Migraines and chronic headaches are among the nastiest of the weakening conditions that plague society today and the frequency of occurrence and severity are accelerating. The present medical model is multi dimensional 1.the function of one of the many medicines for discomfort alleviation, reduced acuteness and frequency of headaches, and mitigation of concomitant vertigo and dizzy spells symptoms. 2. Investigation of the potential and “common” triggers (stress, emotional upset, hormonal inequalities, sleep deprivation, red wine, fermented cheese, chocolate, coffee, etc). This approach is not without its advantages but is constrained in its chemical approach and scope relative to the correction of the factors behind the multiple underlying mechanisms that predispose people to the suffering of migraines. The trade off for the relief of migraine symptoms with this approach is naturally the long list of moderate to severe complications from the long term use of these moderate to potent pharmaceuticals and often an increase in the extremity and frequency of subsequent episodes.
The reason for this is that the medicines cannot address the causative neurological and metabolic mechanisms of migraines and chronic headaches. The pharmaceuticals dilate the arteries, “inhibit” neurotransmitters (brain chemicals “particularly serotonin) and “block” calcium and beta adrenergics. The query that needs to be answered “What are the mechanisms that are “broke” that cause some people’s arteries to contract and others to distend, some to need calcium block” etc. ?
The current medical model and current concept is leaning heavily toward the root of all of the unusual chemical mechanisms leading to migraines being due to defective calcium physiology. The functional medicine/chiropractic neurology approach feels the mechanisms are rather more sundry and complex and must address both brain and metabolic disorders in the headache sufferer.
The chiropractic neurology perspective is that there is a reduced function in an area of the brain that controls blood flow on the same side of another part of the brain that controls dilation and contraction of the veins. This is an electric not a chemical (ie- calcium disorders) imbalance. The combination of these 2 areas not firing “in sync” causes a lowering in blood flow to a part of the brain (different in everybody) and an increase in chemical irritants that overwhelm further mechanisms that usually stop your brain from feeling discomfort. This neurological complex mechanism “when present – prejudices patients to suffering migraine symptoms.
The above aberrant neurological electric inequalities typically co-exist with multiple metabolic disequilibria in the predisposed headache subject. These mechanisms are not considered as part of the “cause” for headaches in the medical model. The list is long: undiagnosed thyroid conditions , rash high or low blood sugar, untreated or unnoticed anemia’s, GI/liver issues, intestinal issues (Celiac, IBS, inflammatory bowl), autoimmune illnesses, fatty acid metabolism, dietary allergies, hormonal issues in ladies “and more. Take away message: it isn’t just calcium channel mechanisms.
So how can this all work together to cause migraines? What happens is that the patient has one of the above unnatural firing patterns (from stress, old concussions, auto accidents, and many other causes beyond the remit of this piece of writing) combined with one of more of the above mentioned metabolic conditions. The patient lives in this unsound condition without pain because of the bodies natural efforts and abilities to keep it in check (maintain homeostasis). Then something (the trigger) destabilizes the system and eventually the body’s capabilities to neutralise the essential unnatural mechanisms that are predisposing the patient to potential migraines. The triggers discussed earlier in this article are often confused with the “cause” because now the patient will experience assorted migraine symptoms. But the trigger only destabilizes the unnatural mechanisms that have been laying in wait for months or years . Once the mechanisms are destabilized they stay that way till corrected.
So how does medicine correct the numerous complicated patterns that come to our offices “all with the diagnosis of headache? It does not, it can’t. Thank Heavens that it can manage the symptoms, particularly for the people who will never know that the above mechanisms even exist and that they can frequently be managed or corrected without medication.
The functional medicine, chiropractic neurologist approach is multi-faceted. A thorough history must be taken which will expose the above named triggers and more than likely some of the many that haven’t been mentioned. A total, all-encompassing functional neurological examination must be performed to determine the precise brain misfiring pattern of that specific headache sufferer. Particular blood, urine, DNA, and fecal testing may also be needed to determine the metabolic disequilibria destabilizing the brain pattern. And eventually a non-drug brain fortifying protocol is implemented to stabilise the disequilibria present in that person’s brain and a non-drug holistic approach to that individual’s abnormal metabolic disequilibria is also implemented at the same time. This treatment plan has been terribly successful in the resolution of migraines. Not all migraines are the same. You should establish the uniqueness of each case and treat the patient and not the diagnosis. To do otherwise is a recipe for failing.
Martin P. Rutherford, D.C, C.C.S.T. And Randall Gates, D.C, D.A.C.N.B. From Power Health in Reno, NVconcentrate on working with patients who are suffering from chronic neurologic and metabolic issues like migraines, movement disorders, IBS, peripheral neuropathy, vertigo/dizziness fibromyalgia and lots more. Their practice is found at Power Health 1175 Harvard Way Reno, NV 89502 775-329-4402