The Role of Hormones in Migraines & Vestibular Migraines: A Naturopathic Approach to Menstrual Migraine

For many migraine and vestibular migraine sufferers, hormonal changes can be a significant trigger. Fluctuations in hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone, and cortisol often play a key role in the onset and severity of symptoms, particularly for women. As a naturopathic nutritional therapist, I help clients uncover how their hormonal health influences their migraines and work with them to create personalised strategies to regain balance and reduce symptoms.

In this blog, we’ll explore the connection between hormones and migraines, and how my personalised approach can help you find relief. The Role of Hormones in Migraines & Vestibular Migraines: A Naturopathic Approach to Menstrual Migraine

How Hormones Impact Migraines and Vestibular Migraines

Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate countless processes in the body, including those that affect the brain and nervous system. For many individuals, hormonal fluctuations can lead to heightened neurological sensitivity, which is a key factor in migraines and vestibular migraines.

Key Hormones Involved in Migraine Triggers:

1. Oestrogen:

   • Oestrogen fluctuations, particularly a sharp drop, are closely linked to migraines. This is why many women experience migraines before or during menstruation, known as menstrual migraines.

   • Perimenopause and menopause, which involve significant changes in oestrogen levels, are also common times for migraines to worsen.

2. Progesterone:

   • Imbalances in progesterone, often seen in conditions like PMS or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can exacerbate hormonal migraines.

3. Cortisol:

   • Chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels, which may disrupt the balance of other hormones and act as a migraine trigger.

4. Melatonin:

   • Melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep, is often found to be lower in individuals with migraines, contributing to poor sleep and increased migraine frequency.

5. Insulin:

   • Blood sugar imbalances caused by poor insulin regulation can lead to spikes and crashes in energy levels, triggering migraines.

Research Linking Hormones and Migraines

Scientific studies have consistently demonstrated the connection between hormonal fluctuations and migraines. A study published in Neurology found that women with migraines are more likely to experience attacks during periods of hormonal change, such as menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause. Another study from the Journal of Headache and Pain highlighted that stabilising hormonal imbalances, particularly oestrogen levels, can reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

For vestibular migraines, hormonal triggers can amplify dizziness, vertigo, and sensitivity to motion, making management even more challenging without addressing the root cause.

How Can A Naturopathic & Nutritional Therapy Approach Help?

As a naturopathic nutritional therapist, I focus on identifying and addressing the underlying causes of hormonal imbalances that may be contributing to your migraines or vestibular migraines. By taking a holistic and personalised approach, I help clients understand their unique hormonal picture and develop practical strategies to restore balance.

My Approach Includes:

• Comprehensive Hormonal Assessment:

  • Through discussions about your symptoms, health history, and lifestyle, we’ll uncover patterns in your migraines and identify how hormonal changes may be contributing. We may use functional medicine testing to understand key hormonal patterns or drivers to get a deeper understanding of your picture.

• Dietary Adjustments:

  • Tailored nutritional advice to stabilise blood sugar levels and support hormone production.

  • Including foods rich in magnesium, B vitamins, and healthy fats to promote hormone balance.

  • Reducing inflammatory foods and potential triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and refined sugars.

• Lifestyle and Stress Management:

  • Stress can significantly impact hormone levels, so I provide strategies for managing stress, such as mindfulness, yoga, or breathwork.

  • Sleep hygiene support to regulate melatonin levels and optimise your body’s natural rhythms.

• Functional Medicine Testing:

  • Where needed, I may recommend hormone testing, such as cortisol profiles or oestrogen/progesterone panels, to gain a clearer picture of imbalances. There is many options and this can be discussed on your free discovery call based on your unique picture.

  • Nutritional testing to identify deficiencies that may impact hormonal health, such as magnesium, zinc, or omega-3 fatty acids and also there is specific focus on nutrients involved in migraine and vestibular migraine.

• Supplement Recommendations:

  • Evidence-based supplements such as magnesium glycinate, omega-3 fatty acids, and adaptogens like ashwagandha can support hormone regulation and reduce migraine frequency.

