Don't treat your migraines, prevent them. A life without migraines is obtainable, I know. I was a migraine sufferer for 12 years and have been treating... preventing them for my patients for 15 years. The 95+% success rate achieved at my office comes from a combination of research, common sense and the hard work of my patients.
When I was a teen I suffered from terrible migraines several times a week. Like most of you I tried medications and bio feedback with little help. Regular chiropractic care offered relief, but my migraines continued. Relief came to me by accident, I was doing a food shopping and did not have enough money for everything. I had choice of eating or drinking my daily 2 liter bottle of Pepsi, I chose eating. Like magic my migraines disappeared over the next week. It took several weeks to recognize that soda, alcohol, etc. were causing my migraines, but once I eliminated them I felt great. Trigger foods are well documented but aren't the whole answer.
When I first started treating patients I was sure that a simple elimination diet was the answer for my migraine patients, but many did not respond. I was determined to find the answer to treating migraines. I did a review of thousands medical research articles on migraines and found the clues I needed. The best way to treat migraines is to successfully prevent them. In order prevent migraines I needed to determine the true underlying reason migraines occur.
They key to preventing migraines is realizing that they are caused by an overload of toxins in the body. A migraine can be seen as a really severe hangover caused not by alcohol, but all types of toxins from in and out of the body. The liver, the body's main system for eliminating toxins is overwhelmed in migraine suffers. The liver is not diseased, it just is not functioning fast enough to keep the body detoxified. Simple examples of a toxin can be alcohol, chemicals, caffeine, and drugs. Toxins also include hormones and chemical compounds the body naturally produces, but cannot detoxify fast enough. Toxins can even be foods if the digestive tract cannot break them properly, such as preservatives, artificial coloring and artificial flavorings This simple concept has lead to thousands of former migraine suffers living pain free. If toxins and slow liver function lead to migraines; then reducing the toxic load and increasing the livers function will prevent migraines.
Tracey T. was 40 years old and had been suffering with migraines for 13 years. She was taking Pamelor, Topamax, Esgic Plus, and Zomig with no relief. She was under the care of a neurologist, her 4th one, and getting a migraines daily. She was in good health overall and followed a healthy lifestyle; exercised and avoided alcohol and caffeine. She began her nutritional supplements, improved her diet and increased her water intake. Her 2 month check up showed that she had had only 1 migraine in 8 weeks and several mild headaches. She was working with her doctor to eliminate her medication and was now only taking 1, at reduced amount. A six month review showed that she was off all medication and doing great.
There are 10,000s of medical studies on migraines. The medical research I reviewed overwhelmingly supports a lifestyle change with nutritional supplementation approach.
Medical Research .... How it supports this approach
1. low B vitamins and Magnesium levels ....... needed nutrients in liver detoxification
2. woman 3x more likely to suffer with migraines .... woman produce more hormones to that need to be detoxified,
3. increase frequency and severity of migraines with menstrual cycle ..........the female body produce up to 4x as many hormones during a menstrual cycle
4. elimination diets helpful .... reduces toxin intake, less to detoxify so the liver can keep up with demand
5. medications cause 30-40% of headaches ...... medications need to be detoxified by the liver, increasing the toxic load
6. triggered by smoke, perfume, etc..... smells are all chemical compounds that increase the toxic load on the liver
There are also two lab tests that support that prove that slower liver detoxification is associated with migraines. The first is a liver function test, this is not your typical blood test. A functional liver test will measure how long it takes your body to breakdown and detoxify different chemical compounds including; caffeine, aspirin, and acetaminophen. The second test in cutting edge genome scanning. Migraine sufferers have been linked to a genetic defect in liver detoxification.
The liver needs about 8 weeks of reduced toxic load and nutritional support to detoxify. When my patients start the process we ask them to keep a diary of every migraine, how severe it was and how long it lasted. Most patients start to see a decrease in the frequency or severity within 3 weeks and are migraine free by their 8th week. Woman can usually tell they are better by their 3rd menstrual cycle. You may find that the 1st and 2nd week are a little rough as you adjust to your new diet and the body dumps the toxins. The following are some guidelines to follow:
Lifestyle changes to Prevent Migraines I recommend that my patients shoot for 100% success. The more you limit the toxins entering your body the greater your chance of success. An elimination diet alone will not work for most migraine sufferers. You will need to take nutritional supplements along with your lifestyle changes to live migraine free. Life does not always allow you to stay within the guideline, do the best you can.
Avoid the following:
caffeine and deceffeianted coffee, teas and sodas
chocolate
artificial coloring
artificial flavoring
preservatives
nuts
personal care products with heavy perfumes, switch to all natural cleaning products, switch to all natural
cigarette smoking or second hand smoke
alcohol - all forms
Consume the following:
60-80 ounces a day
High fiber foods; fruits, vegetables, grains
Nutritional Support: to promote increase liver detoxification
Artichoke
Tumeric
Silmayrin
Glutathione
Cysteine
Cod liver oil
All natural multivitamin
B complex
Patients who are using OTC and prescription medication are slower to detoxify. Migraine suffers presently taking prescription medications should talk to their doctors. Together you can work out a plan to reduce and then eliminate your medications. Patients using medications on an as needed basis try to reduce the frequency of use, after a couple of weeks with new diet and lifestyle.
