Can constipation cause migraine headaches. Do you suffer with migraines and constipation? Do you find that they sometimes strike at the same time? This may simply reflect the fact that they are both common disorders, but research has shown that migraines in some patients improve after resolution of constipation, indicating a possible link between the two.
This week is Migraine Awareness Week, and with the help of Sophia Hill from Sophia’s Kitchen Therapy, we’ve put together a delicious recipe that is rich in magnesium. While food is never going to be an outright cure, there are compounds in foods, one being magnesium, that really do have potent effects.
Our Vegan Quinoa Kale Salad with Tahini boasts a great natural source of magnesium in the form of kale; it also contains Omega-3s and fibre, making it a bit of a ‘migraine superfood’. Click on the link here to download it to your own computer.
Many people who suffer with migraines may be deficient in magnesium and this recipe contains 400mg of magnesium, although some people may take more than this in supplementation form (capsules and/or tablets). Studies have shown that low levels of tissue and serum magnesium can cause vasoconstriction (contraction) of the vessels supplying blood to the brain and this can contribute to migraines. Similarly, a lack of magnesium in the bowel tissues can cause contraction; magnesium works by relaxing the bowel and pulling water into the intestines, softening hard stools making them easier to pass.
It’s also a well-known fact in natural medicine circles that constipation and liver stagnation can contribute to migraines.
In my natural health clinic, I’ve carried out many thousands of colon hydrotherapy treatments on people who suffer with constipation, and they find it absolutely amazing that the headaches that have accompanied their constipation, (in some cases) for many years, completely cease as soon as their bowel wastes are cleared out with the colonic treatment. They come for the colonic treatment to help solve their issues with constipation, but leave with a bonus because the colonic helps stop their headaches too.
Have you ever noticed that if you get constipated, you also get a dull headache, but once you’ve been to the toilet to empty your bowel, the headache disappears?
You have to remember that if ‘toxic’ bowel wastes are backing up in the bowel, this puts stress and strain on the liver, affecting its ability to properly detoxify what is coming from the gut. When dealing with a constipated gut, there is a theory that ‘toxins’ from the backed-up bowel wastes can get to the liver, and if the liver can’t cope with these substances (especially if it’s ‘fatty’ or inflamed), the liver will just have to let those ‘toxins’ spill into the blood circulation. These endotoxic substances may then have the ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier causing headaches.
This theory is called ‘auto-intoxication’ which dates back to Victorian times when it was the ruling doctrine of medicine – doctors believed it caused many health issues, not just migraines. They theorised that ‘toxins’ from backed-up bowel wastes created pressure causing ‘leakage’ through the walls of the portal vein (the main blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gall bladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver) as well as ‘dumping’ of toxins from the liver into the bloodstream causing contamination of the blood.
However, there are other connections between headaches and constipation, including straining on the toilet for example, skipping meals, not drinking enough water and not managing our stress levels very well. If we get stressed, depressed or angry, so does our digestive system and gut, causing the brain to close down digestion processes, leading to confusion in the system with symptoms of indigestion, acid reflux, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.
If you’ve suffered with migraines and constipation, I’d love to hear from you – I would especially like to hear what’s worked for you if you’ve been able to stop your migraines and constipation through natural healing methods. Thank you.
Linda
Founder
Just For Tummies
