Reference list

1 Foreword

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3.1 An Integrative Approach

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3.1.1 Finding Your Own Insights and Strength Through Deep Learning

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3.2 Signaling Molecules and the Cockpit

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3.2.1 Signaling Molecules

• Borsook D, Maleki N, Becerra L, McEwen B. Understanding migraine through the lens of maladaptive stress responses: a model disease of allostatic load. Neuron. 2012;73(2):219-234.
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3.2.2 The Hypothalamus - The Cockpit of Your Body

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4.1 A Neuron in Trouble

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4.1.1 Fuel Shortage (Neuroglycopenia)

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4.1.2 Electrolyte Imbalance

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4.1.3 Oxidative Stress

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4.1.4 Oxygen Shortage or CO₂ Excess

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4.1.5 Neurotransmitter Problems

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4.2 Programming

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4.2.1 Neuroplasticity

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4.2.2 The Role of the Insular Cortex in Programming

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4.2.3 Why Your Migraine Is Unique

• Rosignoli C et al. Applying a biopsychosocial model to migraine: rationale and clinical implications. J Headache Pain. 2022;23(1):100.

4.2.4 How This Insight Can Help You

• Bliss TVP, Lømo T. Long-lasting potentiation of synaptic transmission in the dentate area of the anaesthetized rabbit. J Physiol. 1973;232(2):331-356.
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4.3 The Trigeminal Nerve

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4.4 Interpretation in the Brain

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4.5 The Storm Before the Calm

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4.6 Bringing It All Together

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5.1.1 From Unrest to a Brain in Distress

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5.1.2 The Autonomic Nervous System: Accelerating or Slowing Down

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5.1.3 Hypersensitivity: When Your Brain Decides Differently About What Matters

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5.1.4 The Safety Balance: How Safe Does Your Brain Really Feel?

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5.1.5 Emotional Conflict

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5.1.6 Character Traits

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5.1.7 Survival Mode: When There's Simply No Other Way

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5.1.8 Early Life Stress

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5.1.9 Transgenerational Imprinting

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5.1.10 Biochemical Reasons for Unrest in the Brain

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5.1.11 The Connection with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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5.2 Metabolic Inflexibility

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5.2.1 Metabolic Inflexibility

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5.2.2 Carbohydrates

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5.2.3 Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Resistance

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5.2.4 Insulin Resistance and the Selfish Brain

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5.2.5 How Sugars Are Stored

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5.2.6 Making the Switch

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5.2.7 Ketones

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5.2.8 Lactate

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5.2.9 Flexibility in (Peri)menopause

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5.2.10 Getting Started?

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5.3 Low-Grade Inflammation

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5.3.1 Modern Unprecedented Challenges

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5.3.2 Dormant Pathogens

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5.3.3 The Pitfall of Anti-Inflammatories

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5.3.4 (Almost) Everything Leads to a Leaky Gut

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5.3.5 How the Immune System Keeps Itself Going

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5.3.6 Biochemical Reasons for Low-Grade Inflammation

• Arnson M, Amital H, Shoenfeld Y. Vitamin D and autoimmunity. Ann Rheum Dis. 2007;66(9):1137-1142.
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5.3.7 Methylation and Estrogens

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5.3.8 Summary

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5.4 Medication-Dependent Headache

• Becerra L, Bishop J, Barmettler G, et al. Triptans disrupt brain networks and promote stress-induced CSD-like responses in cortical and subcortical areas. J Neurophysiol. 2016;115(1):208-217.
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5.4.1 My Medication-Free Attack Plan

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5.5 Dissociation

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5.5.1 Losing Touch with Your Inner World

• Krause-Utz A, Elzinga BM. Altered Interoception in Dissociative Disorders: Clinical and Neurobiological Perspectives. Curr Opin Psychol. 2018;28:162-169.
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5.5.2 How a Healthy Perception System Works

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5.5.3 When Dissociation Disrupts This System

• Porges SW. The Polyvagal Perspective. Biol Psychol. 2007;74(2):116-143. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.009.
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5.5.4 The Road to Recovery

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5.5.5 Dissociation During an Attack

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5.5.7 Feeling as the Way Forward

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5.6.1 What Is Histamine?

