Mast cells, the secreters of histamine in allergic reactions, also secrete heparin at the same time. In fact, cattle and swine intestines are the sources of commercial heparin. The crude source of heparin became dangerously apparent in recent scandals over the adulteration of Chinese heparin raw materials with hypersulfated chondroitin sulfate. But why is heparin secreted along with histamine in mast cells and what does this have to do with migraine headaches and glucosamine?

A basic observation is that migraineurs who receive heparin or glucosamine treatments for other symptoms, see relief from their headaches. Heparin treatments can produce dramatic effects that may be shortlived. Glucosamine may require substantial amounts taken orally for four to six weeks before migraines abate. Heparin and glucosamine are both effective, but how do they work?
Heparin and glucosamine therapies are both awkward. Heparin is rapidly internalized and degraded by cells. Glucosamine is also rapidly taken up and processed. In both cases, ingested heparin or glucosamine do not enter the blood stream. I think it is highly unlikely that either taken orally will have their effects directly in the brain or joints, simply because they are commonly metabolized molecules. Glucosamine may be a building block for heparin and other glycosaminoglycans, but it just passes directly into glucose metabolism, so that logical connection is unimportant in joint pain or migraines. I covered glucosamine in more detail as an anti-inflammatory molecule in another article, so here I will only emphasize that glucosamine is very effective for prophylaxis of migraine headaches.

Mast cells and histamine release have been implicated in migraine, but we have to return to the question of why heparin is normally released at the same time. From my own experiments with chondrocytes, the cartilage secreting, developmentally related sisters of the arterial endothelial cells, I would expect that inflammation inhibits heparin synthesis. Prevailing inflammation may reduce the production of heparin by mast cells and neuronal cells. As a result, triggering mast cells may release histamine into heparin-depleted brain tissue. If heparin normally serves to control the spread of the inflammatory signal from mast cells, then the absence of adequate heparin may lead to a spreading inflammation, a kind of neurological shock and awe. Addition of circulating heparin may temporarily repair the blood brain barrier, just as it does the lining of the bladder with interstitial cystitis or the kidneys in diabetes or the intestines in protein lossing enteropathy.
It appears that migraines are based on chronic inflammation of the brain and an associated compromise of the blood brain barrier. The source of the chronic inflammation may be shared with other degenerative and autoimmune diseases that lead to migraine attacks. Underlying infections may be hard to identify. The solution is to reestablish the blood brain barrier by eliminating chronic inflammation. Separate reports indicate that glucosamine, omega-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants are all effective in reducing migraines. It seems obvious that the first step would be to begin an anti-inflammatory lifestyle (including exercise, dental hygiene, etc.) supported by an appropriate diet.
6 comments:
I bumped across your post, wow!! it really makes sense, from what i can understand.I have been searching for years for a little bit of hope that there was someone/somthing out there that did explain that heparin helped migraines. I have been on lovenox for 7 years and the doctors keep looking at me crossed eyed when i tell them it helps me. If you get a chance i have really would like to ask you a few questions. it would be a wonderful change to actually to be able to talk to someone who belives me :) Thanks Missy---hottiehill@charter.net
hottiehillbill@charter.net---sorry
Missy
Hi there,
I found your article after searching online after a hospitalization where I received heparin. My migraines were knocked out for about a year after that.
I'd had about 10 headache days a month for at least 15 yrs prior to that- so the difference was pretty noticeable when they weren't happening and I went online to see if those two things could be related.
They gradually started up again after that long absence though.
Then, 6 months later, after starting glucosamine chondroitin (because of some persistent pain in a knee), the migraines suddenly stopped again.
Not only have my migraines been absent (going on 2 months now)- but I got the nerdish delight to understand why with your article, and found some more in medical journals.
Thanks so much, kind sir!
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I was reading your latest blog post, which led me here. Very interesting. I've been eating a diet along the lines of what you advocate for about 7 years now. Diet alone has greatly reduced the severity and frequency of my migraines, but lesser chronic headaches remain an issue. One of the things I've noticed in the last couple years is that fermented foods, ie sauerkraut and others, whatever else their benefits, don't help my head. Maybe a histamine issue? I have very recently noticed that an old school antihistamine like benedryl, really helps tame a headache. I am starting to think mast cells are deeply implicated in all this. I'm going to try the glucosamine. I've never tried that.
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