Migraine: Stop Chasing the Headache, Go Upstream to the Root Causes

A billion people have migraine, and most of us are asking the wrong question about it. In this video I stop chasing the headache and go upstream. I walk through a root-cause framework for migraine: the nutrients, bloods, sleep and fundamentals that sit beneath the attacks, and where the evidence is solid versus where it is thin. — What you’ll learn — • Why 'how do I stop this headache' is the wrong starting question • What the evidence actually says about magnesium, riboflavin and omega-3 • The blood tests worth thinking about: iron, B12, folate, vitamin D, thyroid, zinc • Why sleep and obstructive sleep apnoea matter more than people assume • The blood pressure drug and CGRP angle, and what it does and doesn't promise If this is useful, subscribe. This is general information from my clinical experience and the published evidence, not personal medical advice — please speak to your own doctor about your situation. — Chapters — 0:00 Answering the wrong question 3:05 Why is the building on fire? 3:12 The upstream framework 20:45 The questions that belong upstream — Sources & references — • Migraine — second most disabling neurological condition in adults — GBD 2021 Neurological Disorders, Lancet Neurology 2024 (via Cephalalgia 2024) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1... https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/... • UK migraine cost — ~£12bn/year to the economy — Martins et al., J Health Econ Outcomes Res 2023 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles... https://migrainetrust.org/wp-content/... • Magnesium supplementation reduces attack frequency and severity — Talandashti et al., Neurological Sciences 2024 (22-RCT dose-response meta-analysis) https://link.springer.com/article/10.... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39404... https://link.springer.com/article/10.... • Trial: 2mg folic acid + B6 + B12 cut migraine disability 60%-›30% at 6 months — Lea et al., Pharmacogenet Genomics 2009;19(6):422-8 (PMID 19384265) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19384... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles... • One in six OSA patients has migraine (not just morning headache) — Błaszczyk et al., Sleep Medicine Reviews 2024 (23 studies, 15,402 patients) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38056... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science... • ACE inhibitors & ARBs have RCT evidence for migraine prevention, independent of BP effect — Øie et al., Lancet Neurol 2025; Schrader et al., BMJ 2001 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/la... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12503... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles... • Riboflavin (B2) 400mg: ~60% responded vs ~15% — endorsed by American Academy of Neurology — Schoenen et al., Neurology 1998; AAN/AHS Guideline (Holland et al., Neurology 2012) https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22529... https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/prov... — Important context — This describes a single clinical observation, not a general treatment recommendation. On this — “High-dose omega-3 produced largest reduction of any intervention tested” — the broader scientific evidence is currently mixed. Individual responses can differ from population-level results. Always discuss with your own clinician. This describes a single clinical observation, not a general treatment recommendation. On this — “Iron-deficiency anaemia linked to 76% higher risk of chronic headache” — the broader scientific evidence is currently mixed. Individual responses can differ from population-level results. Always discuss with your own clinician. This describes a single clinical observation, not a general treatment recommendation. On this — “Underactive thyroid as a missed migraine amplifier” — the broader scientific evidence is currently mixed. Individual responses can differ from population-level results. Always discuss with your own clinician. This describes a single clinical observation, not a general treatment recommendation. On this — “Sleep-apnea found in non-obese, non-snoring m Medical disclaimer: This video is for general information and education only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for a consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your own doctor or another qualified clinician about any medical condition or before making any decision about your health. Never disregard professional medical advice, or delay seeking it, because of something you have watched here. ▶ Watch next — Migraine Relief: The Hidden Factor Doctors Miss! #shorts:    • The first thing I check in every migraine ...