-
Migraines
Hi! I have been suffering from migraines my entire life. A lot of different things trigger it ( lack of sleep, stress, heat, col, too much sweet…) have visited a homeopathic doctor who recently Recomended this: ( 1. CHININUM SULPH 30- 4 shakes single diluBon once a week x 4 weeks 2. NAT PHOS 6X and MAG PHOS 6X once day x 4 weeks)It was mentioned that it could be histamine related. Can you please give me more information and what should I take to treat this? Thanks
-
14 Replies
-
Hi – yes, when someone tells me they’ve suffered with migraines their entire life, I’m usually suspicious of a genetic snp (pronounced “snip”) that may be affecting their ability to clear histamine from the body. Have you ever run a genetic report like 23andme before?
Dr. Ben Lynch – the founder of Seeking Health supplement company and author of Dirty Genes has also created a program called StrateGene that then translates the 23andme results and provides a very practical report of dietary and lifestyle changes to make based on one’s gene profile. His report is generated within 10 minutes. (FYI – I’m in discussion with Dr. Lynch and hoping he’ll be our guest expert in the Fall!)
Now please keep in mind that environmental factors dictate whether certain genes express themselves, so again, regardless of running these tests or not, there’s a lot one can do to clean up their environment.
Do you struggle with any other symptoms other than migraines?
Have you taken a look at the Migraine Prevention & Rapid Relief protocol in the Resources section yet? There I share some dietary triggers to consider removing from your diet, and a supplement protocol that I usually share with my clients to help with prevention. And in the Symptom Dictionary which I also link to in the protocol, I discuss the possible root causes to consider other than histamine. There are many other factors that can trigger migraine headaches.
I’d love if you can share more information about your symptoms, typical diet, lifestyle, stress levels, any past injuries/surgeries, supplements/medications you take, any hormonal symptoms, etc. so we can help point you in the right direction to figure out your root cause.
-
thanks a lot. I will definitely take the test and then look at Dr Lynch’s program.
Migraines have been a constant in my life. Alarmist everything triggers it: too much sweet, not eating regularly, too much sun or heat, too cold, stress, muscle spasm in my next shoulder, bad sleep…. And we can go in. Once I get them, the next episode happens more frequent or gets triggered faster and lately they last up to 3 days.
It is always one side only.I don’t have any when I’m pregnant or breastfeeding/ after delivery I have only had 2 mild ones and the baby is almost 6 months- my concern is once I start having them again how to make them go faster or not have them at all.
I take magnesium byglicinate, vitamin c and collagen – the multi post natal vitamin as well.
Have 3 kids all natural delivery all induced with epidural
-
Hi
I am seeing the 23andme report is not available in the UAE. -
And a last question, on the protocol for migraines, should I take all the mentioned remedies or shall I do any test before?
-
let me clarify… what I meant by Dr. Lynch’s “program” is actually a “software” that translates the 23andme results into a practical report. It’s not a program per se but a report with practical tips and info based on your gene results.
And thank you for sharing the fact that you feel great when you’re pregnant. This is a massive clue that your migraines are more than likely linked to histamine intolerance because the DAO enzyme is known to increase 500 to 1000 x during pregnancy, which is what breaks down histamine. High histamine causes migraines. So those with a history of migraines often experience relief from the 2nd semester onwards when DAO enzyme production peaks.
With that in mind, we have to help you figure out what factors are causing your body to either prevent/block DAO production, and or where the high histamine is coming from.
• Gut health: DAO enzyme is produced in the gut. So gut dysbiosis, SIBO, SIFO, candida overgrowth, parasite infections, leaky gut, etc… all of these will negatively impact DAO production. Do you have any gut related symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, acid reflux, etc?• High histamine foods: there are seemingly many healthy foods that should be reduced/eliminated temporarily while working on addressing the root cause. Here’s a handout with foods known to be high in histamine. Fermented foods, leftovers, alcohol, bone broth, cured meats, pickled or canned foods, citrus fruits, most vinegars, etc. will all worsen histamine intolerance. Your collagen supplement is also likely a trigger so I would advise you to remove it!! There are also certain foods that block DAO enzyme production like green tea, black tea, coffee, alcohol. Remove these.