Questions and Answers:
Q: Why doesn't my doctor know this?
A: Doctors are trained to treat diseases, not dysfunction. Doctors are most likely causing 30-40% of all migraines from the migraine medication they are prescribing and the rebound effect they cause.
Q: Is your protocol safe?
A: The lifestyle changes and nutritional support recommend are very safe
Q: Can I continue on my medication?
A: Yes, continue on your medication and start the protocol when you are feeling better talk to your doctor
Q: Are there any side effects?
A: You may feel a little worse for 1-2 weeks, but it is worth it to be migraine free in about 8 weeks
Q: What kind and where can I get the nutritional supplements?
A: The nutritional supplements listed are available in any good health food store. My office use professional grade nutrients that are available only through healthcare professionals, they are not available health food stores.
I welcome your comments and questions. Please email me at szodkoy@hotmail.com if you have any questions.
Dr. Steven Zodkoy
Chiropractor
Certified Clinical Nutritionist
Certified Nutritional Specialist
Diplomate American Clinical Board of Nutrition
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Tumescent liposuction is done using a local aesthetic. A large... Read More
Things are moving forward and new and advanced procedures are... Read More
Although you make a patient feel better, there isn't usually... Read More
When diversifying an investment portfolio, one needs to consider investing... Read More
Every year about this time doctors around the world are... Read More
Electronic Medical RecordAn Electronic Medical Record is a secured electronic... Read More
We cannot help but accept the fact that children do... Read More
You probably know the drug isotretinoin by its trade name,... Read More
IntroductionAntibiotics are said to be the greatest contribution of modern... Read More
Perhaps one of the most insidious dangers in modern technology... Read More
Serzone is a prescription medication that is given to patients... Read More
The pharmaceutical industry is a tremendously profitable one, as anyone... Read More
Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is used to... Read More
When you're in need, the quickest way is the best:... Read More
One of the least appreciated cost-savers in medical treatment is... Read More
For many years since medicine has been established as an... Read More
In 2003, there where more than 890 million doctor visits... Read More
The FDA issued a warning in July of 2005 on... Read More
Marketing Authorisation: Medicinal Products The case of R (on the... Read More
Thirty percent of human population has a high blood pressure... Read More
According to the Los Angeles Times, the California Association of... Read More
Michael Richardson, MD has some suggestions on maximizing your next... Read More
When an unconscious patient arrives in the ED, every hospital... Read More
This must be a mistake! How could his drug costs... Read More
Checklist of Treatments for Alzheimer's DiseasePart 3 of 83. Three... Read More
Of all the places in the body that can hurt,... Read More
Pain is the body's warning signal that something is wrong.... Read More
One of the most prevalent and difficult health conditions to... Read More
Lipitor is a drug intended to help lower cholesterol. The... Read More
Myth #1: "Nothing can be done about arthritis..."You don't have... Read More
Most people are well aware that an estimated 45 million... Read More
We all know that there's no such thing as cheap... Read More
Addictions come in many forms. It's important to recognize the... Read More
Infant acid reflux is quite common. People of all ages,... Read More
What is nail fungus?Nail fungus, also known as Onychomycosis, is... Read More
When you (or loved ones) are taking prescription or over... Read More
Addictions come in many forms. It's important to recognize the... Read More
There are many different causes of heel pain, but the... Read More
When your knee hurts, getting relief is all that's on... Read More
If your back aches when you're loading groceries in the... Read More
Each year hospitals end up killing twice as many people... Read More
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common condition, but... Read More
Checklist of Treatments for Alzheimer's DiseasePart 2 of 82. Vitamin... Read More
Cybill Shepherd has revealed that she suffers from irritable bowel... Read More
The World Health Organization declares that heart disease is the... Read More
Most writers suffer from a lack of discipline. The urge... Read More
When was the last time you enjoyed a good night's... Read More
Alcohol rehab in California refers to the centers that help... Read More
Zyprexa is an antipsychotic medication that works by changing the... Read More
Internet Pharmacies are convenient and quick, but some websites selling... Read More
"It's a chemical imbalance." I've heard those words so many... Read More
Save Up to 93% by Asking for a Generic -... Read More
With more medical advantages, an adjustable bed finds more functions... Read More
No person likes to feel housebound and dependent on others.... Read More
Orthotics are devices which fit into the shoe to aid... Read More
The recent withdrawal of Vioxx and Bextra from the marketplace,... Read More
The recent withdrawals of the prescription medications Vioxx and Bextra... Read More
Paxil went on the market in 1992 at the height... Read More
Most people are well aware that an estimated 45 million... Read More
Last year I told an acquaintance that at the age... Read More
RA is a condition that forces half of patients to... Read More
Throughout time there have always been two opposing points of... Read More
According to ongoing research about the needs of patients with... Read More
Prescription drugs can save your life. But interactions between prescription... Read More
Lunesta is a newly released sleeping pill. Marketed as a... Read More
Don't laugh. Both get a lot of coverage in the... Read More
Medicine |