Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a recognized trigger of cluster headache and migraine in some people. MSG acts as a neurotransmitter, stimulating the NMDA receptors in nerves. The NMDA receptors are excitory - they stimulate other nerves to fire. NMDA is also involved in the transmission of pain.

Amphetamine and the decongestant Pseudoephedrine (Pseudofed) also increase NMDA/glutamate activity and may trigger in susceptible individuals.

Some Dietary factors that work against NMDA/glutamate include Theanine in green tea, and okra. In the case of okra, the inhibition of glutamate is due to the flavone compounds present in the vegetable.

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Bibliography

Storer RJ, Goadsby PJ. Trigeminovascular nociceptive transmission involves N-methyl-D-aspartate and non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors.
Neuroscience. 1999;90(4):1371-6. PMID:10338304 (cache)

Neurosci Res. 2006 Apr 6; Inhibitory effect of Total Flavone of Abelmoschus manihot L. Medic on NMDA receptor-mediated current in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Cheng XP, Qin S, Dong LY, Zhou JN.

Thorne Monograph on Theanine

Neurotoxicology. 2006 Mar 14; Increase of glutamate/N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor immunodensity in the dentate gyrus of rats following pseudoephedrine administration. Nudmamud-Thanoi S, Thanoi S, Sobhon P.


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