The Migraine Miracle

June 15, 2017

Find your path to a migraine-free life in the “Ultimate Guide” by headache expert, best-selling author, and longtime migraine sufferer, Dr Joshua Turknett, MD.

After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience from Wesleyan University and his Medical Degree from Emory University, he went on to neurology residency training for four years at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. Josh has been practicing neurology in the Atlanta, Georgia area since 2005.

As a migraine sufferer, Josh takes great satisfaction in helping fellow migraineurs take control of their headaches. Josh has a special interest in the role of nutrition and lifestyle in neurological illness. He blogs on these subjects and more and has also authored a best-selling book called The Migraine Miracle.

Outside of his professional life, Josh enjoys playing a wide range of sports and string instruments with a special fondness for both tennis and the 5-string banjo. His love for the 5-string banjo has developed into several notable endeavours including an album of banjo music for children, and an online learning company called Brainjo, where he teaches people how to play the banjo and create a musical brain by hacking the science of neuroplasticity.

Some of my favourite Josh quotes:

“Seduced by our powers of reductionism”

“Just play the game!”

Here’s the outline of this interview with Josh Turknett, MD:

[00:00:15] Ancestral Health Symposium 2014 talk - Migraine as the Hypothalamic Distress Signal.

[00:00:54] Josh's migraine story.

[00:03:00] Book: The Migraine Miracle.

[00:03:29] Migraine symptoms.

[00:06:15] Warning signs: prodrome.

[00:06:55] Aura phenomenon.

[00:07:53] 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men suffer from migraines.

[00:09:00] Standard of care - drugs.

[00:10:37] Triptans.

[00:12:12] Causes of migraines.

[00:13:06] Distress signal of an overwhelmed hypothalamus.

[00:14:52] Sleep and circadian rhythms.

[00:15:03] Metabolic flexibility.

[00:17:00] Reactive hypoglycaemia.

[00:17:48] The migraine threshold chart.

[00:18:30] Inflammation.

[00:20:54] Obesity and migraines.

[00:23:15] Physicians for Ancestral Health 2017 talk - “How to Win at Angry Birds: Moving Towards a More Efficient Practice Model” Josh Turknett, MD.

[00:25:03] “Seduced by our powers of reductionism” -- Josh Turknett, MD

[00:30:15] The best diet for migraineurs.

[00:31:50] Ketogenic diets.

[00:32:24] Oliveira, Marcela de Almeida Rabello, et al. "Effects of short-term and long-term treatment with medium-and long-chain triglycerides ketogenic diet on cortical spreading depression in young rats." Neuroscience letters 434.1 (2008): 66-70.

[00:34:02] The Three Pillars: Eliminate Rebound, Eliminate Mismatch, Establish Metabolic Flexibility.

[00:36:08] Gut symptoms: blog post.

[00:36:53] eBook: The Ultimate Guide.

[00:37:52] Support group: Facebook group and meal plans Primal Provisions.

[00:38:32] Support group: Migrai-Neverland.

[00:39:08] The wall of inspiration.

[00:40:23] Teaching the banjo: Brainjo.

[00:41:45] Gourd banjo. Also see, Why the Banjo is Best.