Natural Treatment for Menstrual Migraines
By Nicole Kerr, ND
ccording to the National Headache Foundation, ap- proximately 60% of women suffering from migraines get menstrual migraines. Menstrual migraines can start 2 days before the period begins and up to three days after the period ends. Hormones can trigger menstrual migraines during ovulation, menses, perimenopause and menopause.
A
Menstrual Migraine Symptoms • One-sided, throbbing • Nausea inducing with or without vomiting • Sensitivity to light and sound • Typically are not accompanied by an aura Migraine diaries are a great way to evaluate the cause of your
migraines. Common triggers for migraines that are not hormone related include: poor sleep, alcohol, high tyramine foods, smoked or cured meat, banana, avocado, chocolate, excessive caffeine, changes in weather, stress, food additives like MSG, artificial sweet- eners, inhaling strong odors, missing meals, and fatigue. A diary can help rule out any of these culprits as additional contributing factors of migraines.
If you suffer migraines and are on hormonal birth control, you need to discuss the option of a low estrogen pill with your pre- scribing doctor. Reducing the amount of estrogen in your monthly birth control can help reduce menstrual migraines, and also lower your chances of ischemic stroke. Women suffering migraines with aura are at a higher risk of ischemic stroke when using combined oral contraceptives, according to American College of Cardiology. Those not on hormonal birth control are often encouraged to go on birth control to regulate their migraine symptoms, but there are other options.
Having your hormone levels evaluated through bloodwork, urinary testing or salivary testing is the first step to correcting men- strual migraines. Looking at other blood levels may be performed too, such as serotonin metabolite level and red blood cell magne- sium. Serotonin is the primary hormonal trigger for headaches, and is believed by some researchers to be an inherited disorder that affects the way serotonin is metabolized. Estrogen is the primary hormone causing menstrual migraines, though progesterone level changes may also play a part for some women. Most people don’t know only 1% of serotonin in the human body is in the central
nervous system, the other 99% is found in other tissues, primarily plasma, the gastro-intestinal tract, and immune tissues.
Estrogen and Serotonin Connection
Serotonin acts as a hormone regulating various physiological functions including vasodilation, clotting, recruitment of immune cells, gastro-intestinal motility and initiation of uterine contrac- tion. Estrogen affects how serotonin receptors are distributed and function in the body and concentrations of serotonin can be altered with natural and pharmacological estrogen. Imagine correcting the hormonal status of estrogen to then see mood, PMS, menstrual migraine and other undesired menstrual symptoms resolve because serotonin is functioning optimally in the body. Once hormone lev- els have been evaluated, treatment options may include vitamins, supplements, herbal formulas, and bodywork therapies.
Supplementation Magnesium is an important nutrient to supplement in many
migraine patients. The form of magnesium used for migraines will determine its effectiveness.
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