Do you experience migraine? Many folks with PCOS do.
There are several reasons for migraines, including some that are not yet understood. Rather than relying on prescribed or over-the-counter medication for migraine relief with their potential adverse side effects – unless this is your preference – seeking the cause of your migraines and using natural remedies where needed are potent and effective strategies for many people.
Oestrogen dominance
Those with PCOS are likely to suffer from a hormonal imbalance known as oestrogen dominance, which can cause migraines. If you want to learn more about this issue, my article Oestrogen Dominance and PCOS: What It Is & What To Do About It will be helpful.
Low magnesium
Migraines in some appear to be due to a magnesium deficiency. And cysters have been found to be more likely to have lower blood levels of magnesium.
Low serotonin
Low serotonin levels, one of our “happy hormones,” have also been linked to migraines. Stress and lack of activity can cause low levels, and folks with PCOS are more likely to suffer from stress, depression, and anxiety.
As you can see, there are certainly potential links between PCOS and migraines.
What Strategies Can Help to Reduce, even Eliminate, Migraines?
Here are six key steps that can help you reduce the intensity and frequency of your migraines.
Relaxation
Relaxation techniques to reduce stress can help, as stress can be a potent trigger in migraines.
Relaxation techniques include meditation, listening to nature sounds, and lying in a state of complete peace and quiet. Yoga is an excellent way to reduce both mental and physical stress.
Supplementation
Omega 3 fats such as fish oil and olive oil may help to reduce migraine frequency and intensity.
Magnesium can be particularly beneficial for those who are deficient, as I often observe in the clinic.
Food
Natural ginger acts as an anti-inflammatory and has been reported throughout the ages to help alleviate migraine symptoms. I love ginger, thinly sliced and placed at the bottom of a cup of hot water with a drizzle of honey.
I have had two patients tell me that smelling a green capsicum helps. Now, I grant you, this does sound incredibly odd. However, being a migraine sufferer myself, I think it’s worth a try!
The article Foods and supplements in the management of migraine headaches, published in The Journal of Clinical Pain, says:
A detailed nutritional history is helpful in identifying food triggers. Although the data surrounding the role of certain foods and substances in triggering headaches is controversial, certain subsets of patients may be sensitive to phenylethylamine, tyramine, aspartame, monosodium glutamate, nitrates, nitrites, alcohol, and caffeine. The available evidence for the efficacy of certain vitamins and supplements in preventing migraines supports the use of these agents in the migraine treatment.
The identification of food triggers, with the help of food diaries, is an inexpensive way to reduce migraine headaches. We also recommend the use of the following supplements in the preventative treatment of migraines, in decreasing order of preference: magnesium, Petasites hybridus, feverfew, coenzyme Q10, riboflavin, and alpha lipoic acid.
Keeping a migraine diary can be very insightful and really help to highlight any food triggers. Once identified, these can be removed, and the results can be astounding.
Caffeine and Hydration
Headaches can be brought on by dehydration, so it is best to stay hydrated. Interestingly, though, for some people, tea or coffee can be helpful. When I used to have migraines, at the first sign of the prodrome, a cup of high-quality coffee and some water could really help.
Chiropractic care
Chiropractic care has been shown to reduce the frequency of migraines. In the clinic, I’d sometimes see someone’s migraine literally melt away in my hands. Now, it would be lovely if this helped every time (and it doesn’t), but other chiropractors and I have been able to reduce, and in some cases, even completely eliminate migraines with Chiropractic adjustments. Postural advice, stress reduction, and stretching may also be helpful.
Implementing some of the suggestions above can help reduce, relieve, or eliminate migraines. It is essential to try these techniques before the pain becomes severe.
From PCOS to perfect health, with love,
Dr. Rebecca Harwin
The PCOS Expert
Chiropractor & Bestselling Author of
Conquer Your PCOS Naturally
www.ConquerYourPCOSNaturally.com
P.S. Products like peppermint and ginger tea may help to reduce the nausea symptoms caused by a migraine. Remember to take note of what helps, and try not to combine too many approaches, as it may either cause sensory overload or stop you from working out exactly what works for you.
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