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.

• 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.

  • Nutritional testing to identify deficiencies that may impact hormonal health, such as magnesium, zinc, or omega-3 fatty acids.

• 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.

• Self Paced Migraine Management Programme with flexible 1:1 Support

  • I also offer a self paced online programme called Managing Migraine which explores all aspects of migraine as well as options to add on 1:1 consultation, support and functional medicine testing - You can find out more HERE

ular Migraines: A NaturopatApproach to Menstrual Migraine

A Supportive Starting Point: My Migraine Management Self-Paced Course

My Migraine Management: A Holistic Guide to Managing Migraines self-paced course is a great place to start.

This course has been designed as an accessible and cost-effective option, allowing you to work through evidence-based education and practical strategies at your own pace over 12 months. It helps you understand:

• Migraines, their role and migraine assessment tools with my migraine management wheel and how to raise your migraine threshold, how to build your migraine toolkit and lots more.

• The role of nutrition, diet, hydration & lifestyle can interact on migraine with detailed information, support with implementation guides and handouts and over 100 migraine friendly recipes for support.

• The Role of your nervous system and how to supporting and how to support this in many ways and includes meditation, yoga, breath work and nervous system support classes as well as the role of neuromodulation devices.

• The role of inflammation, the gut, the nervous system, hormones, perimenopause, food intolerance, exervise, stress, and so much more!

Many people start here to build strong foundations with the reassurance that 1:1 support can be added at any time if deeper guidance, support, functional medicine testing options, diet & supplement reviews if and as you need them or perhaps if you would like a 1:1 consultation or roadmap written and personalised for you at any time.

You can find out more here

1:1 Consultations & Support Packages

For those who feel they would like a direct and more personalised approach or those dealing with a more complex, chronic or long-standing picture - I also offer 1:1 consultations and structured support packages.

Working together allows us to explore:

• Your full health history and symptom patterns that are unique to you

• Diet, Nutrition and lifestyle diary review

• A personalised road map written and personalised to your needs with follow up and support as we work

• Personalised supplementation and naturopathic tool support

• Ongoing guidance, adjustments and accountability

This option is ideal if you’d like a bespoke, hands-on approach with professional support throughout. You can find out more HERE

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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!