Migraines, Hormones and Menopause

Is there a connection between migraines and menopause? Evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of physical problems causing migraine headaches during menopause. In a few cases the headache may be psychological. But this usually is not the case. As has been mentioned in many publications, stress is a leading cause of migraine headaches, and this is no different for women in menopause. You have to ask, is menopause itself causing the headache or stress?

During menopause, or after a hysterectomy, there is an extreme hormonal imbalance in the female body. Estrogen production goes way down. This decrease of estrogen more than likely causes a fluctuation in the blood vessels making them constrict, including those in the brain. It is that simple. The fluctuation in the blood vessels of the brain is considered a cause of migraines. This means one thing, especially if you want to solve the problem naturally. You have to stabilize your estrogen production.

It is imperative to keep stress as low as possible (this goes beyond migraine reasons). You need a positive outlook on life, maybe some relaxation techniques or life style changes. Slow down your life. Walk much more! Do only one or two hobbies and no more. Relax often with a good meal and a book. Try Yoga or breathing exercises. Do stretches as you watch TV at night. You have to be proactive in changing your lifestyle. It will not happen without you!

The foods you can eat to help increase estrogen production are apples, potatoes, plums, cherries, wheat, yams, rice, carrots, cucumbers, eggs, peppers and olive oil. Soy products are good as well, although most people do not actually like the taste of that type of product.

Here are some alternative treatments you can try. Try taking nonestrogenic herbs or phytoestrogen herbs. Before taking any herbs you may want to consult your doctor, although many of them know little about alternative medicines, since few study it. You must keep in mind that even though you are undergoing menopause your body is still producing some estrogen. So it is not wise to take a bunch of estrogen producing herbs, because your body will stop trying to produce its own estrogen! So moderation is the key (as in everything in life).

The phytoestrogen herbs such as Dong Quai, Black Cohosh, Ginkgo Biloba, Motherwart, Saw Palmetto and Red Clover produce estrogen-like compounds. So those are the types you want to use in moderation. Non-estrogen producing herbs such as Macafem, Wild Yam and Sarsaparilla do not contain estrogen but help to balance all the hormones in your body.

You dont have to be crippled by migraines and menopause. Like any other herb or diet treatment, you will have to experiment with what works best on you. Taking any herb, or reducing a food, for only a few days will probably do little, so be patient and keep trying for longer periods.