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5.6.2 Histamine in the Brain

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5.6.3 Food as a Source of Histamine

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5.6.4 The Microbiome as an Ally

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5.6.5 Leaky Gut: An Open Door to Trouble

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5.6.6 Too Little Methylation Currency

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5.6.7 The Leaky Nasal Barrier

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• McLean WHI, Palmer CN, Irvine AD, et al. Filaggrin gene defects and risk of developing allergic sensitisation, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis. BMJ. 2009;339:b2433.
• Osawa R, Akiyama M, Shimizu H. Filaggrin gene defects and the risk of developing allergic disorders. Allergol Int. 2011;60(1):1-9.
• Tan SP, Brown SB, Griffiths CEM, Weller RB, Gibbs NK. Feeding filaggrin: effects of l-histidine supplementation in atopic dermatitis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017;10:403-411. PMID 29042806.
• Topical Corticosteroid Application and the Structural and Functional Changes to the Epidermal Barrier. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2004;12(4):39-49.

5.7 Mitochondrial Exhaustion

• Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6th edition. Garland Science; 2014.
• Fila M, Szabo N, Lorincz L, et al. Mitochondria in migraine pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(18):4574.
• Mitchell P. Chemiosmotic coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 1966;41(3):445-502.
• Spinelli JB, Haigis MC. The multifaceted contributions of mitochondria to cellular metabolism. Nat Cell Biol. 2018;20(7):745-754.
• Terrin A, Sacconi S, Bassi MT, et al. The relevance of migraine in the clinical spectrum of mitochondrial disorders. Sci Rep. 2022;12:4007.
• Yorns WR Jr, Hardison HH. Mitochondrial dysfunction in migraine. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2013;20(3):188-193.

5.7.1 What Are Mitochondria?

• Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6th edition. Garland Science; 2014.
• Alexeyev M, Shokolenko I, Wilson G, LeDoux S. The maintenance of mitochondrial DNA integrity--critical analysis and update. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2013;5(5):a012641.
• Attwell D, Laughlin SB. An energy budget for signaling in the grey matter of the brain. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2001;21(10):1133-1145.
• Belanger M, Allaman I, Bhatt DK. Brain energy metabolism: focus on astrocyte-neuron metabolic cooperation. Cell Metab. 2011;14(6):724-738.
• Cavalier-Smith T. Origin of mitochondria by intracellular enslavement of a photosynthetic purple bacterium. Proc Biol Sci. 2006;273(1596):1943-1952.
• Dache ZAA, et al. Mitochondria-derived cell-to-cell communication. Cell. 2023;186(12):2573-2590.
• Fila M, Szabo N, Lorincz L, et al. Mitochondria in migraine pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(18):4574.
• Gray MW. Mitochondrial Evolution. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2012;4(9):a011403.
• Liu D, et al. Intercellular mitochondrial transfer as a means of tissue regeneration. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2021;6(1):65.
• Mitchell P. Chemiosmotic coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 1966;41(3):445-502.
• Spees JL, et al. Mitochondrial transfer between cells can rescue aerobic respiration in mammalian cells with nonfunctional mitochondria. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006;103(5):1283-1288.
• Spinelli JB, Haigis MC. The multifaceted contributions of mitochondria to cellular metabolism. Nat Cell Biol. 2018;20(7):745-754.
• Terrin A, Sacconi S, Bassi MT, et al. The relevance of migraine in the clinical spectrum of mitochondrial disorders. Sci Rep. 2022;12:4007.
• Torralba D, et al. Mitochondria Know No Boundaries: Mechanisms and Functions of Intercellular Mitochondrial Transfer. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2016;4:107.
• Yorns WR Jr, Hardison HH. Mitochondrial dysfunction in migraine. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2013;20(3):188-193.
• Zhang M, et al. Inter- and intracellular mitochondrial communication: signaling, transport, and transfer. Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2024;29(1):22.
• Zimorski V, Ku C, Martin WF, Gould SB. Endosymbiotic theory for organelle origins. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2014;22:38-48.