• High estrogen releases histamine. Do you struggle with PMS, breast tenderness, heavier periods, etc?
• Mold exposure. Have you ruled this out? Mold increases the release of histamine.
• Certain nutrients are needed to make and breakdown histamine. A good methylated B complex like Thorne Basic B complex could help with histamine elimination. Vitamin D controls the release of histamine from mast cells. Have you tested your levels? Zinc is also needed for elimination of histamine. Have you tested your levels? Copper which competes with zinc is a cofactor for the DAO enzyme. Have you tested your levels? Magnesium is needed for hte production of SAM, which supports histamine breakdown. Testing your vitamin D, RBC zinc and copper in blood would be wise.
Seeking Health has a few histamine friendly supplements that can likely help as well. A pure DAO enzyme called Histamine Digest, and another one with a little less DAO enzyme but includes co-factors to make DAO enzyme called Histamine Block Plus. These can be taken with meals if there’s a known high histamine food in the meal that you can’t avoid, or away from meals if you’re experiencing symptoms. He also has a probiotic with histamine degrading strains of probiotics called ProBiota HistaminX.
These can be taken in addition to the migraine prevention protocol.
-
correct – if you plan on travelling outside of the UAE, consider getting it done. 23andMe ship internationally to many other countries.
DNA life is a genetic test available in the UAE, but this can’t be interpreted in the StrateGene software (I had asked in the past for our members) and it’s not nearly as comprehensive. Here’s the DNA Health report, and the Histamine Intolerance report which could possibly replace 23andme if you’re not travelling anytime soon.
-
my clients usually take them without testing and all together.
-
thank you loads! I have got now the Recomended supplements form your migraines guideline and will be taking these for at least 2 months.
I will have myself tested for RBC zinc, vitamin D and copper so we can define if I need additional supplements
And if I should get the histamine friendly supplements from seeking health in additions.From the above I have constipation- from the Bristol stool chart shared in your book I’m type 1/2.
No mood exposure and nothing estrogen related.Let me know if there is anything else I should consider.
Also if there are recommendations to adding finer to my diet
-
Have you seen the newly released “B Better Programs”? Our first released program is Constipation Relief. This should be your priority!! Whatever is causing your constipation might be contributing to higher histamine levels/migraines since DAO enzyme needed to breakdown histamine is produced in the gut.
This program takes you step by step to figure out the root cause while providing you with rapid relief solutions. Do let me know how it goes!!
-
hello!
I have received my blood test results. Do you mind taking a quick look? I have attached them for re.
I continue taking the meds from your migraine protocol – is there anything else I should add or adjust?
Many thanks
[IMG_3916.png][IMG_3915.png][IMG_3914.png][IMG_3913.png] -
glad you’re taking action!
Ok, based on these results, you’ll notice that zinc is on the lower end of the reference range. This definitely needs to be boosted. My question however before supplementation is, why is your zinc low? Do you eat animal proteins or are you vegetarian? Here’s a video in the Mineral Balance course on risk factors for zinc deficiency to consider. Please watch it and let me know if any of these root causes resonate with you. For example, if you are eating ample animal proteins in your diet, how is your stomach acid? We need good strong stomach acid to absorb our zinc. If you suspect this may be an issue, I can share a video on how to test stomach acid. But 1 step at a time. First please watch the video, and let me know what resonates with you.
Next, your vitamin D should also be boosted. It’s on the lower end of the “deficient” reference range. Do you get regular sun exposure? We also need ample amounts of magnesium to convert vitamin D into its final form in the kidneys. And since your magnesium is also on the lower end of the reference range, this could be a factor. If you’re following the migraine protocol, I’m going to assume you’ve started boosting magnesium glycinate.
