Relief for Migraine Sufferers

The painful symptoms of a migraine are all too familiar for nearly 30 million Americans. Considered the third most common disease in the world, migraines typically cause one-sided head pain and can result in sensitivity to light, sound, and smell. They can also cause nausea, vomiting, anxiety, depression, and neck pain. In a blog, Josette Herdell LDN, CNS, shared her story of a lifetime of migraines and said it wasn’t until she took a functional medicine approach that she was able to stop them. According to Herdell, migraines are underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.

Herdell experienced 25 migraine days per month. After ten years, she felt that doctors had given up on her. The chronic pain was so debilitating that she contemplated suicide. Herdell says she wants to spread hope for those afflicted by migraines. She stresses the power of using food as medicine and supporting the interconnected systems of the body.

Migraines are commonly treated with medications, but pharmacological options come with side effects and potential long-term risks. Herdell says that medication treats the symptoms without looking for the source. Although the cause of a migraine is different for everyone, research has found that contributing factors that trigger a migraine include genetics, diet, gastrointestinal issues, and hormones.

There are a number of ways to help prevent migraines. Hydration is key for many. An anti-inflammatory diet rich in phytonutrients and whole plant foods that’s mostly organic is recommended. Common food triggers should be avoided such as dairy, gluten, eggs, corn, caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, processed meats, fermented foods, and refined sugar. And balancing blood sugar prevents hypoglycemia-triggered migraines.

Herdell stresses the importance of exercise, mindfulness-based meditation, and plenty of sleep. She says with patience and the right functional medicine–trained practitioner, living a pain-free life is possible.