Migraines and chronic headaches are among the nastiest of the weakening conditions that plague society today and the frequency of occurrence and acuteness are enlarging. The present medical model is multi dimensional 1.the function of one of the many medications for pain alleviation, decreased acuteness and frequency of headaches, and mitigation of concomitant vertigo and dizzy spells symptoms. 2. Inquiry of the potential and “common” triggers (stress, emotional upset, hormonal imbalances, sleep deprivation, red wine, fermented cheese, chocolate, coffee, etc). This approach is not without its benefits, but is restricted in its chemical approach and scope relative to the correction of the reasons behind the multiple underlying mechanisms that predispose folk to the suffering of migraines. The trade off for the relief of migraine symptoms with this approach is of course the long list of moderate to dreadful complications from the long run use of these moderate to potent pharmaceuticals and frequently an increase in the severity and frequency of subsequent episodes.

The reason for this is that the medications are unable to 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 main question that has 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 reason for all of the unusual chemical mechanisms leading to migraines being due to flawed calcium physiology. The functional medicine/chiropractic neurology approach feels the mechanisms are rather more sundry and complicated and must address both brain and metabolic abnormalities in the chronic migraine sufferer.

The chiropractic neurology viewpoint is that there’s 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 arteries. This is an electrical not a chemical (ie- calcium abnormalities) imbalance. The combination of these 2 areas not firing “in sync” causes a decrease in blood flow to part of the brain (different in everybody) and a rise in chemical irritations that overmaster further mechanisms that usually stop your brain from feeling agony. This neurological complex mechanism “when present – predisposes patients to suffering chronic migraine symptoms.

The above unnatural neurological electrical inequalities often exist alongside multiple metabolic imbalances in the predisposed headache subject. These mechanisms are not thought to be as part of the “cause” for headaches in the medical model. The list is long: undiagnosed thyroid conditions , uncontrolled high or low blood sugar, untreated or without detection anemia’s, GI/liver issues, intestinal issues (Celiac, IBS, inflammatory bowl), autoimmune illnesses, fatty acid metabolism, food allergies, hormonal issues in ladies “and more. Take away message: it is not just calcium channel mechanisms.

So how does this all work together to cause migraines? What happens is that the patient has one of the above aberrant firing patterns (from stress, old concussions, automobile accidents, and many other causes beyond the remit of this piece of writing) mixed with one of more of the above mentioned metabolic conditions. The patient lives in this unstable condition without agony thanks to the bodies natural efforts and capabilities to keep it in check (maintain homeostasis). Then something (the trigger) destabilizes the system and finally the body’s capabilities to neutralise the essential unnatural mechanisms that are predisposing the patient to potential migraines. The triggers mentioned earlier in this article are frequently confused with the “cause” because now the patient will experience assorted migraine symptoms. But the trigger only destabilizes the abnormal mechanisms that’ve been laying in wait for months or years . Once the mechanisms are destabilized they stay that way until corrected.

So how does medicine correct the numerous complex patterns that come to our offices “all with the diagnosis of headache? It does not, it can’t. Thank god that it can manage the symptoms, particularly for the people who won’t ever know that the above mechanisms even exist and that they can often be managed or corrected without medicine.

The functional medicine, chiropractic neurologist approach is multifaceted. A thorough history must be taken which should uncover the above named triggers and very likely some of many that haven’t been mentioned. A total, all-encompassing functional neurological exam must be performed to figure out the actual brain misfiring pattern of that specific migraine subject. Specific blood, urine, DNA, and fecal testing can be needed to figure out the metabolic disequilibria destabilizing the brain pattern. And eventually a non-drug brain strengthening protocol is implemented to stabilise the disequilibria present in that person’s brain and a non-drug natural angle to that individual’s unnatural metabolic disequilibria is also implemented at the same time. This treatment plan has been awfully successful in the resolution of migraines. Not all migraines are the same. You must 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 suffer from persistent neurologic and metabolic issues such as migraines, movement disorders, IBS, peripheral neuropathy, vertigo/dizziness fibromyalgia and lots more. Their practice is located at Power Health 1175 Harvard Way Reno, NV 89502 775-329-4402

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