Migraines: A Wholistic Approach
By Doreen Lewis, D.C., C.C.N.,
D.A.B.C.I., D.A.C.B.N.

As sure as the sun rises in the morning, you have heard someone say, “I tried this treatment or that herb, but it did not work.” There is no panacea for migraines. If you ask what the causes of migraines are,

• A chiropractor will say that a bone is out of place
• A nutritionist will say there is liver toxicity
• A colon hydrotherapist will say that you have a sluggish bowel
• An acupuncturist will say that the meridians are out of balance

Who is correct? They all are!

Migraines, in our twenties, usually progress to cluster headaches in our thirties and forties. This means that one or two simple causes have now progressed into systemic problems that require a wholistic approach for the alleviation of symptoms. Attempting one treatment at a time usually leaves the patient frustrated. So, what should a migraine patient do?

Seek a chiropractor that will make sure that the neck is in proper alignment. Adjustments decrease nerve irritation to neck muscles, easing tension. In just the last few years, there has even been a newly discovered muscle in the neck, which connects directly to the spinal cord dura (covering). It had been missed for hundreds of years. This tiny muscle can contribute to headaches in ways that were completely unknown before. Some chiropractors adjust skull bones and many work on TMJ problems, which can easily lead to migraine like symptoms. We have had patients, who experienced almost daily migraines, get relief that has lasted for months at a time, just by addressing long standing neck problems.

Seek good nutritional counseling. Nutritional deficiencies can be addressed and corrected by looking at a complete blood chemistry, not the traditional values used by most labs and the medical profession, but optimum values. Far too many people have been to their doctor only to hear that there is nothing wrong. When a narrower range of optimum values is used to prescribe functional doses of nutrients, patients may find that they have never felt better in their life. Metabolism is stimulated and toxicity in the body will decrease as well.

Food allergies should also be addressed. This is one of the main reasons that so many people need to rely on antacids. Even healthy foods, like carrots and almonds, can trigger migraines in some people, as well as the supportive need for antacids. Nutritionists often recommend quality digestive enzymes. These are needed more often as we age, because the naturally occurring enzymes we produce begin to diminish. Digestive enzymes replace the need for antacids and stimulate liver and colon detoxification, which can in turn decrease migraines. A good nutritionist might also recommend herbs, such as fever few, which if taken for a prolonged period of time, at least two months, may decrease migraines.

How about acupuncture? Many of my patients already know that LI-4 (large intestine 4, the point between the thumb and the index finger) will help to eliminate some headaches. This may be a great place to start self-care. Oriental medicine treats a variety of points for the gall bladder and bladder to rebalance the meridians and eliminate migraines and headaches. These points can now be graphed with a Ryodoraku examination. This is a computerized examination that takes the guesswork out of acupuncture treatment. It is completely reproducible, no matter who performs the exam! An interesting fact about acupuncture is that the meridians are outside of the body – not inside. So it generally does not matter how deeply the needles are inserted into the body. The needle acts like an antenna, so what is outside the body is at least as important as what is inside!

As you already know, a good thorough examination by your doctor of chiropractic or medical doctor should always be performed in order to rule out such things as tumors and/or disease processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE (lupus) or many others, which may trigger or contribute to migraines or headaches. Triggers of migraine headaches can be many and varied. That is why there is no panacea for the migraine sufferer. A good wholistic approach, using all the tools available, is the migraine patient's best chance for finding continuing relief.

My office provides full examination, x-rays, nutritional counseling, food and airborne allergy testing, acupuncture, physical medicine/therapy and massage therapy combined for a wholistic approach to treating migraine and cluster headaches. Call 210-490-9169 to schedule an appointment.