Medical Medium

 In his book Medical Medium, Anthony Williams addresses migraines in its own chapter.  He begins by suggesting that there are multiple causes of migraines which makes it very hard to determine the cause or causes because they overlap and many doctors aren't actually aware of all the causes.  Now, I must tell you at this point that Anthony Williams is not a medical doctor, nor is he a researcher.  He is a medical medium and most of his information comes from Spirit but he's also been doing this for many years and has a significant amount of anecdotal information.

He first suggests that you look at physical causes in the brain and nervous system such as concussion, stroke, brain tumour...if you do not have any physical causes then 'you are in the mystery realm'.  Many doctors leave you here and suggest medication to deal with the migraine pain.  However, Williams introduces a series of other potential causes of migraines.  They are as follows:  Epstein Bar Virus (EBV), Sinus-related, Ammonia Permeability trigger, Electrolyte deficiency trigger, Stress trigger, Menstrual cycle trigger, Sleep disorders, Heavy metals and other environmental toxic triggers and Food triggers.  I already knew that I had Electrolyte deficiency triggers because I'm extremely sun-sensitive and quite often get dehydrated in the summer, which results in a migraine.  So, always try to stay hydrated.  I also know about my menstrual cycle trigger, so around the time that I'm menstruating I have to try to reduce my other triggers so as to not get a headache.  What I didn't know about was the Epstein Bar Virus and how it was related to migraines.

As you may already know, my migraines started when I was 18.  I remember the first one so clearly because I vomited on my boyfriend- sorry James.  The first migraine was in December and in January I was diagnosed with Mononucleosis (or the kissing disease).  According to Williams, mononucleosis is caused by EBV!  So right around the time that my migraines started, I had also been exposed to EBV which brought on the mono.  I was hit hard by mono and spent weeks in bed.  I also had mono a second time when I was 23.  If I believe Williams, there is not doubt that I have EBV.

EBV passes through 4 stages:  Stage 1- it's pretty dormant and just starts to replicate in your bloodstream.  Stage 2-  Mononucleosis and it gets into your liver and other organs.  Stage 3- it lives in your organs and produces toxic byproducts making you feel generally ill.  Stage 4- the virus inflames your nervous system.  It is in stage 4 that you might see migraines.  From this and other information, I believe that my migraines are caused by an inflammation of the vagus nerve.

So, I might have EBV, and this might be one of my migraine triggers- what now?  Well, there are foods that are good for removing EBV from the body.  These include:  celery, wild blueberries, sprouts, asparagus, spinach, cilantro, garlic, ginger, papayas, sweet potatoes and cucumbers.  I have included these in my 30 day trigger-free diet.  I have also included some healing herbs such as:  cat's claw, zinc, vitamin B12, lemon balm, spirulina, and Ester-C.

In the chapter on Migraines, Williams suggests avoiding the following foods:  dairy, eggs, gluten, meat, fermented foods, table salt, additives, alcohol, and chocolate. (all of which I haven't been eating, except for meat.  I'm still eating chicken and small amounts of beef).  As for foods TO eat to prevent migraines, he suggests many of the same foods for EBV but adds cinnamon and apples.  As for supplements, he suggests feverfew, butterbur and magnesium, among others.  I have not been taking the supplements he suggests for migraines.

There you have it, another possible migraine trigger.  It's been 10 days since my last migraine and it feels pretty good.   I might be on to something with this trigger-free diet!