5.7.2 Oxidative Stress: The Rust in Your System

• Inoue M, et al. Mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species and its role in aerobic life. Curr Med Chem. 2003;10(23):2495-2505.
• Tirichen H, et al. Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species and Their Contribution in Chronic Kidney Disease Progression Through Oxidative Stress. Front Physiol. 2021;12:627837.
• Xu X, et al. Mitochondria in oxidative stress, inflammation and aging. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2025;10:1-15.
• Zhang Z, et al. The impact of oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetes. Front Endocrinol. 2023;1112363.
• Zia A, et al. The Roles of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Reactive Oxygen Species in Aging and Senescence. Curr Mol Med. 2022;22(1):37-49.

5.7.3 Nutrient Deficiencies

• Clemente-Suárez VJ, et al. Impact of Vegan and Vegetarian Diets on Neurological Outcomes. Nutrients. 2025;17(4):743.
• Golubnitschaja O, et al. Mini-encyclopedia of mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals. EPMA J. 2024;15(2):e358-389.
• Łuszczki E, et al. Vegan diet: nutritional components, implementation, and health benefits. Front Nutr. 2023;10:1294497.
• Pekala J, et al. L-carnitine - metabolic functions and meaning in humans life. Curr Drug Metab. 2011;12(7):667-678.
• Teucher B, Olivares M, Cori H. Enhancers of iron absorption: ascorbic acid and other organic acids. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2004;74(6):403-419.
• Tippairote T, et al. Combined Supplementation of Coenzyme Q10 and Other Nutrients for Mitochondrial Health. Biomolecules. 2022;12(11):1521.
• Wang T, et al. Vegetarian and vegan diets: benefits and drawbacks. Eur Heart J. 2023;44(36):3423-3437.
• Wesselink E, et al. Feeding mitochondria: Potential role of nutritional supplementation. Mitochondrion. 2019;46:101-117.

5.7.4 The Modern World as a Mitochondrial Enemy

• Afzal A, Noor A, Gohar S, et al. Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals on mitochondrial dynamics and related diseases. Front Pharmacol. 2024;15:1375137.
• Bailey DC, Todt CE, Burchfield SL, et al. Chronic exposure to a glyphosate-containing herbicide reduces antioxidant capacity and increases acetylcholinesterase activity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2018;57:46-52.
• Balali-Mood M, Naseri K, Tahergorabi Z, et al. Toxic Mechanisms of Five Heavy Metals: Mercury, Lead, Chromium, Cadmium, and Arsenic. Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:643972.
• Branca JJ, Morucci G, Pacini A. Cadmium-Induced Cytotoxicity: Effects on Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020;8:604377.
• Korotkov SM, Chebotareva NA, Nagradova NK, et al. Mitochondrial oxidative stress is the general reason for apoptosis in cells exposed to the toxic effects of different-valence heavy metals. Biochemistry (Moscow). 2023;88(8):975-1005.
• Miller BF, et al. Mitohormesis in Mice via Sustained Basal Activation of Mitochondrial and Antioxidant Signaling. Cell Metab. 2018;28(6):1162-1174.
• Negga R, Stuart JA, Machen ML, et al. Exposure to glyphosate- and/or Mn/Zn-ethylenebis-dithiocarbamate-containing pesticides leads to degeneration of gamma-aminobutyric acid and dopamine neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurotox Res. 2012;21:281-290.
• Pruimboom L, Muskiet FAJ. Intermittent living; the use of ancient challenges as a vaccine against the deleterious effects of modern life - A hypothesis. Med Hypotheses. 2018;120:28-42.
• Sharma PK, Agrawal V, Roy N. Mitochondria-mediated hormetic response in life span extension of calorie-restricted Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Aging. 2011;3(6):620-631.
• Wang X, et al. Mechanisms of metal-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in neurological disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(12):6517.

