Migraines, Inflammation, and Epstein-Barr: The Missing Connection

by Shannyn Pearce

If you’ve lived with migraines for years, you know the routine.
Medications. Elimination diets. Hormone testing. Supplements. Stress management. Maybe even being told, “Your labs look normal.”

That was my story too.

I chased every possible solution, and while some things helped temporarily, nothing ever truly stuck. My migraines kept coming back. It wasn’t until I addressed Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) that I finally began to get a handle on them.

And once you understand what EBV does in the body, the connection makes a lot of sense.

How Epstein-Barr Can Trigger Migraines

Epstein-Barr is best known for causing mono, but for many people it doesn’t fully leave the body. Instead, it can remain chronic or reactivated, quietly driving inflammation for years.

Here’s how that matters for migraines:

1. EBV drives inflammatory cytokines
Chronic Epstein-Barr stimulates the immune system to release inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines can cross the blood-brain barrier, leading to inflammation inside the brain itself, a known contributor to migraine activity.

2. EBV lives in nerve tissue
Epstein-Barr can reside in nerve roots, triggering neural inflammation. That means inflammation of the nervous system, not just muscles or joints. When nerves are inflamed, migraine pathways are more easily activated.

3. EBV raises histamine levels
EBV is strongly associated with mast cell activation and elevated histamines. High histamine levels can dilate blood vessels, irritate nerves, and lower the migraine threshold, making attacks more frequent and severe.

When you put these together, you get a perfect storm:

  • Brain inflammation

  • Nervous system irritation

  • Histamine overload

For many people, migraines aren’t random. They’re a downstream effect of chronic immune activation.

If Epstein-Barr is driving immune dysfunction underneath the surface, no amount of symptom management will fully resolve the problem. That’s why so many people feel like they’ve “tried everything” without lasting relief.

The Problem With Epstein-Barr Testing

One of the biggest issues I see is incomplete or misleading EBV testing.

Many people are told:

  • “You’ve had EBV in the past.”

  • “It’s dormant.”

  • “Your doctor already checked that.”

But standard panels often miss reactivation, chronic infection, or immune response patterns that actually matter clinically.

Without the right markers, Epstein-Barr gets ruled out far too quickly.

How to Properly Test for Epstein-Barr

Understanding whether EBV is active, reactivated, or contributing to your symptoms requires specific antibodies interpreted correctly. 

I created a free PDF guide that walks you through what you need to know.

👉 Click  here to download my free guide: How to Properly Test for Epstein-Barr

Back to Dr. Shannyn's Blog