Migraine Heroes | Chronic Migraine, Hemiplegic Migraine, Migraine with aura, Vestibular Migraine

Diane Ducarme

Are you doing everything right—avoiding triggers, taking meds—yet still waking up with migraines that steal your days? You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. The Migraine Heroes Podcast is your lifeline to real, lasting relief beyond pills, guesswork, and frustration. Hosted by Diane Ducarme, who helped over 500 women finally reclaim their lives, this podcast dives into the real reasons behind your migraine symptoms—blending brain-based science with the natural healing wisdom of Eastern medicine. It's designed for chronic migraine sufferers like you, in quest for real answers. You will: - Learn how to use brain-location insights to decode your symptoms - Discover functional food strategies to restore your nervous system - Hear inspiring real-life stories from migraine heroes who found freedom. Tune in every Monday and Wednesday and tap into a fan-favorite episode now and start your journey to natural healing—because your body already holds the answers.

  1. 1D AGO

    How Perfection Patterns Could Be Worsening Your Migraines

    What if your drive to “do everything right” isn’t helping your migraines — but quietly keeping them alive? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores the hidden link between perfectionism and migraine pain — and why the very strategies you use to stay in control may be keeping your nervous system stuck in threat mode. Perfectionism isn’t just a personality trait. For migraine brains, it’s often a learned survival pattern, one that keeps stress hormones high, pain thresholds low, and recovery just out of reach. This episode gently dismantles the myth that healing requires flawless discipline — and replaces it with something far more effective: flexibility, safety, and nervous-system trust. In this episode, you'll learn: 🧠 Three specific ways perfection thinking triggers and sustains migraine attacks beyond generic “stress,” into precise nervous-system reactions 🧠 How perfectionism reshapes your brain’s pain and threat pathways over time, making migraines more frequent and harder to break 🧠 Practical, neuroscience-aligned strategies to soften rigid patterns, restore flexibility, and reduce migraine frequency without self-blame or pressure You’ll also discover why migraine brains don’t respond to force, discipline, or constant vigilance but to rhythm, safety, and permission to be human. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right and still getting migraines… this episode offers a different, kinder way forward. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com References: Perfectionism and Stress in Psychopathology (Hewitt & Flett, 2002): This foundational paper explains how perfectionistic traits amplify stress responses and emotional dysregulation, increasing vulnerability to chronic psychological and physical conditions—including stress-sensitive disorders like migraine. Read more here.A Systems Neuroscience Approach to Migraine (Brennan & Pietrobon, 2018): This review reframes migraine as a systems-level brain disorder involving sensory processing, stress circuits, and network instability, helping explain why cognitive and emotional stressors can escalate migraine attacks. Read more here.Pain Catastrophizing and Pain Outcomes (Severeijns et al., 2001): This study shows that catastrophizing thoughts independently predict higher pain intensity, disability, and psychological distress, highlighting how mental patterns can directly amplify pain perception beyond physical impairment. Learn more here. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for providing medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. For women, men, and children who suffer from migraine disease, Migraine Heroes is