5.7.5 Medication Can Damage Your Mitochondria

• Charles E, et al. The antidepressant fluoxetine induces necrosis by energy depletion and mitochondrial calcium overload. Oncotarget. 2016;7(48):80298-80309.
• Choi HK, et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 on statin-induced myopathy: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7(15):e009835.
• de Oliveira MR, et al. Fluoxetine and the mitochondria: A review of the toxicological aspects. Toxicol Lett. 2016;263:81-87.
• Deichmann R, et al. Coenzyme Q10 and statin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Ochsner J. 2010;10(1):16-21.
• Hangas A, et al. Mitochondrial damage by antibiotics: mechanisms and implications for human health. J Mol Med. 2018;96(8):759-768.
• Hinson JA, Roberts DW, James LP. Mechanisms of acetaminophen-induced liver necrosis. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2010;(196):369-405.
• Kalghatgi S, et al. Bactericidal antibiotics induce mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in Mammalian cells. Sci Transl Med. 2013;5(192):192ra85.
• Mahmud T, Rafi SS, Scott DL, et al. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Arthritis Rheum. 1996;39(12):1998-2003.
• McGill MR, Jaeschke H. Mechanistic biomarkers in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity and acute liver failure. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2021;17(1):11-32.
• Prajapati P, et al. Antibiotics-induced mitochondrial dysfunction: Mechanistic insight and implications. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2019;33(8):e22325.
• Ramachandran A, Jaeschke H. Acetaminophen toxicity: Novel insights into mechanisms and future perspectives. Gene Expr. 2018;18(1):19-30.
• Rundek T, et al. Atorvastatin decreases the coenzyme Q10 level in the blood of patients at risk for cardiovascular disease. Arch Neurol. 2004;61(6):889-892.
• Shu X, et al. The effect of fluoxetine on astrocyte autophagy flux and mitochondrial impairment. Cell Death Dis. 2019;10:489.
• Thai PN, Ren L, Xu W, et al. Chronic Diclofenac Exposure Increases Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Mediators, and Cardiac Dysfunction. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2021;37:25-37.
• Wang X, Ouyang Y, Pang J, et al. Ciprofloxacin impairs mitochondrial DNA replication and induces oxidative stress in human cells. Sci Rep. 2015;5:11064.

5.7.6 Infections and Inflammation

• David EA, et al. "SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein mitochondrial localization reveals host metabolic disruption." J Biol Chem. 2026;301(4):111419.
• Madsen HB, et al. "Mitochondrial dysfunction in acute and post-acute phases of COVID-19 and risk of non-communicable diseases." Communications Medicine. 2024;4(1):38.
• Montani MSG, et al. "Epstein-Barr-virus-induced impairment of autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis in monocytes." Autophagy. 2018;14(10):1731-1745.
• Parthasarathy G, et al. "New insights into Lyme disease: mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in patients with Lyme borreliosis." Free Radic Biol Med. 2015;89:251-263.
• Vernon SD, et al. "Preliminary evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction associated with post-infective fatigue after acute infection with Epstein Barr Virus." BMC Infect Dis. 2006;6:15.
• Wu D, et al. "SARS-CoV-2 targets mitochondria, exacerbating COVID-19 pneumonia." J Physiol. 2026; doi:10.1113/JP290297.
• You H, et al. "Epstein-Barr virus-driven cardiolipin synthesis sustains mitochondrial remodeling in B cell transformation." Sci Adv. 2025;11(2):eadr8837.

