Fifteen years into my chiropractic career, you’d think I’d heard it all. But one of my favorite things about being a clinician is that I haven’t; and probably never will. Every day, my patients teach me something new, and I take that seriously.
Today was a perfect example.
A patient came in to talk about her history of migraines, but instead of just reporting symptoms, she told me about something she discovered on her own: a possible link between histamine levels and migraine frequency.
She had read through the Johns Hopkins guidelines on a diet for histamine-sensitive individuals, explored countless patient reports online about how this diet helped others, and decided to try it for herself.
Her results? A significant reduction in migraine episodes.
And what really opened my eyes was the list of foods and supplements she discovered were triggering for her; things I (and most people) usually consider “healthy”:
- Spinach
- Certain nuts
- Magnesium malate supplements
- Some common probiotic strains
She switched to magnesium citrate, started using a histamine-free probiotic, and followed the Johns Hopkins histamine-sensitive diet. The difference in her quality of life was remarkable.
Why This Matters
As a clinician, I have training, experience, and years of continuing education. But I’m not above learning from my patients. In fact, patient experience is one of the most powerful sources of clinical insight we have.
When someone takes ownership of their health, experiments safely, and shares what works, they help me become a better doctor; not just for them, but for everyone I serve.
I believe in a two-way street:
- I bring evidence-based care and my clinical expertise.
- My patients bring their unique life experience, intuition, and sometimes their own research.
When those two meet, we find solutions together.
Staying Humble, Staying Curious
Health care works best when we stay curious. When we keep asking questions. When we avoid dismissing something simply because we didn’t learn it in school or it doesn’t fit neatly into a textbook.
Every time a patient teaches me something, I get to pass it forward. Today’s lesson about histamine sensitivity will be shared with other patients who might benefit. Tomorrow, I’ll learn something else.
Fifteen years in, I’m still a student. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.