    12 min

  2. 3D AGO

    5 Overlooked Ways Thyroid Issues Could Be Triggering Your Migraines

    You’ve treated the pain. You’ve tracked the triggers. You’ve adjusted food, sleep, and stress and yet migraines keep finding a way in. What if the missing piece isn’t in your head… but in your metabolism? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores one of the most overlooked drivers of migraine: the thyroid. Not as a single lab value, but as a system that sets the rhythm for your brain, your nervous system, and your tolerance to pain. The thyroid doesn’t just influence weight or energy. It acts as a metabolic pacemaker, shaping blood flow, heat production, neurotransmitter balance, and stress resilience. When that rhythm slows or becomes unstable, the migraine brain becomes far more reactive — even to triggers that once felt manageable. Blending modern neuroscience with an Eastern medicine lens, this episode unpacks why migraines often show up alongside fatigue, coldness, brain fog, pressure headaches, and that persistent feeling of running on empty. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the thyroid functions as the metabolic pacemaker for the brain and how a slowed rhythm lowers your migraine thresholdHow reduced internal “fire” contributes to dampness, heaviness, and pressure in the headFive subtle yet powerful ways a struggling metabolism signals the nervous system to trigger migraineWhy thyroid-linked migraines often feel slower, heavier, and harder to shakeHow restoring rhythm, warmth, and flow can change how your migraine brain responds This episode isn’t about diagnosing disease or blaming a single gland. It’s about understanding the deeper patterns your body is communicating and responding before those whispers become pain. If your migraines come with fatigue, cold sensitivity, brain fog, or a sense that your system just can’t keep up anymore, this conversation may finally bring clarity. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com References: Thyroid Disorders and Migraine: Clinical and Biological Links (Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025): This open-access review explores how thyroid dysfunction—including subclinical hypothyroidism—can influence migraine frequency, neurovascular regulation, and brain energy metabolism, reinforcing the close thyroid–brain connection in migraine vulnerability. Read more here.Metabolic Syndrome, Mitochondria, and Migraine (Yi et al, Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2020): This paper explores how mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic stress may link insulin resistance, inflammation, and migraine susceptibility. Learn more here.Yang-Deficiency Constitution and Chronic Pain (American Journal of Chinese Medicine): This study connects Yang-deficiency patterns in Traditional Chinese Medicine...

    11 min

  3. FEB 11

    Social Media Gut‑Healing Foods That Are Hidden Minefield for Migraines

    That kefir smoothie. The apple cider vinegar shot. The fermented veggie bowl everyone swears is “healing your gut.” What if those same foods are quietly overwhelming your migraine nervous system? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme unpacks a growing disconnect between social-media wellness trends and migraine physiology. While many foods are labeled “gut-healing,” context matters and for migraine-prone brains, stacking the wrong foods can quietly tip the system into inflammation, histamine overload, and headache. This isn’t about demonizing foods. It’s about understanding timing, quantity, and nervous-system capacity. You’ll discover: 🌿 Why foods praised as gut-healing on social media may backfire for migraine-sensitive nervous systems 🌿 How stacking “healthy” trends in one day can overload histamine, blood sugar, and stress pathways 🌿 Why migraines are often triggered not by a single food, but by accumulation and lack of context 🌿 Practical ways to spot these hidden minefields in your diet and gently reduce them We also explore how Western neuroscience and Eastern medicine arrive at the same truth: healing isn’t about more intensity, it’s about balance, sequencing, and respecting the brain’s threshold. If you’ve ever felt worse while “doing everything right,” this episode will help you recalibrate so your food choices calm inflammation instead of quietly fueling it. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com References: Histamine Intolerance: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Beyond (Jochum, 2024): This review explains how impaired histamine breakdown can lead to symptoms such as headaches, digestive distress, flushing, and migraine-like reactions, highlighting the role of enzymes like DAO and individual tolerance thresholds. Read more here.Histamine Intolerance Explained (Wikipedia): This overview summarizes histamine intolerance as a mismatch between histamine intake and the body’s ability to degrade it, helping explain why certain foods, stress, or hormonal shifts can trigger migraine-like symptoms in sensitive individuals. Learn more here.Diamine Oxidase (DAO) and Histamine Breakdown (Wikipedia): This resource outlines the role of diamine oxidase as the primary enzyme responsible for breaking down dietary histamine, offering insight into why low DAO activity may increase migraine vulnerability. Read more here.Biogenic Amines in Fermented Foods (Turna et al., Heliyon, 2024): This review details how fermentation increases biogenic amines such as histamine in foods, and how high intake may provoke adverse neurological and inflammatory responses, particularly in histamine-sensitive or migraine-prone individuals. Learn morea...