5.7.7 The Vicious Cycle of Energy Shortage in Your Brain

• Attwell D, Laughlin SB. An energy budget for signaling in the grey matter of the brain. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. 2001;21(10):1133-1145.
• Bélanger M, Allaman I, Bhatt PJ. Brain energy metabolism: focus on astrocyte-neuron metabolic cooperation. Cell Metabolism. 2011;14(6):724-738.
• Bentley P et al. Bioenergetics and the formation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 2006;27(12):639-645.
• Bhatt D et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction and glutamate excitotoxicity studied in primary neuronal cultures. Current Molecular Medicine. 2004;4(2):149-177.
• Bhatt D et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction underlies neuronal hyperexcitability in Alzheimer's disease models. Journal of Neuroscience. 2013;33(29):10506-10518.
• Bhatt D et al. Why Calcium? How Calcium Became the Best Communicator. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2016;291(40):20849-20857.
• de Baaij JHF, Hoenderop JGJ, Bindels RJM. Magnesium in Man: Implications for Health and Disease. Physiological Reviews. 2015;95(1):1-46.

5.7.8 From Energy Crisis to Migraine

• Charles AC, Baca SM. Cortical spreading depression and migraine. Nat Rev Neurol. 2013;9(11):637-644.
• Di Lazzaro V, et al. Migraine and neuroinflammation: the inflammasome perspective. Cell Death Dis. 2021;12:509.
• Diringer M. Neurologic manifestations of major electrolyte abnormalities. Handb Clin Neurol. 2017;141:705-713.
• Edvinsson L, Haanes KA, Warfvinge K. Does inflammation have a role in migraine? Nat Rev Neurol. 2019;15(8):483-490.
• Karatas H, et al. Spreading depression triggers headache by activating neuronal Panx1 channels. Nat Med. 2013;19(4):460-464.
• Lauritzen M, Dreier JP, Fabricius M, et al. Clinical relevance of cortical spreading depression in neurological disorders. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2011;31(1):17-35.
• Magnesium in Man: Implications for Health and Disease. Physiol Rev. 2015;95(1):1-46.
• Mitochondrial dysfunction underlies neuronal hyperexcitability in Alzheimer's disease models. J Neurosci. 2013;33(29):10506-10518.
• Pietrobon D, Moskowitz MA. Chaos and commotion in the wake of cortical spreading depression and spreading depolarizations. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2014;15(6):379-393.

5.8 Hormonal Fluctuations

• Chalmer MA, Olesen J, Hansen JA, et al. Population-Based Characterization of Menstrual Migraine and Nonmenstrual Headache in Women. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(7):e2317717.
• Ferraro D, et al. Menstrual migraine is caused by estrogen withdrawal. J Headache Pain. 2023;24:83.
• Klostranec JM, Hess CN, Zhou Q. The complex relationship between estrogen and migraines. Cureus. 2021;13(3):e13848.
• MacGregor EA. Prevalence of migraine on each day of the natural menstrual cycle. Neurology. 2004;63(2):351-353.
• Miao W, Zhu G, Song Z, Kong F. Clinical differences between menstrual migraine and nonmenstrual migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. J Neurol. 2022;269(11):5792-5804.
• Pavlović JM, Stewart WF, Bruce CA, et al. Burden of migraine related to menses: results from the AMPP Study. J Headache Pain. 2015;16:24.
• Sances G, Allais G, Nappi RE, et al. Special considerations in migraine during pregnancy and lactation. Handb Clin Neurol. 2021;182:117-129.
• Vetvik KG, MacGregor EA. Menstrual migraine: a distinct disorder needing greater recognition. The Lancet Neurology. 2021;20(4):304-315.

