Imagine your spine, specifically the part in your upper and lower back called the thoracic and lumbar spine. These parts are like a bridge that connects to your digestive system, which controls how your stomach and intestines work. This digestive system has its own little brain called the enteric nervous system. Now, your spine and this “second brain” communicate and affect each other. If something goes wrong in your upper back, like the thoracic facet joints not working properly, it can mess up the messages going to your digestive system. This might lead to stomach problems or changes in how your gut works. Some people try chiropractic care to help with these issues and get great results, but we still need more research to fully understand how it all works and satisfy all parties.

Furthermore, dietary strategies that aim to alter the gut bacteria show some promise in addressing migraine symptoms. For instance, the use of mineralized salts, broccoli sprouts, cranberry juice, essential oils of spices (e.g. cloves, and blackcurrant), and some probiotic formulations for the treatment of HP infection have the greatest evidence of support.

To gain the greatest perspective on dealing with headaches brought on by hormones, having opinions from other healthcare providers is essential. Naturopathic doctors, holistic nutritionists, and endocrinologists can provide tremendous insight to navigate your hormones. There is never just one professional that has all the answers. Often, a team approach with multiple focuses can yield the best patient results. Be sure to ask if your chiropractor has someone in their network.