Migraines, PMS and bowel movements? What’s the link?

One of the most satisfying things we do is help connect the dots for clients and show them how seemingly unrelated symptoms have the same underlying cause. 

So what do migraines, PMS and bowel movements have to do with each other. The link is critical!

Constipation is one of the most common unreported symptoms we uncover during initial consultations. While it is fairly common to see kids specifically for constipation, it is rarely what brings teens and women to the clinic and is rarely mentioned without specifically being asked. But we do see teens and women for PMS and migraines, a LOT. 

So, what’s the connection?? 

The liver, microbiome and bowels all play a role in oestrogen levels. Daily bowel movements (minimum 1 but ideally 2 or 3) are vital for helping the body detox and eliminate hormones and other toxins. 

Oestrogen stimulates mast cells to release histamine and down-regulates the enzyme that clears histamine (DAO). At the same time, histamine stimulates the ovaries to make more oestrogen. Leading to a vicious cycle of ever-increasing oestrogen and histamine. If we are not clearing excess oestrogen from the body, we can see symptoms of oestrogen dominance such as heavy periods, breast pain, fibroids, blood clots in menses and varying degrees of moodiness and irritability associated with PMS. Symptoms of excess histamine may then also occur - headaches, migraines, anxiety, hives and brain fog. To some clients this looks like the sudden onset of food allergies. Interestingly, histamine can play a role in both endometriosis and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Oestrogen is detoxed and eliminated from the body in a twostep process. Firstly, in the liver and requiring specific nutrients such as B-vitamins, selenium, and glycine. While problems can occur in this step due to nutrient deficiencies, xenoestrogens and even alcohol – that will need to be another post!

After the liver has processed it and packaged it up safely, oestrogen is then sent to the bowels for elimination from the body in stool. In the presence of unfavourable gut bacteria strains and /or delayed transit time (constipation) the oestrogen becomes reactivated and reabsorbed into the bloodstream again resulting in excess oestrogen. And the cycle continues. 

Addressing any constipation is fundamental to breaking the cycle. Any additional causes of excess oestrogen (e.g., nutrient deficiencies, birth control pill, microbiome) or histamine (e.g., excess dietary intake, chronic inflammation, alcohol, food sensitivities, microbiome) can then also be addressed. 

Causes of constipation can vary –

• Dietary intake - too little water, too little fibre, omega 3, food intolerances (commonly dairy)

• In more complex cases it might be related to mitochondrial function and muscle tone or the migrating motor complex and small bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), excess calcium, hypothyroidism or diabetes.

• One thing most clients have in common is that the gut microbiome plays a role to some degree!

By finding and addressing the root cause(s) of constipation and getting regular, ‘healthy’ bowel movements (think sausage-like, brown, smooth and easy to pass) we see improvements systemically throughout the body.