Could a 'leaky gut' be the cause of migraine headaches?
One of the most of the most interesting areas of medical research involves the relationship between our bacteria and our bowels.
What we are discovering is that there is a very important relationship between our health, bowel function and the bacteria that inhabit the bowels.
If the bowels are not functioning well, there is increased intestinal permeability of the bowels to bacteria and toxins or “leaky gut.” For some, a “leaky gut” may also increase the risk of migraine headaches.
Migraine headaches are defined as a recurrent, moderate to severe headache in association with a number of seemingly unrelated symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to sound, light and occasionally odors.
There may also be vision changes described as an aura or even loss of vision. The pain of a migraine is usually described as debilitating and pounding. Migraines can last for a few hours to days.
Although there are effective medications for the prevention and treatment of migraines, pharmaceutical cures are rare indeed. About 13 percent of men and 30 percent of women will regularly experience migraine headaches.
Interestingly, specific foods (chocolate, salty foods) are often triggers for a migraine headache.
The bowels are the most complex organ in the body. They are also the most immunologically active. The bowels must be able to differentiate between the nutrients that you need and toxins, bacteria, viruses, yeast and parasites that must be kept outside.
The immune system in the bowels acts like the Great Wall of China keeping out the Mongol hordes. Any break in this wall can allow toxins, viruses and bacteria to gain access to the body, creating a chronic inflammatory state.
Recent medical research suggests that, for some, this chronic inflammatory state predisposes to migraine headaches.
A 2014 study published in the medical journal “Frontiers in Neurology” strongly suggested that a “leaky gut” is an important factor in migraine headaches.
Reviewing the medical literature, they concluded that people who have inflammatory bowel conditions with associated intestinal permeability issues such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and even irritable bowel syndrome have a much high incidence of migraine headaches, often two to three times more often.
They postulated that the inflammatory responses generated by the immune system in combating the influx of toxins may, in some people, specifically trigger the pain receptors associated with a migraine headache. In other people, the inflammatory response may trigger an autoimmune disease, arthritis and chronic muscle pain.
Although the published medical research on “leaky gut” dates back to at least 1929, definitive clinical research regarding migraines is far from conclusive. However, there is research to suggest that changes in nutrition and the addition of probiotics can reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches.
In my clinical experience, migraine patients rarely do not have some bowel — related symptoms. Often just helping the bowels work better (a change in diet, exercise, some supplements) lead to a reduction in both the intensity and frequency of migraine … even to the point of complete resolution.
• Patrick B. Massey, MD, PH.D., is medical director for complementary and alternative medicine at Alexian Brothers Hospital Network and president of ALT-MED Medical and Physical Therapy, 1544 Nerge Road, Elk Grove Village. His website is www.alt-med.org.