What Is a Migraine? Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Why It Matters

Can yoga actually help relieve headaches and migraines?In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves sits down with Amber Richmond, owner of Cambio Yoga, to explore how yoga can reduce headache frequency, ease tension, and improve overall well-being.Amber shares her personal journey with headaches and explains how yoga goes beyond stretching—impacting stress levels, breathing patterns, posture, and nervous system regulation. You’ll learn how simple practices like diaphragmatic breathing, deep rest (Yoga Nidra), and mindful movement can shift your body out of fight-or-flight and into healing mode.Whether you’re new to yoga or already practicing, this episode will give you practical tools to help manage headaches naturally and build long-term resilience.What you’ll learn: How stress contributes to headaches and migraines  Why breathing techniques can calm your nervous system  The role of posture (like forward head position) in headache pain  What types of yoga are best for beginners or chronic pain  How “deep rest” (Yoga Nidra) can accelerate recovery  How to use yoga beyond the mat to prevent headachesNovera: Headache Center

If you suffer from headaches or migraines, this episode breaks down three simple, practical exercises that could help reduce your symptoms—starting today.Dr. Taves shares the “low-hanging fruit” strategies used at Novera Headache Center that have helped many patients experience real relief without relying solely on medication.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why chin tucks can relieve tension at the base of your skullHow a foam roller pec stretch improves posture and reduces strainThe power of breathing exercises to calm your nervous system and decrease headache frequencyThese techniques are simple, accessible, and designed to fit into your daily routine—even if you’re currently dealing with chronic pain.While headaches and migraines can be complex, these foundational habits may be the missing piece in your recovery.👉 Try them consistently and see what changes.Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Jono Taves shares the three most important lessons he’s learned after a decade of helping patients with chronic headaches and migraines.If you’ve ever felt frustrated navigating the healthcare system, relying on medication, or still searching for answers about your migraines, this conversation will challenge how you think about head pain.Dr. Taves explains why migraines may not be the spontaneous neurological events many people are told they are, how common treatments like Botox and nerve ablations reveal important clues about the true source of pain, and why relief from a treatment doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve found the root cause.You’ll also learn why some of the most debilitating migraine problems can sometimes have surprisingly simple solutions—especially when underlying issues in the neck, jaw, and upper spine are properly addressed.If you're looking for a more practical and empowering approach to understanding migraines, this episode will help you rethink what might actually be causing your headaches and what steps you can take next.Novera: Headache Center

Daylight Saving Time can disrupt your sleep—and that disruption can directly affect headaches and migraines.In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Jono Taves explains why sleep quality is one of the most important foundations for reducing headache and migraine frequency. As the clocks change and we lose an hour of sleep, many people experience increased fatigue, higher stress levels, and a lower tolerance for pain.Dr. Taves breaks down how sleep influences your pain threshold, inflammation, neurotransmitters, and nervous system regulation, and why poor sleep can make headache triggers hit harder.You’ll also learn practical strategies to improve sleep quality, including optimal sleep positions, breathing techniques, and simple habits that support a healthier circadian rhythm.If headaches or migraines tend to worsen around daylight saving time, this episode will help you understand why—and what you can do to protect your sleep and raise your body’s resilience to pain.In this episode you’ll learn:Why sleep is critical for headache and migraine recoveryHow poor sleep lowers your pain tolerance and increases inflammationWhy daylight saving time can trigger more headaches and migrainesThe best sleep positions to reduce neck tension and painHow nasal breathing and sleep routines improve sleep qualitySimple ways to protect your circadian rhythm and nervous systemNovera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Jono Taves explains why having a clear migraine treatment plan is one of the most important factors in long-term healing.Too often, headache and migraine sufferers are given medication without a clear explanation of why their symptoms are happening or how to move forward. Dr. Taves shares a personal story from his newborn son’s recent hospital stay to illustrate how powerful it is when a provider explains the “why” and lays out a clear direction.You’ll learn:Why uncertainty makes migraines feel worseThe difference between symptom suppression and root-cause careWhy time can work for you instead of against youHow the Three-Spoke framework identifies the source of pain, barriers to healing, and systemic health contributorsWhy medication alone often fails to solve chronic headachesIf you’ve ever felt stuck, confused, or dismissed in your migraine care, this episode will help you understand why having a plan changes everything.Novera: Headache Center

