Migraine
A migraine is a recurring neurological condition characterized by intense, often one-sided head pain accompanied by sensory disturbances such as light sensitivity, nausea, or visual auras. Unlike regular headaches, migraines involve complex changes in brain chemistry and vascular activity, and can significantly impact daily functioning.
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Primarily affects one side of the head (but can be both)
May radiate to behind the eye, jaw, or neck
Can be accompanied by visual disturbances in the eyes
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A migraine isn’t just a strong headache — it’s more like a storm brewing in the nervous system. For some people, it starts with strange warning signs (like mood swings or cravings), then comes a wave of electrical activity in the brain that throws everything out of rhythm — kind of like a power surge that knocks out the lights in certain rooms of a house. This surge affects the way blood flows and how pain signals are processed, making the brain extra sensitive to light, sound, smells, and movement.
When this internal “storm” hits, your brain releases chemicals that cause blood vessels to swell and nerves to become inflamed, which creates that pounding, one-sided pain. Once the storm passes, it can leave you feeling foggy, tired, or just not quite yourself for a day or two.
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One-sided, pulsating or throbbing head pain
Nausea or vomiting
Light, sound, or smell sensitivity
Seeing spots, lines, or flickering lights before the pain starts
Feeling wiped out or foggy after the episode ends
Headache worsens with movement or physical activity
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Liver heat or blood stagnation (traditional systems)
Estrogen fluctuations (e.g., before menstruation or ovulation)
Overstimulated nervous system (sympathetic dominance)
Food triggers: aged cheese, chocolate, MSG, wine, etc.
Dehydration or blood sugar crashes
Gut-brain dysregulation or histamine intolerance
Neck tension, spinal misalignment, or poor posture
Medication overuse headaches
Weather/pressure changes in sensitive individuals
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Hormonal changes like shifts in estrogen (around ovulation or menstruation) often take 12 to 48 hours to set off a migraine. These tend to hit faster in thermic types, who are more heat- and hormone-sensitive, and slower in anabolic types, who process changes more gradually.
Blood sugar crashes can trigger a migraine in as little as 30 minutes to 2 hours, especially in catabolic types who burn through energy quickly. Anabolic types may be less affected unless other triggers are also present.
Dehydration usually triggers symptoms within 1 to 6 hours, particularly in thermic or catabolic types, whose bodies tend to run hotter or release fluids more rapidly. Anabolic types typically retain fluids longer, so symptoms may appear later.
Sleep disruption can provoke a migraine within 12 to 24 hours, often showing up the next day. This is more common in catabolic types with sensitive nervous systems, while anabolic types may tolerate short-term sleep loss better.
Stress or overstimulation can act quickly — from immediate onset to a full day later. Those with thermic or catabolic constitutions are more likely to have nervous systems that react right away.
Food triggers like aged cheese, chocolate, or MSG can provoke a migraine within 20 minutes to 4 hours. These hit faster in thermic types with more reactive digestion or histamine sensitivity.
Histamine overload (from food, poor gut clearance, or hormonal shifts) can trigger symptoms within 1 to 12 hours, especially in thermic types prone to inflammation. Anabolic types may buffer the effects longer but still react when thresholds are crossed.
Weather or barometric pressure changes often cause migraines to appear several hours to a full day in advance. Thermic types tend to be most sensitive, while others may not notice unless other stressors are already in play.
Digestive stagnation or constipation can lead to migraines 1 to 3 days later, particularly in anabolic types, where sluggish elimination contributes to toxic buildup. Catabolic types, who eliminate more quickly, are less prone unless dehydrated or depleted.
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The following tissue states may represent underlying imbalances contributing to this symptom:
Wind/Tension – fluctuating, sharp, or radiating pain
Heat/Excitation – inflammation, light/sound sensitivity
Dry/Atrophy – when migraines are triggered by dehydration, hormonal drops, or overexertion
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Nervous system
Vascular system
Liver and hormonal axis
Digestive system (via gut-brain connection)
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Hormonal rhythm mapping and liver support
Gut healing, food triggers, and histamine response
Blood sugar regulation and hydration status
Nervous system downregulation tools (vagal tone, breathwork)
Sleep hygiene and circadian rhythm stability
Cervical spine alignment and neck posture
Do you tend to get headaches that come with nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, or vision changes? Do your migraines usually show up around certain times of your cycle, or after changes in sleep, stress, or food? Have you noticed warning signs before a migraine, like mood shifts, food cravings, or neck stiffness? Do your migraines feel like they come in “waves” — building up, peaking, and leaving you drained afterward? Does movement, bright light, or sound make the pain worse once it begins? Do certain foods, skipped meals, or dehydration seem to trigger episodes for you? After a migraine passes, do you feel foggy, tired, or not quite like yourself for a while? If your migraines are frequent, disrupting your life, or coming with visual or neurological symptoms, let’s explore what your body is trying to tell you. Book a full-body intake to uncover root causes and receive custom strategies tailored to your constitution.
Disclaimer
Each person’s condition has a unique root cause, and lifestyle, diet and herbal remedies must be tailored to the individual. The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized care. If you’d like support in understanding your specific situation, please reach out to me for guidance.
