Nikki Hawkes

Medical Herbalist

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Migraine and nausea

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Migraine headaches are very common and affect around 14% of people. With recurrent, moderate to severe headaches that last between 4 to 72 hours each time this health problem can have a devastating effect on quality of life. But it is not just the headache that disrupts day to day life. Migraineurs often have to deal with other symptoms as well as the headache, especially digestive problems. There is certainly a connection between migraine and nausea, but migraineurs also often have diarrhoea or constipation. The nausea and vomiting that are common symptoms for many with these types of headaches can be a major cause of distress.

But why does migraine cause nausea?

The connection between the gut and brain begins with the developing embryo. The cells that become the gut and those that become the brain develop almost simultaneously. The brain or central nervous system remains linked to the gut and it’s enteric nervous system or “second brain” via the vagal nerve for life. [Read more…] about Migraine and nausea

How to prevent migraines during pregnancy

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The good news is that more than half of women report improvements in their migraines during pregnancy. Unfortunately, you won’t know if you are one of the lucky ones until you’re pregnant. Since migraine medication can be harmful to an unborn child, ideally it should be avoided in pregnancy. Yet, being without your migraine medications might be a scary prospect. Thank goodness there are several safe, non-pharmaceutical options that help prevent migraines during pregnancy.

Many migraine medications are most dangerous in the first trimester, a time when a woman can be pregnant without knowing. So, if you suffer from migraines and you’re planning to have a baby, you might also want to consider tapering off your migraine preventers before your pregnancy begins.

Non-drug treatment options are considered safer during pregnancy and can be started before the pregnancy. It is a good idea to get started early since some may take a few weeks or months to establish their benefits. [Read more…] about How to prevent migraines during pregnancy

A different approach to Meniere’s disease

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Meniere’s disease is an uncommon, chronic condition of the inner ear. The part of the ear that helps to control balance. It can be a frightening disease with a serious impact on wellbeing and quality of life.

The disease often starts between the ages of 40 and 50. Triggered by injury or disease. Research suggests other causes may be genetic, allergic or autoimmune. In any case, it changes the volume or composition of the inner ear fluid. [Read more…] about A different approach to Meniere’s disease

Can a leaky gut cause migraines?

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An estimated 15% of the population suffer from migraine headaches at least once. With more women than men affected. Those affected tend to need long term medication. But, prescribed medicines tend to be only partially effective, and have side effects. This leaves many people living with severe pain on a regular basis without hope of a cure.  Could there be an underlying cause that we could find and address? Scientist have started to think so. Impaired gut health could be one such underlying cause. So, can a leaky gut cause migraines?

Though we don’t have all the answers, research is ongoing. We know that there is greater risk of migraine if someone else in the family has them. But environmental factors may be more important than genes. A person may have the genes that predispose them to migraines but may never have one. So, one theory is that something in the migraineurs environment triggers off the condition. [Read more…] about Can a leaky gut cause migraines?