Migraine Building Blocks: Nutrition and Hormones Course

Explore the nutritional, genetic, and hormonal drivers of migraine through a functional neuroscience lens. This course provides clinicians with evidence-based strategies to assess dietary triggers, metabolic dysfunction, and hormonal influences in migraine care.

Adam Harcourt

Level:

Specialist

Credit Hours:

Price:

1380

(

% off)

1380

Description

Mastering Migraine: Nutritional and Hormonal Considerations explores migraine as a complex neurobiological disorder influenced by nutrition, genetics, metabolism, and hormonal regulation. This course presents migraine as a dynamic “brain state,” emphasizing altered neuronal excitability, brainstem and hypothalamic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and impaired sensory processing. Participants will examine the role of dietary factors such as caffeine, ketogenic and low-glycemic diets, histamine intolerance, glutamate excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and sodium balance in migraine initiation and chronification. The program integrates nutrigenomic insights, including MTHFR variants, sulfotransferase activity, DAO and HNMT function, and TRP channel genetics, to support individualized clinical decision-making. Hormonal influences such as estrogen modulation, menstrual migraine, HPA axis dysfunction, and stress physiology are addressed throughout the course. Clinicians will learn to interpret relevant laboratory findings and apply evidence-informed nutritional and lifestyle strategies to improve migraine outcomes.

View syllabus

What you’ll learn:

Explain migraine as a neurobiological “brain state” involving altered neuronal excitability and sensory processing.

Evaluate the impact of caffeine consumption and withdrawal on migraine frequency and treatment response.

Analyze the clinical evidence supporting ketogenic, low-glycemic, DASH, vegan, and elimination diets in migraine management.

Identify genetic polymorphisms (e.g., MTHFR, DAO, HNMT, TRP channels) that influence migraine susceptibility and nutritional response.

Assess the role of histamine, glutamate, and oxidative stress in migraine pathophysiology.

Describe the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction, micronutrient deficiencies, and migraine chronification.

Integrate hormonal influences, including estrogen modulation, menstrual migraine, and HPA axis dysfunction, into clinical decision-making.

Interpret relevant laboratory findings to guide personalized nutritional and lifestyle protocols for migraine patients.

Syllabus

Components

Foundations of Migraine Neurophysiology
- Introduction to migraine as a disorder of altered neuronal excitability, ion channel dysfunction, and sensory processing, establishing migraine as a modulated brain state rather than a purely vascular condition.
Brainstem, Trigeminal, and Autonomic Network Dysfunction
- Examination of brainstem nuclei, trigeminovascular pathways, and autonomic asymmetries that contribute to pain generation, hypersensitivity, and migraine chronification.
The “Brain State” Model of Migraine
- Exploration of migraine as a persistent dysfunctional neural state involving hypothalamic and brainstem gating of sensory inputs, emphasizing central modulation over peripheral triggers.
Caffeine as a Neuromodulator in Migraine
- Review of caffeine’s effects on adenosine receptors, cerebral blood flow, excitatory neurotransmission, and its dual role as both acute treatment and driver of migraine chronification.
Caffeine Withdrawal and Neural Adaptation
- Discussion of caffeine cessation, receptor up-regulation, rebound vasodilation, and short-term withdrawal symptoms as part of restoring neurovascular stability.
Ketogenic Diet and Cortical Excitability Modulation
- Presentation of ketogenic diet research demonstrating reductions in migraine frequency, normalization of cortical habituation, and improved mitochondrial energy metabolism.
Ketogenesis, Mitochondria, and Neural Energy Supply
- Analysis of how ketone metabolism enhances mitochondrial efficiency, reduces neuroinflammation, and stabilizes neuronal firing thresholds relevant to migraine prevention.
Genetic Influences on Nutritional Neuromodulation
- Overview of how genetic polymorphisms affect neurotransmitter metabolism, sulfation pathways, and individual susceptibility to dietary migraine triggers.
Histamine Pathways and Migraine Susceptibility
- Examination of histamine production, degradation (DAO, HNMT), receptor activation, and the role of histamine intolerance in triggering neurogenic inflammation and headache.
Glutamate, Excitotoxicity, and Sensory Overload
- Discussion of glutamate as a primary excitatory neurotransmitter in migraine, including genetic variations affecting glutamate clearance and cortical hyperexcitability.
Micronutrients and Ion Channel Regulation
- Review of magnesium, B-vitamins, and riboflavin in regulating NMDA receptors, calcium channels, mitochondrial enzymes, and neuronal energy balance.
Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Neuroprotection
- Exploration of oxidative stress in migraine pathophysiology and the role of antioxidants in reducing cortical spreading depression and trigeminal activation.
Dietary Patterns and Neural Load Management
- Evaluation of dietary approaches (vegan, DASH, low glycemic index) and their effects on migraine frequency through metabolic, inflammatory, and autonomic mechanisms.
Metabolic, Immune, and Lifestyle Modifiers of Migraine
- Integration of obesity, insulin resistance, physical activity, autoimmune conditions, and stress as modulators of migraine severity and neural sensitization.
Endocannabinoid System and Pain Modulation
- Examination of the endocannabinoid system as a key neuromodulatory network influencing nociception, inflammation, neurotransmitter release, and individualized migraine treatment strategies.

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Also includes

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Months Medline Access

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Months of Access to Complete the course (from the date of purchase)

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Ability to resubscribe to keep access after

months

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Eligibility for Neurology Fellowship and Diplomate Examinations after the completion of 300+ hours of study

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Certificate of Completion