• Personalised Migraine Plan:

  • A step-by-step plan tailored to your unique hormonal profile, addressing diet, lifestyle, supplements, and more.

ular Migraines: A NaturopatApproach to Menstrual Migraine

How I Can Support You

As a naturopath, nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner I aim to understand your whole picture and get a good understanding of your symptoms, patterns and history to understand drivers and root causes.

1:1 Consultations & Support Packages

Working With Claire

Rather than masking symptoms, I help you understand the underlying systems driving migraine activity.

Migraine is rarely random and often very complex and multifactorial.

It is often influenced by a combination of factors which could include a number of aspects and is often different for each person including areas such genetic influences, hormonal fluctuations, energy delivery, blood sugar and endocrine balance, gut health, nervous system resilience, inflammation factors & responses, nutrients status & hydration and so much more.

Together, we focus on understanding your picture, your potential influences and aim raising your migraine threshold by supporting the core systems that influence neurological stability.

When we support the systems that influence migraine, we can reduce their frequency and intensity naturally.​

 

Your Personalised Path to Migraine Management

Every migraine story is different. Whether you are at the beginning of your journey or seeking deeper guidance, I offer two supportive pathways.​ ​​

Migraine pictures can be complex and very multi factorial, together we will understand your history, presentation and aim to uncover the drivers of your migraines, increase your migraine threshold and build a tailored plan that supports your whole body. 

I help clients:

• Take a detailed case including your present and past picture, family history, medication, current supplement plan, current lifestyle and current diet and nutritional demands.

• Review your current symptoms including migraine but consider all symptoms - what is the body trying to tell us and why?

• Identify and manage triggers and aim to raise your migraine threshold and restore more optimal biochemical functioning.

• Explore body systems that may need support from nervous system, inflammation and immune response, the gut & hormones, through to other systems such as the cardiovascular system, lymphatic and endocrine systems.

• Consider inflammation and drivers

• Support hormonal balance and metabolic energy

• Build a personalised migraine toolkit designed to support you while we work to increase your threshold

• Explore broader functional insights through testing should it be needed to help us uncover factors such as hormones, gut, inflammation, genetics and lots more. 

Instead of masking symptoms, we explore root causes and design a plan that supports long-term resilience and fewer migraines. ​​Every migraine story is different. I’ll help you uncover what’s driving your symptoms and create a personalised plan designed understand and raise your migraine threshold.​

​You are welcome to book a free discovery call so I can understand your unique picture and guide you towards the most appropriate option.You can find out more HERE

raine hormonal migraine menstrual migraine magnesium glycinate

Functional Medicine Testing for Deeper Insight

In some cases, symptoms such as migraine, anxiety, poor sleep, digestive issues or pain are driven by underlying imbalances that are not always obvious on standard tests.

I offer a range of functional medicine testing options to help uncover potential contributors, including:

• Hormonal imbalances

• Gut and microbiome dysfunction

• Nutrient insufficiencies

• Metabolic and nervous system stress

Testing allows us to move from guesswork to clarity, supporting a more targeted and effective plan. You can find out more HERE 

Ongoing Support: Shopping & Resources

If you’re exploring neuromodulation devices or other supportive tools, you can visit my Shopping & Resources page for:

• Practitioner-recommended products

• Trusted devices and supplements

• Exclusive discount codes

• Resources to support your nervous system and overall wellbeing

This page is designed to help you continue your journey with confidence and informed choices.

I am a Naturopath & Nutritional Therapist offering one-to-one, in-person, or online consultations.

My Specialist areas include:

🥑 Migraines & Headaches

🥦 Female Hormonal Health & Menopause

🫐 Digestive, Gut Health & Food Intolerance

🍋 Eczema, Acne & Skin Health

🍉 Energy & Vitality (including fibromyalgia & chronic conditions)

Naturopathic Nutrition's holistic approach to health & wellness recognises the interconnection between diet, nutrition, lifestyle & overall wellbeing to support the body's natural healing processes & provide necessary nutrients to help you optimise your health, & feel your best!