5.8.1 The Nuance of Estrogen

• Betz LA, et al. Mechanisms underlying estrogen regulation of serotonergic function in the brain: implications for disease. Trends Neurosci. 2016;39(6):364-374.
• Brinton RD, Yao J, Yin F, Mack WJ, Cadenas E. Estrogen regulation of glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function: therapeutic implications for prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2008;60(13-14):1504-1511.
• Chakraborty B, et al. Estrogen Receptor Signaling in the Immune System. Endocr Rev. 2023;44(1):117-141.
• Charles AC, Baca SM. Cortical spreading depression and migraine. Nat Rev Neurol. 2013;9(11):637-644.
• Ferraro D, et al. Menstrual migraine is caused by estrogen withdrawal. J Headache Pain. 2023;24:83.
• Hara Y, Waters EM, McEwen BS, Morrison JH. Estrogen Effects on Cognitive and Synaptic Health Over the Lifecourse. Physiol Rev. 2015;95(3):785-807.
• Klostranec JM, Hess CN, Zhou Q. The complex relationship between estrogen and migraines. Cureus. 2021;13(3):e13848.
• Lauritzen M, Dreier JP, Fabricius M, Hartings JA, Graf R, Strong AJ. Clinical relevance of cortical spreading depression in neurological disorders. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2011;31(1):17-35.
• Maier JA, Pickering G, Giacomoni E, Cazzaniga A, Pellegrino P. Headaches and magnesium: mechanisms, bioavailability, therapeutic efficacy and potential advantage of magnesium pidolate. Nutrients. 2020;12(9):2660.
• Miao W, Zhu G, Song Z, Kong F. Clinical differences between menstrual migraine and nonmenstrual migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. J Neurol. 2022;269(11):5792-5804.
• Mosconi L, Berti V, Quinn C, et al. Menopause impacts human brain structure, connectivity, energy metabolism, and amyloid-beta deposition. PNAS. 2017;114(16):E3662-E3671.
• Mosconi L, Daker RJ, Russell JK, Berman SE, Scherer PE, et al. In vivo brain estrogen receptor density by neuroendocrine aging and relationships with cognition and symptomatology. Sci Rep. 2024;14:62920-62940.
• Paredes S, Illanes R, Sandoval ML, et al. An Association of Serotonin with Pain Disorders and Its Modulation by Estrogen. J Pain Res. 2019;12:3029-3045.
• Pietrobon D, Moskowitz MA. Chaos and commotion in the wake of cortical spreading depression and spreading depolarizations. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2014;15(6):379-393.
• Rettberg JR, Yao J, Brinton RD. Estrogen: A master regulator of bioenergetic systems in the brain and body. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2014;35(1):8-30.
• Sances G, Allais G, Nappi RE, et al. Special considerations in migraine during pregnancy and lactation. Handb Clin Neurol. 2021;182:117-129.
• Seelig MS. Interrelationship of magnesium and estrogen in cardiovascular and bone disorders, eclampsia, migraine and premenstrual syndrome. J Am Coll Nutr. 1993;12(4):442-458.
• Stachenfeld NS. Sex hormone effects on body fluid regulation. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2008;36(3):152-159.
• Straub RH. The complex role of estrogens in inflammation. Endocr Rev. 2007;28(5):521-574.
• Zhang Y, et al. Sex steroid hormones exert biphasic effects on cytosolic magnesium ions in cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2001;37(1):93-101.

5.8.2 Progesterone: the calming buffer

• Bitran D, Shiekh M, McLeod M. Anxiolytic effect of progesterone is mediated by the neurosteroid allopregnanolone at the GABAA receptor. J Neuroendocrinol. 1995;7(3):171-177.
• Girdler SS, Klatzkin RR. Neurosteroids in the context of stress: Implications for depressive disorders. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2007;86(4):635-643.
• Graziottin A, et al. Neuroendocrine and neurosteroid mechanisms in mood disorders. Menopause Int. 2014;20(2):91-97.
• Guennoun R. Progesterone in the Brain: Hormone, Neurosteroid and Neuroprotectant. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. 2020;41:100950.
• Schiller CE, Schmidt PJ, Rubinow DR. Allopregnanolone and mood: Is GABAergic neurosteroid modulation of the stress response relevant to psychiatric disorders? Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2014;16(11):101.

