Dr. Ali McMillan ND

08/17/2026

Let's try something a little different.

I've spent years having one-on-one conversations with patients about migraines, and I've realized that many people have the same questions.

So instead of giving a formal presentation, I'm inviting you to an informal evening of conversation.

We'll have tea, we'll talk about migraines, and I will bring you up to date with our new ways of thinking about migraines and answer your questions.

No PowerPoint.
No sales pitch.
No expectation that you already know anything about migraines.

Just a relaxed conversation about what we know today and how we can better understand this complex neurological condition.

🫖 Tuesday, September 22nd | 6:30 PM
📍 Reflective Soul Therapy & Wellness

Register here: https://zurl.co/y4YqE

08/17/2026

"Chocolate gives me migraines."

Maybe… but maybe what actually triggered your migraine was skipping lunch.

Here's how it often happens:
1. You miss a meal
2. Your blood sugar drops
3. You crave chocolate or something else sweet to raise your blood sugar
4. A migraine develops

It's easy to blame the chocolate because it was the last thing that happened before the migraine. But in many cases, the real trigger may have occurred hours earlier.

This is one of the reasons I encourage patients to track the timeline of their migraines, not just the last thing they ate.

Modern migraine care is less about creating long lists of "forbidden foods" and more about understanding your unique migraine patterns.

Have you ever blamed a food for a migraine, only to realize later that something else may have been going on?

08/14/2026

Healthcare isn't about choosing between "natural" and "pharmaceutical." It's about finding the right tool for the right person at the right time.

My approach is simple: listen carefully, look at the evidence, and build a treatment plan that fits you. Your needs. Your values. Your safety. Your goals. 💚

08/14/2026

08/12/2026

When symptoms start before the headache portion of a migraine, it is easy to assume these symptoms are causing your migraine. But sometimes what we think is a cause is really just an early symptom or the result of an early symptom.

08/10/2026

Monday Migraine Minute #1

One recent change in migraine medicine has been recognizing the difference between triggers and prodrome symptoms.

A trigger is something that lowers your migraine threshold and increases the chance of an attack.
A prodrome is the beginning of the migraine itself.

That's why people sometimes think:
- "Chocolate caused my migraine."
- "My neck triggered my migraine."
- "Bright lights caused my migraine."

In some cases, those things weren't the cause at all; they were simply the first signs that your migraine had already begun.

Learning your prodrome symptoms is one of the most valuable things you can do as someone living with migraines. It can help you recognize attacks earlier, understand your patterns, and start treatment sooner.

Over the next few Mondays, I'll be breaking down some of the most common migraine myths and helping you better understand what's really happening in your brain.

06/23/2026

You could be drinking water right now.

When you’re well hydrated:
✔️ Your heart pumps more efficiently
✔️ Digestion runs smoother
✔️ Joints stay cushioned
✔️ Kidneys flush waste effectively
✔️ Skin looks healthier

It’s a simple habit with a big impact. Small changes add up, and this is an easy one.

— Dr. Ali McMillan, BSc, ND

06/10/2026

Many people assume they know how much alcohol they drink.

In reality, most of us underestimate it.

A large restaurant glass of wine may count as nearly 2 standard drinks. A few drinks over the weekend can add up quickly.

The research on alcohol has changed significantly over the last decade. We now know that many of the previously claimed health benefits of moderate drinking likely do not exist, and even lower levels of alcohol consumption can increase health risks over time.

I recently wrote an article discussing:

• How much alcohol is considered low-risk
• What counts as a standard drink
• Controlled drinking versus abstinence
• When it may be time to seek additional support

You can read the full article here: gentlemedicine.ca/how-much-alcohol-is-too-much

Have you ever measured what you consider "one drink" at home?

06/09/2026

Burnout is often associated with work, but it can happen anywhere prolonged stress and responsibility exist.

Parenting, caregiving, emotional labour, and relationships can all become overwhelming when someone is constantly giving without enough recovery, support, or recognition in return.

Burnout is not a reflection of weakness or character. More often, it is a sign that the demands being carried have exceeded the resources available to support them.

Support matters, and no one is meant to carry everything alone.

05/19/2026

Hydration advice often becomes unnecessarily rigid.

If you dislike plain water, you do not need to force yourself to drink it all day long to stay hydrated.

Adding natural flavour with citrus, berries, cucumber, mint, or ginger can make hydration much more enjoyable and sustainable.

And despite what social media sometimes suggests, tea and coffee still contribute to your daily fluid intake. Moderate caffeine intake is only mildly diuretic for most people.

The “best” hydration strategy is usually the one you can realistically maintain consistently.

What’s your favourite thing to add to water?