Here’s a handout that can help with dosing for vitamin D. I typically recommend clients take 5,000IU vitamin D3/K2 combo for a few months, but only after at least 2 weeks of magnesium replenishment. I like Seeking Health’s liquid D3/K2 or Biotics Research Bio-DK mulsion.
In terms of your CBC panel, your Eosinophils are slightly elevated. I like to see it <1%. This can indicate either environmental allergies/sensitivities, asthma, and/or parasites. Seeing that you have random migraines and not really sure of the trigger, have you ever run a food sensitivity IgG test before? This is different to an allergy test (IgE) which looks at immediate immune reactions. An IgG test is a delayed immune reaction... sometimes 5 days later which makes it really hard to pin point!
I would recommend that you explore food sensitivity testing with a KBMO FIT test. You can find instructions and more info about that here in the resources.
Hope this helps!
-
thank you soooo much!
On zinc, watched the video. I am allergic to shellfish so I don’t consume any of those and I do take a fair amount of whole grains but never soak or sprout. Also have had 3 pregnancies in 5 years which may have contributed.
I do take a good amount of animal protein on a regular basis.On magnesium I’m already taking glycinate 360mg daily- 1 capsule 120mg and I’m taking 3 a day. Should I increase it?
Will take the seeking health vitamin D drops which I have with me and would do a KBMO FIT test to check.Shall I supplement then zinc or shall I do the above first?
Thanks
-
Dear
in this trail you can find my previous lab tests. I did 3 months of zinc, magnesium, vitamin d and was feeling great. Left the vitamins like 40 days back and took again tests to check.
Attaching the same and I am worried ( zinc is not picking up, magnesium lower….) I have been falling I’ll very often – with 3 kids at home is difficult not to get the viruses and have been on 2 rounds of antibiotics in the last month ( one for UTI and the other one throat infection). Now again I have a very strong flue and the ecolli on my urine is excessive
Appreciate your initial throughly d
Ps: I have seen your uti protocol have followed in the past but for this level of repetitive infection don’t think it works!
Help please …
[Ms.Samar’s lab.pdf] -
I went back to our old threads. Can you please update me on your migraine status? Has that improved? If so, what did you end up doing (diet/supplements/tests). How about the constipation? Did you go through the Constipation Relief program?
Please keep in mind that histamine related migraines, constipation, a ferritin value above 100 (from your labs – this points to an infection which I’m assuming was the UTI), frequent illness/UTI, and antibiotic use are all pointing to gut dysfunction since the majority of our immune system resides in the gut!
This needs to be your primary focus (digestion & gut immunity), and in the constipation relief program I share questionnaires to help you determine which of the major players are needing support and how to test for them (i.e. “GPS” – gallbladder, pancreas and stomach).
Here’s the initial assessment questionnaire from the program. Please fill it in and attach it here if you don’t mind sharing.
I wouldn’t compare nutrient values from 1 test to another, but instead I would look at patterns. Is it trending up or down or is it the same? If you’ve been ill, it’s normal for zinc, vitamin A and D (therefore magnesium) to become depleted again, since they are used up to fight illnesses.
Regarding the UTI protocol, it can be used to help avoid antibiotics (if started at the first “twinge”) and also be used preventatively to avoid chronic UTIs. Of course dosing needs to be discussed with your practitioner but generally speaking:
• 1-2g daily of D-mannose has been shown in literature to help with prevention (if someone is prone to UTIs)But this is not addressing the root cause as you mentioned, and gut immunity and gut dysfunction is likely playing a role in this since bacteria can only thrive in an alkaline environment, and if there is dysbiosis (imbalance in microbiome), this can affect the pH elsewhere as well. If you have the funds to invest in a comprehensive stool test, you can get a GI Map for example to get an overview of the microbiome. As a minimum, I would want to rule out an H Pylori overgrowth, and this can be tested alone (which reduces the cost).
Did you doctor advise you to start eating fermented foods and/or taking probiotics post-antibiotic treatment? This should be prioritized since antibiotics will create a favorable environment for yeast to overgrowth, and in itself creates dysbiosis.
Log in to reply.
