Stevensponaugle's Blog

TREATING MIGRAINE CAUSE  REDUCES NEED FOR SEDATING MEDICATIONS

DISCLAIMER

The purpose of this article is to educate. This article does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and is not a substitute for examination, testing, diagnosis and treatment, by a qualified, licensed health care professional.

Migraine headaches are caused by hidden food and chemical allergies, systemic fungal infections, Lymes Disease, Babesiosis, West Nile and other viruses, Mycoplasma, abnormal blood platelet clotting, hormonal imbalances, excess histamine, glutamate or phenylethylamine neurotransmitters, nutritional deficiencies, hypoglycemia and temporo mandibular (TMJ) joint pain. Murray and Pizzorno explain some of  the allergies and nutritional migraine causes and treatment in The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Rev., 2nd ed. Jacob Teitelbaum, MD wrote an excellent discussion of migraine treatment, in Pain Free, 1-2-3. Dr. Teitelbaum also has some excellent information, about migraines at www.endfatigue.com

Hidden allergies exist in up to 85 percent of migraine sufferers. Usually multiple allergies are present, making elimination diets and tests confusing. Recently, serum immunoglobin Elisa/Act allergy testing has simplified detection of hidden allergies to foods, food additives, preservatives, pesticides, fungi, petroleum products, clothing materials,etc. One blood sample can be simultaneously tested for over 300 different immediate and delayed allergic reactions. Most allergies are delayed, with symptoms occuring 3 to 4 days after exposure to the allergen. Elisa/Act testing can detect these delayed Immunoglobin G and M allergic responses.  Older skin prick and patch tests only detected the immediate Immunoglobin E anaphylactic reactions, which only account for twenty percent of allergies.  One Florida Detox and Wellness institute patient decreased her migraine frequency by having other family members pump gasoline for her, when Elisa Act allergy testing revealed  sensitivity to a component of unleaded gasoline.  Elisa Act testing revealed sensitivity to Fusarium mold in another migraine patient.

Systemic fungal overgrowth can also cause migraines. When extended or frequent courses of antibiotics are used for surgery, infections, acne or other reasons, beneficial acidophilus and bifidus bacteria in the intestines are frequently killed, unless cultured foods such as yogurt or miso are used. Probiotic supplements, from heath food stores may also be used to repopulate beneficial bacteria. The beneficial bacteria Bifidus bacteria manufacture B vitamins and Vitamin K, in our intestines, while Acidophilus bacteria increase intestinal acidity. If these bacteria are killed, yeast which they compete against, begin reaching excessive levels, in the intestines. These microscopopic yeast can send tiny stalks called hyphae, between cells lining the intestine. The intestinal lining cells usually have almost no gap between them. If hyphae stalks split these cells farther apart, abnormal leakage of undigested protein into the blood stream can occur. Increased intestinal permeability or “leaky gut syndrome” can be detected with intestinal permeability urine samples. Undigested proteins leaking from the intestine, into the bloodstream, are recognized as pathogens or invaders, by our white blood cells. Antigen-antibody complexes form, in our blood, when these undigested proteins leak excessively from our intestines. Inflammation also occurs when these antigen-antibody complexes form. Since this inflammation is occuring, in our blood, it can travel to any part of our body, including the brain, where it can cause migraine headaches.

If the fungal overgrowth can be killed and increased intestinal permeability repaired, migraine, sinusitis and joint pain can frequently be eliminated. Herbal and prescription anti-fungal treatments are both effective. Prescription and herbal antifungal treatment reduced migraine frequency from 15 disabling, excruciating headaches monthly to one headache monthly, in one of our patients.

Excess histamine levels cause vasodilation of brain arteries, increasing pressures, inside the cranium. Red wines are especially high in histamines and must be avoided by many migraine sufferers. Excess histamine levels can be measured in urine neurotransmitter panels. Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and S Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe) are all needed to break down histamines. One of our patients rapidly eliminated a headache, with 200 milligrams of SAMe. Studies reveal that Vitamin C, 1000 mg twice daily, can reduce histamine levels 38 percent. Sodium Cromolyn stabilizes mast cells, reduces histamine release, and seldom causes side effects. One of our migraine patients reports Sodium Cromolyn eyedrops work better for her than the metered dose inhaler.