    10 min

  4. FEB 9

    Too Little Light Is Just as Dangerous as Too Much: Here’s the Truth About Migraines & Light Exposure

    Most people with migraines are warned about one thing: bright light. Screens. Sun glare. Fluorescent bulbs. But what if the real issue isn’t just too much light, what if too little light is just as destabilizing for your brain? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme unpacks the overlooked relationship between light, brain chemistry, circadian rhythm, and migraine vulnerability. Blending modern neuroscience with Eastern wisdom, this conversation reframes light not as an enemy to avoid, but as a biological signal your brain deeply depends on. You’ll discover why migraine brains struggle with both overstimulation and deprivation, and how living too far on either end quietly lowers your migraine threshold. In this episode, you’ll learn: 💡 Why both excessive light and insufficient light can trigger migraine attacks, even though most advice only focuses on brightness 💡 What neuroscience reveals about how light regulates pain pathways, sleep hormones, and brain blood flow 💡 Why indoor living, winter darkness, and screen-heavy days confuse the migraine brain more than you realize 💡 How Eastern medicine has long understood light as a regulator of energy, rhythm, and mental clarity 💡 Practical ways to use light intentionally, not aggressively to support brain stability, mood, and resilience This episode is not about hiding in the dark or forcing yourself into harsh sunlight. It’s about finding the right light rhythm, one that calms your nervous system instead of shocking it. If you’ve ever felt worse in winter, foggy after days indoors, or paradoxically triggered by both sunshine and darkness, this episode will help you finally make sense of why. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com References: Migraine Photophobia and Retinal Pathways (Noseda et al., Nature Neuroscience, 2016): Noseda and colleagues showed that migraine-related light sensitivity originates in cone-driven retinal pathways that directly activate pain circuits in the brain, explaining why even normal light can feel painful during migraine. Read more here.Effects of Light on Human Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Mood (Blume, Garbazza & Spitschan, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2019): This review explains how light exposure powerfully regulates circadian rhythms, sleep quality, and mood through retinal signaling to the brain, helping clarify why disrupted light patterns can worsen neurological sensitivity, including migraine. Learn more here. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for providing medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. For women, men, and children who suffer from migraine disease, Migraine Heroes is your go-to resource for understanding, managing, and overcoming migraine attacks. We cover all types of migraines and related headaches, including primary and secondary migraines, chronic migraines, and cluster

    11 min

  5. FEB 4

    The Weekend Paradox: Why Relaxation Can Trigger a Migraine

    You finally slow down. The emails stop. The alarm is off. The pressure lifts. And then, the migraine arrives. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme, we explore the strange and frustrating paradox of week-end migraines: why the moment you rest, your body seems to revolt. What feels like cruel irony is actually a well-documented nervous-system response, and once you understand it, it becomes something you can work with rather than fear. This episode unpacks why migraine brains don’t always respond well to abrupt shifts, even when those shifts are positive and how both Western science and Eastern medicine explain this phenomenon in surprisingly aligned ways. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “let-down” migraines happen and how sudden drops in stress hormones can destabilize a sensitive nervous systemHow the brain adapts to high pressure during the week, then struggles when that pressure suddenly disappearsThe Eastern perspective on why a sharp transition from doing to being can cause energy to surge upward instead of settlingA simple, gentle strategy to soften the transition from workweek to weekend so rest becomes restorative, not triggering This episode isn’t about avoiding rest. It’s about changing the way you arrive there. If your migraines tend to show up just when you think you’re finally safe to relax, this conversation may help you rethink weekends not as a cliff, but as a bridge. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com References: Reduction in Perceived Stress as a Migraine Trigger: Testing the “Let-Down Headache” Hypothesis: Lipton R.B and colleagues.This paper demonstrates that declines in stress (rather than high stress itself) can trigger migraine attacks, supporting the “let-down” phenomenon where the brain’s stress recovery phase is a vulnerable window for migraine onset. Read the full article here.Stress and Migraine: Interaction, Cephalalgia (Sauro K.M. & Becker W.J., 2009): This review explores how chronic stress alters pain processing, hormonal balance, and central sensitization, helping explain why stress, emotional load, and recovery phases strongly influence migraine frequency and severity. Read more here. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for providing medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. For women, men, and children who suffer from migraine disease, Migraine Heroes is your go-to resource for understanding, managing, and overcoming migraine attacks. We cover all types of migraines and related headaches, including primary and secondary migraines, chronic migraines, and cluster migraines. We dive deep into the complexities of migraine with aura and migraine without aura, as well as rarer forms like...

