Around 5 million Americans experience at least one migraine every month. If you suffer from migraines, contact Noemi Quintanar, ND, RM, MT, at Pristine Naturopathic Medicine, in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Quintanar delves into the root causes of your migraines and offers customized, naturopathic therapies to reduce or eliminate your migraines by addressing the condition that causes them. To learn more, call the office or book an appointment online today.

request an appointment

What is a migraine?

A migraine is a collection of debilitating neurological symptoms. While you may associate migraines with intense, throbbing headaches that affect one side of your head, migraines cause a variety of disabling symptoms such as:

  • Sensitivity to light, sound, and fragrance
  • Visual disturbances such as auras, halos, and blurry vision
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Tingling or numbness in your extremities or face

You may have a completely different set or severity of symptoms than another person. You can experience different types of migraines, which are usually identified by the predominant symptom.

What causes migraines?

A wide range of factors can contribute to migraines. For example, your migraines may be caused by irregular dilation and constriction of the blood vessels in your brain. They may also be triggered by changes in your brain chemicals and nerve pathways. Fluctuations in hormones, such as those caused by your menstrual cycle or pregnancy, can also contribute to migraines.

Additionally, your lifestyle can increase your risk of migraines. For example, certain foods such as dairy, wheat, eggs, and some food dyes and preservatives can trigger migraines. Your migraines may also be due to the medications you take — many migraine medications produce a rebound effect and release analgesic and ergotamine compounds that are present in many daily migraine sufferers.

How are migraines treated?

Dr. Quintanar provides customized, naturopathic remedies to both relieve your migraine symptoms and address the underlying conditions that lead to your pain. She begins your treatment with a comprehensive consultation, asking about your personal and family medical history, diet, exercise habits, and menstrual cycles. She may also test for allergies, food intolerances, vitamin deficiencies, and hormone imbalances.

Dr. Quintanar often combines a variety of therapies to reduce and eliminate your migraines. For example, she may recommend adjusting your diet and adding certain vitamin supplements to it. Some of the supplements that often relieve migraines include Wobenzym, vitamin B6, and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).  

If she finds a hormone imbalance during your initial consultation, she may offer hormone therapy if it’s a safe treatment option for you.

Dr. Quintanar might also suggest physical treatments such as acupuncture, massage, chiropractic treatments, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). She customizes your treatment plan to address your needs and the factors that contribute to your migraines.

Call Pristine Naturopathic Medicine or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about available treatments for migraines.