Taking a Closer Look at Migraines

Migraines can be debilitating.  Get back on track with Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Migraines are believed to be caused by blood-vessel microemboli, often a blood clot, which becomes caught in the brain and causes blockage in a cerebral blood vessel. The cause of the blood clot formation is often due to chronic blood vessel inflammation. While in a mild case it can trigger a migraine when the microemboli are stuck for a short period, but long enough to induce cortical spreading depression (CSD).

CSD is a slowly propagating wave of the surrounding brain tissue that is characterized by ionic shifts with a massive increase of extracellular potassium and rises in intracellular sodium and calcium which produces a slow direct current. These electrical currents trigger the release of various brain chemicals and the neurotransmitter glutamate which leads to an acute inflammation of blood vessels and nerves. The resulting inflammation causes symptoms of a migraine including the throbbing pain, nausea, and sensory sensitivities.

The CSD wave also restricts the glymphatic space. The glymphatic system is the perivascular pathway for waste clearance from the brain interstitial fluid. Glymphatic flow significantly decreases in the period just before a migraine as the CSD wave passes. This impairment of glymphatic flow may compromise the clearance of a variety of extracellular excitatory and inflammatory chemicals. This causes intense pain caused by inflamed nerves in the tissue that surrounds the brain.

 

Wei Labs addresses migraines through all-natural formulas that target the cerebral blood vessels. Through improving cerebral blood vessel contractions, circulation, and repairing damage to the vessels, patients can experience symptom improvements in a short period of time.

For patients who suffer from chronic neurodegenerative conditions along with migraines, there are additional formulas that help to address the glymphatic space. These products enhance the brain's waste drainage function to remove harmful toxins that may be irritating the nerves.

Resurgen: Helps clear Heat in the cerebral blood vessels and reduce inflammation.

Surgenin: Helps remove blood stasis and dissolve the blood clots in the brain blood vessels and resolve cerebral vasoconstriction.

Together, these products work to clear and dissolve the microemboli which reduce the chances of CSD. When CSD is eliminated, the risk of future migraines lowers immensely. The products also reduce blood vessel inflammation which allows for a decrease in the risk of triggering pain fibers.

For more information, contact us for a TeleHealth or in office visit.

Author
Sharon Shuppert, L.Ac. Owner of The Phoenix & Dragon Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

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