5.8.3 The Balance

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• Cavalieri E, Rogan E, Chakravarti D. JNCI Monographs. 2000;2000(27):75-93.
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• Zhang X et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(16):8837.

5.8.4 Why Right Then?

• Betz LA et al. Mechanisms underlying estrogen regulation of serotonergic function. Trends Neurosci. 2016;39(6):364-374.
• Bitran D et al. J Neuroendocrinol. 1995;7(3):171-177.
• Brinton RD et al. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2008;60(13-14):1504-1511.
• Chiu H-Y et al. Pain Physician. 2016;19(1):E97-E112.
• Faubion SS, Batur P, Calhoun AH. Migraine Throughout the Female Reproductive Life Cycle. Mayo Clin Proc. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.11.027. PMID 29728203.
• Graziottin A et al. Menopause Int. 2014;20(2):91-97.
• Guennoun R. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2020;41:100950.
• Krause DN, Warfvinge K, Haanes KA, Edvinsson L. Hormonal influences in migraine - interactions of oestrogen, oxytocin and CGRP. Nat Rev Neurol. 2021. doi:10.1038/s41582-021-00544-2. PMID 34545218.
• Maier JA et al. Nutrients. 2020;12(9):2660.
• Mosconi L et al. PNAS. 2017;114(16):E3662-E3671.
• Nappi RE et al. Neurology. 2019;92(11):e1172-e1181.
• Postpartum thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis in women of childbearing age. Endocr Rev. 2001. PMID 11588143.
• Rettberg JR et al. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2014;35(1):8-30.
• Ripa P, Ornello R, Degan D, et al. Migraine in menopausal women: a systematic review. Int J Womens Health. 2015;7:773-782.
• Schiller CE et al. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2014;16(11):101.
• Seelig MS. J Am Coll Nutr. 1993;12(4):442-58.
• Stachenfeld NS. Sex hormone effects on body fluid regulation. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2008;36(3):152-159.
• Vukusic S, Marignier R. Multiple sclerosis and pregnancy in the 'treatment era'. Nat Rev Neurol. 2015. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2015.53. PMID 25896084.
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• Zhao H et al. Front Nutr. 2021;8:653765.

5.8.5 The Effect of Hormonal Contraception

• Abou-Ismail MYZ, Citla Sridhar D, Nayak L. Estrogen and thrombosis: A bench to bedside review. Thromb Res. 2020;192:40-51.
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• Li Y, et al. Natural and Synthetic Estrogens in Chronic Inflammation and Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(1):4660.
• Miao W, et al. Clinical differences between menstrual and nonmenstrual migraine. J Neurol. 2022;269(11):5792-5804.
• Peng KP, et al. Association between migraine and risk of venous thromboembolism. Headache. 2016;56(8):1290-1299.
• Pletzer B, et al. Progesterone and contraceptive progestin actions on the adult brain. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2023;234:173584.
• Pluchino N, et al. Progestogens and brain: An update. Maturitas. 2009;62(3):228-234.
• Sacco S, Merki-Feld GS, Ægidius KL, et al. Hormonal contraceptives and risk of ischemic stroke in women with migraine: a consensus statement from the European Headache Federation (EHF) and the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC). J Headache Pain. 2017;18(1):108. PMID 29086160.
• Santen RJ, et al. History of Aromatase. Endocr Rev. 2009;30(4):343-375.
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• Shi J, et al. Removal and degradation of natural and synthetic estrogens. Water Research. 2008;42(5-6):1097-1103.
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• Weinshilboum R. COMT: inheritance, polymorphisms and molecular pharmacology. Pharmacogenetics. 2003;13(7):435-451.
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• Zava DT, Duwe G. Estrogenic activity of natural and synthetic estrogens. Environ Health Perspect. 1997;105(Suppl 3):637-645.