Can your vision be driving your headaches, dizziness, or brain fog—even if you have 20/20 eyesight?In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves sits down with neuro-optometrist Dr. Michael Saxerud to explore how the brain processes vision and why visual dysfunction is often an overlooked root cause of headaches and migraines.They break down the difference between eyesight and brain-based vision, and how misalignment between the eyes, vestibular system, and neck can create symptoms like:Headaches and migrainesLight sensitivityDizziness and nauseaBrain fogPoor balance or clumsinessReading fatigue and difficulty concentratingDr. Saxerud explains how tools like yoked prism lenses, peripheral occlusion (tape on glasses), and syntonic light therapy help recalibrate the brain’s sense of “self in space,” reducing stress on the nervous system and improving functionIf you’ve been told your eyes are “fine” but you still struggle with headaches or visual discomfort, this episode will open your eyes to a powerful, non-medication approach to relief.Novera: Headache Center

The supplement industry is a mess—and for people with headaches and migraines, choosing the wrong supplements can mean wasted money or even worsening symptoms.In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves is joined by functional medicine nutritionist Hallie to break down how to choose supplements that actually work. They explain why most supplements are poorly regulated, how to spot high-quality brands, and which supplements are essential for people with headaches and migraines.You’ll learn:Why many popular supplements don’t contain what they claimThe importance of third-party testing and absorption ratesThe four daily “low-hanging fruit” supplements most people needHow nutrient deficiencies can drive headaches and migrainesWhy medical-grade supplements often outperform big-box brandsIf you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or skeptical about supplements, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework to make smarter choices—and support your body at the cellular level.Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeLive Nourished Coaching – Functional medicine nutrition and root-cause health coaching with Hallie https://livenourishedcoaching.com/Three International – Advanced, high-absorption nutraceutical supplements discussed in this episodeNovera: Headache Center

Gut health can be a hidden driver of chronic migraines—especially when it shows up as sugar cravings, inflammation, and hormone imbalance. In this episode, Dr. Taves and functional medicine nutritionist Hally Brooks explain how gut dysfunction and microbiome imbalance can lower your migraine threshold, why sugar cravings are often biology-driven (not just willpower), and how PCOS/estrogen dominance can overlap with headache patterns.At Novera, we teach that lasting migraine relief requires addressing three essential components. This episode is a deep dive into Component #3: overall health.Novera: Headache Center

If you’re looking for long-term migraine relief (not temporary fixes), this episode breaks down the three essentials you can’t overlook.In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains Novera Headache Center’s Three-Spoke Framework for true, root-cause migraine relief:The source of pain (often the neck, jaw, and shoulders)Why you got here (hidden barriers like airway issues, hypermobility, or past injuries)Your general health threshold (sleep, stress, gut health, hormones)You’ll learn why triggers like food, weather, exertion, or hormones don’t fully explain migraine pain—and why addressing only one piece of the puzzle often leads to short-term relief that doesn’t last.Novera: Headache Center

How treatable are your headaches or migraines — and what determines how quickly you can see relief?In this episode, Dr. Jono Taves breaks down why all headaches are treatable, but not all follow the same recovery timeline. Drawing from over a thousand real patient cases, he explains how symptom frequency, pain patterns, and overall health help predict how the body responds to care.Dr. Taves walks through the key differences between constant daily headaches and intermittent migraines, explains the role of central sensitization, and shows why headaches that start in the neck often respond more quickly when the mechanical source is addressed. He also clarifies why many headache diagnoses are based on symptoms rather than root cause — and how that affects long-term outcomes.If you’ve ever wondered whether your headaches are “too chronic,” “too complex,” or “too ingrained” to improve, this episode offers clarity, realistic expectations, and hope grounded in clinical experience.Novera: Headache Center