Abnormal blood clotting is more common in migraine patients with heart murmurs or mitral valve prolapse. Migraine patients are six times more likely to suffer mitral valve prolapsed, than non migraine sufferers. The neurotransmitter, Serotonin, regulates platelet clumping. Studies reveal migraine decreases of approximately 50 %, using 5 Hydroxy-Tryptophan (5 HTP), at 200 to 300 mg/day. The herbals, feverfew and butterbur have also reduced abnormal platelet clumping, approximately 50 %.

Excess blood clotting also occurs in many migrane sufferers who do not have mitral valve prolapse. Female migraine patients often have fibrinogen clotting factors, exceeding 310 mg/dl, a level associated with doubled risk for fatal cardiac or stroke.   Florida Detox and Wellness Institute has used the herbal supplement, Bromelain, extracted from pineapple stems to reduce elevated fibrinogen levels.  Nattokinase and Lumbrokinase can also dissolve excess fibrin clots. Lumbrokinase can also decrease excessive platelet activator inhibitor-1, PAI-1 levels and endothelin levels.  Bioidentical prescription estradiol can also reduce elevated fibrinogen levels.  Fibrinogen levels above 500 mg/dl may require anticoagulant medications, such as heparin or coumadin.Florida Detox is also finding highly elevated Thrombin-Antithrombin levels in some of our migraine patients. The inherited anemia, Thallassemia, alters red blood cell shape and can cause migraine.

Menstrual migraines often occur when estrogen and progesterone levels both decrease, during menstruation. We have reduced migraine frequency and intensity using oral micronized bioidentical progesterone. Progesterone is anticarcinogenic and increases bone density, while it reduces anxiety. It is well tolerated by patients with severe allergies. Bioidentical estradiol taken immediately after ovulation or during last week, prior to menstruation can reduce migraine pain, in women, who experience migraine, during these periods.

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can also trigger migraine headaches. Frequently Chromium Picolinate and Zinc Picolinate supplementation can reduce the severity of hypoglycemia.

Neurotoxins produced by molds, fungi, Lymes spirochetes, Bartonella, Babesia, and other biologic parasites can also cause migraines. Frequently, the inexpensive Visual Contrast Sensitivity Test, (VCST),  also called the Functional Acuity Contrast Test (FACT) , available on the internet, at www.chronicneurotoxins.com, for about $18.00, can detect neurotoxicity. If neurotoxicity is detected, with the VCST, neurotoxins can be bound and eliminated with prescription Cholestyramine. Florida Detox has successfully used cholestyramine to eliminate a migraine headache, which had already occured, in a patient, who had failed the VCST test. The neurotoxic female migraine patient has remained migraine free, except for menstrual migraines. We are waiting for additional test results measuring clotting factors, Lymes Disease, etc, and genetic testing of her ability to clear mold and Lymes neurotoxins. Her alpha MSH and VIP hormones were low, consistent with neurotoxins.

Intravenous Vitamin C can kill Lymes spirochetes, Mycoplasma, West Nile Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and the herpes family viruses, including Herpes Simplex, Epstein Barr, Cytomegalous and Human Herpes 6.  In addition to killing the pathogenic microbes, vitamin C appears to detoxify some of the toxins released when microbial cell membanes rupture.  Killing Lymes Spirochetes, Babesia, Mycoplasma or West Nile Virus with Vitamin C appears to decrease painful Herxheimer dieoff symptoms.  Florida Detox and Wellness Institute has successfully eliminated headaches caused by West Nile Virus or Mycoplasma and is following up a Lymes patient who was treated with intravenous Vitamin C.  Followup testing will be conducted on Epstein Barr, Mycoplasma,  Herpes Simplex and Hepatitis C  positive patients treated by Florida Detox and Wellness Institute.  Intravenous Vitamin C frequently eliminates headaches, before the infusion is completed.

One of our tranquilizer detox patients has reduced her migraine pain, at least 98 percent, with our guidance and testing.  Another migraine patient who had disabling 10/10 headache pain every other day, no longer has migraines. Many Florida Detox and Wellness Institute migraine or headache pain patients have been able to reduce their pain, by treating causes, instead of symptoms.

Florida Detox has perfected scientifically advanced,  compassionate, detoxification techniques for methadone, morphine, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet, Norco, Fentanyl, Tramadol, heroin and other opiate drugs. Florida Detox also provides effective medical treatment for alcohol, Xanax , Klonopin, Ambien, Fioricet and Cocaine dependency.  Florida Detox has treated over 5,000 patients for chemical dependency.

For more information see www.floridadetox.com or call Florida Detox at 1-888-775-2770

Steven Sponaugle, Research Director, Florida Detox and Wellness Institute