book review
by Arthur H. Elkind, MD
The Migraine Miracle–A Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free,
Ancestral Diet to Reduce Inflammation and
Relieve Your Headaches for Good.
By Josh Turknett, MD, and Recipes by Jenny Turknett
Published in the U.S. by New Harbringer Publications.
Copyright: 2013. List price: $16.95. 219 pages.
ISBN: 978-1-60882-875-3
When I was invited to review this book, The Migraine
Miracle, I was personally interested because I have
been diagnosed with adult coeliac disease, and
have experienced this disorder since infancy. The
in the 20th century, resulting in gastrointestinal
disease. In childhood, it is described as coeliac
disease, and in adulthood, as sprue.
The second reason that I wanted to review this
book is that the subject involved my professional
interest in primary headache disorders. The primary
headache disorders include the principal types:
migraine and tension-type headaches. Throughout
my career, I specialized in treating headaches, and
during the past three decades, I have reviewed
many articles and books about headache–both
migraine and related disorders. Many authors,
including physicians, allied health professionals,
PhDs, and lay individuals have written books for the
answer to the resolution of their headache problems.
Often, the basis of their books is anecdotal.
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This particular book was written by Doctor Josh
and a migraine sufferer. It offers the reader a method
to “relieve your headaches for good.” The anecdotal
relief that he obtained was due to Doctor Turknett
following a sugar-free, gluten-free diet. Without
lingering on the numerous books that are presently
available on all types of diets (food inclusion or
avoidance, high fat, low carbohydrate, vegetarian, etc),
I will attempt to make some reasonable assessment
offer a reasonable explanation and discussion
of migraine, “sinus headache,” and “tension”
headaches. Dr. Turknett appears to dispense
with the thought that these individuals may be
experiencing tension-type headaches. He believes
all headaches of the tension-type are variants of
migraine. The author offers the usual factors causing
migraine: family history, lifestyle, and dietary.
A standard review of abortive treatments, including
over-the-counter agents and the triptans, is provided
Volume 4, Issue 1 • 2014
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