    14 min

  6. FEB 2

    Gut Inflammation & Migraine: Why Your Brain and Digestive Symptoms Mirror Each Other

    When your gut heats up and your brain starts to ache, it’s not random — it’s a message. A flare-up in your gut can echo upward, shifting your brain chemistry, amplifying inflammation, and lowering your migraine threshold. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme connects the dots between digestive distress and neurological pain — helping you understand why gut trouble so often becomes head trouble. You’ll discover: 🔥 How gut inflammation changes the brain — from neuroinflammation to altered neurotransmitters 🔥 Why the stress–gut–brain loop keeps symptoms cycling — and how permeability, cortisol, and inflammation feed each other 🔥 How Eastern medicine explains a “hot” or “inflamed” gut — and why cooling, calming, and restoring flow can quiet the mind 🔥 Practical ways to soothe the gut so the brain can finally settle — using food, routines, and simple nervous-system resets This episode blends neuroscience with holistic medicine to help you recognize when your gut is speaking — and how to respond before the pain reaches your brain. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com References: Gut–Brain Axis & Neuroinflammation (The Journal of Headache and Pain, 2020): This study by Arzani et al., 2020 shows how gut permeability and inflammation heighten neurological sensitivity and increase migraine risk. Read more here.Altered Gut Microbiota in Migraine (Xu et al., Nature Scientific Reports, 2023): Xu and colleagues found that individuals with episodic and chronic migraine show distinct gut microbiota signatures, highlighting a gut–brain connection influencing inflammation, pain sensitivity, and migraine frequency. Read more hereUnravelling the Gut–Brain Connection: A Systematic Review of Migraine and the Gut Microbiome (Kennedy et al., 2024): Kennedy and colleagues reviewed current research showing that gut microbiome imbalances can influence inflammation, nervous system regulation, and migraine severity, reinforcing the gut–brain axis as a key factor in migraine. Read more here.Migraine and the Gut Microbiome: Insights from Mendelian Randomization (Zhang et al., Frontiers in Neurology, 2024): Zhang and colleagues used Mendelian randomization to show genetic links between gut microbiome composition and migraine risk, suggesting that certain microbial patterns may play a causal role in migraine development. Read more a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1356974/full" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    7 min

