Correcting migraine headaches is a perfect example of how working with a Functional Medicine, Certified Clinical Nutritionist can improve your health. The medical model of controlling migraines is a very different approach, using potentially damaging medications to control the symptom of a vascular headache.
A Functional Medicine Clinical Nutritionist will work to identify why the migraine headaches happen, correct the reason for them and then prevent the headaches all together. This is done by understanding all of the possibilities that can cause an acute headache, realizing that the migraine sufferer may have more than one of the potential problems and then working through that list of concerns for correction.
For example, Dr. Shaw has corrected migraine symptoms with patients who had food sensitivities, toxic metal syndrome, hormone imbalances, stress triggers, musculoskeletal triggers, functional liver and digestive imbalances, fungal infections, functional thyroid problems, genetic imbalances in the Histamine Pathway and environmental stressors like Lyme disease or Mold Exposure Illness. The goal is to clearly identify which of those factors or what combination of factors contribute to the onset of the headache, remove the trigger and live a normal life headache free.
In working with a Functional Medicine, Certified Clinical Nutritionist you will hear the word “functional” quite a bit. What we are referring to is that not all problems show up in your blood work, and there may be a more subtle change in your system that is not bad enough to raise the red flags for your medical doctor. Dr. Shaw specializes in working with functional changes in your body to correct symptoms. A migraine is a perfect example.
A classic migraine patient in Dr. Shaw’s office will present with subtle hormone changes, a few food sensitivities, a number of mineral imbalances and stress triggers all at the same time. When the combination of those four functional imbalances are corrected, we do more than “treating the symptom of migraines” we prevent them from happening all together.
It is important to note that when your medical history and health related goals are explored, your consultations are held directly with Dr. Shaw, not an untrained individual, a staff member, a questionnaire or a computer program. You will not be signing up for a “program” and paying money up front for services not yet rendered. Your health care journey in our office is unique to your specific needs. — Dr. Conan Shaw Functional Medicine, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Pittsburgh PA