MIGRAINE AND AYURVEDA

In Ayurveda, migraine is compared with sooryavarta, Soorya means sun, avarta means affliction or blockage. The headache gets worsened during sunrise, reaches a peak during noon hours, and reduces in the evening. The origin of migraine is due to pitta dosha, which is dominant in the noon hours. Suitable lifestyle changes and diet hold the key to treating migraine.

Causes –

1. Suppression of natural urges – like urine, stool, tears, etc.
2. Indigestion
3. Intake of polluted food
4. Dry, pungent, and salty food
5. Exposure to sunlight for a prolonged period
6. Oily and spicy food
7. Anger, jealousy, grief, stress

Migraine is not about constant headaches, there will be frequent attacks when there is a triggering factor. It may be related to either diet or lifestyle. They are

1. Alcohol or smoking
2. Sudden stopping of intake of coffee and tea
3. Changes in hormone levels during a woman’s menstrual cycle or with the use of birth control pills
4. Changes in sleep patterns – excess sleep or less sleep
5. Heavy Exercise or other physical stress
6. Excessive stimulation or stress on sense organs by loud noises, bright lights, strong perfumes/odors
7. Fasting
8. Stress and anxiety

When we indulge more in sweets, oily and fried food, spicy and masala gravy, staled food, etc would increase either Kapha dosha or Pitta dosha in the body and causes obstruction in the channels of the head region, which lead to migraine headache. When Pitta or Kapha gets increased in the channels, they start blocking the movement of vata, which in turn causes pain. The pain is not constant due to this reason.

Nature of the Headache –

1. Pain over the eyebrows.
2. Headache worsening on exposure to sunshine.
3. Throbbing pain.
4. Pulsating pain, pain increasing with every pulse.
5. One-sided or two-sided headaches, lasting for a few hours to up to 2 – 3 days.
6. Pain may radiate to the neck and even to the shoulder on the same side.

Treatment –

Based on the symptoms Ayurvedic consultants decide which treatment would be beneficial, some of the treatments are

1. Shirolepa – Application of medicated paste all over the scalp.
2. Shiroabhyanga – Application of medicated oil all over the scalp.
3. Shirodhara – Pouring of medicated oil or decoction or milk or buttermilk over the forehead.
4. Nasya – Instillation of medicated oil through the nostrils to clear the blockage.
5. Shiro basti – withholding oil for some time on the scalp.
6. Panchakarma – Cleansing methods based on the dosha level.

Medicines –

1. Migrakot tab
2. Godanti mishran
3. Pathyakshadhatryadi kashayam
4. Saptamruta loha
5. Triphala choorna
6. Shirahshooladi vajra ras
7. Migrakot oil
8. Anu taila
9. Triphaladi kera tailam

Home Remedies –

1. A fresh juice prepared from tender leaves of jasmine or pomegranate added with a pinch of salt, instill 2 drops of this juice in the nostrils two times a day (Morning and evening) This reduces the severity of headache in migraine.

2. Consume a paste prepared with the juice of durva grass and licorice powder for at least 20-30 days, in the afternoon time. That will reduce the severity of the headache.

3. Soak coriander seeds in 1 cup of water overnight. Drink that water in the morning, which helps to reduce the headache.

4. Daily morning eat 5 soaked raisins and almonds.