  7. JAN 28

    Why Sleep Debt Fuels Migraine Pain and How Rest Brings Your Brain Back Online

    Ever wake up after eight hours and still feel like your mind is wrapped? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme unpacks why “sleep” and “recovery” are not the same thing — and why the brain needs true rest to restore blood flow, clear waste, and lift the fog that so many migraine-prone people live with. We explore how neuroscience and Eastern medicine both point toward the same truth: deep rest is nourishment. And when your brain doesn’t get it, everything — focus, memory, mood, and migraine thresholds — begins to fray. You’ll discover: 💤 How sleep debt quietly reduces cerebral blood flow, leading to fog, dizziness, and migraine vulnerability 💤 What your brain’s night-shift cleaning crew (the glymphatic system) does while you sleep — and why skipping its shift creates toxic buildup 💤 What Eastern medicine teaches about rest as “yin nourishment,” and why stillness is as physiologically important as sleep itself 💤 Simple ways to reclaim real rest, even if you can’t change your schedule, your stress, or your nights right now This episode blends research, lived experience, and healing wisdom to help you restore what your brain has been missing. If you’ve been sleeping — but not recovering — this one’s for you. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com References: Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance From the Adult Brain (Science, 2013): Xie et al. showed that deep sleep accelerates glymphatic clearance, helping the brain remove metabolic waste that builds up during wakefulness. Read more here.Sleep Deprivation and Endothelial Function (Frontiers in Physiology, 2021): Short-term sleep loss impairs endothelial function, reducing blood flow regulation and increasing vulnerability to brain fog and migraines. Read more here.Mild Sleep Restriction and Oxidative Stress in Women (Scientific Reports, 2023): Even mild nightly sleep restriction (1.5 hours) increases oxidative stress in women, amplifying inflammation and migraine risk. Read more here.The Foundations of Chinese Medicine — Giovanni Maciocia (Elsevier, 2015): Maciocia explains how deep sleep nourishes Yin, restores Blood, and calms the Shen — aligning classical TCM theory with modern neuroscience on restorative rest. Read more a href="https://shop.elsevier.com/books/the-foundations-of-chinese-medicine/maciocia/978-0-7020-5216-3" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    10 min

  8. JAN 26

    When Over-thinking Hurts: How Mental Noise Triggers Migraine Pain

    Your mind races, loops, analyses, plans, replays — and somewhere in the background, the pressure in your head starts building. For many people, migraines don’t begin with a food trigger or a weather shift… they begin with thoughts that won’t turn off. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores the link between mental noise and physical pain — and why a busy mind can be just as triggering as a stressful day or a skipped meal. We dive into neuroscience, the lived experience, and the Eastern-medicine understanding of the “wind of the mind” — the invisible force that stirs tension, drains energy, and pushes the brain toward migraine. You’ll discover: 💭 How chronic overthinking reshapes your stress and pain circuits, turning mental loops into neck tension, jaw tightness, and migraine pain 💭 Why the brain’s default mode network (DMN) becomes hyperactive in overthinkers — and how science is finally explaining the ancient wisdom of mental stillness 💭 How Eastern traditions calm internal ‘wind’, grounding an overactive mind through breath, routine, ritual, and gentle sensory anchors 💭 Practical steps to interrupt mental spirals, reduce cognitive load, and find more internal quiet — even if your mind feels “always on” This episode blends Western neuroscience and Eastern philosophy to help you understand why your thoughts can trigger your symptoms — and what you can do to reclaim stillness, clarity, and ease from the inside out. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com References: Mindfulness & the Brain: Harvard Medical School (2018) explains how mindfulness reshapes neural pathways involved in stress, mood, and pain regulation — offering meaningful tools for calming the migraine brain. Read more here.Increased connectivity of the pain matrix in chronic migraine (Lee et al., 2019): This resting-state fMRI study shows that people with chronic migraine have heightened connectivity in key pain-processing brain regions, helping explain why pain becomes more persistent and easily triggered. Read more here.Traditional Chinese Medicine Foundations: Giovanni Maciocia’s The Foundations of Chinese Medicine (2015) outlines classical patterns such as Liver Qi Stagnation, internal wind, and phlegm misting that mirror modern understandings of neurological dysregulation in migraine. Read more here. Disclaimer: This

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Are you doing everything right—avoiding triggers, taking meds—yet still waking up with migraines that steal your days? You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. The Migraine Heroes Podcast is your lifeline to real, lasting relief beyond pills, guesswork, and frustration. Hosted by Diane Ducarme, who helped over 500 women finally reclaim their lives, this podcast dives into the real reasons behind your migraine symptoms—blending brain-based science with the natural healing wisdom of Eastern medicine. It's designed for chronic migraine sufferers like you, in quest for real answers. You will: - Learn how to use brain-location insights to decode your symptoms - Discover functional food strategies to restore your nervous system - Hear inspiring real-life stories from migraine heroes who found freedom. Tune in every Monday and Wednesday and tap into a fan-favorite episode now and start your journey to natural healing—because your body already holds the answers.

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