-241-9990 today to schedule your 15 minute phone consultation so we can get to the cause of your migraine pain. Offer Expires 2 weeks from initial request of Migraine Guide. No cash value
About the Author Dr. Marc McDade opened his first office in 1999 in Brighton, NY and has been helping families from all across New York see lasting improvement in the chronic conditions, neurodevelopmental issues and general health, utilizing a gentle alternative to traditional chiropractic call Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. He has lectured extensively to parent, educators and other healthcare providers in the Rochester area. Dr. McDade has also published several free resources for parents and individuals including: "A Migraine Sufferers Guide to Natural Relief" "3 Exercises to Calm, Focus and Rebalance Your Child's ADHD Brain...A Parent's Guide" "Unlock Your Child's Brain...A 'New Level of Thinking' Regarding Neuro-Developmental Disorders". Dr. Marc McDade, 2015. All rights reserved.