Migraine can be defined as a paroxysmal ailment, accompanied
by a severe headache, generally on one side of the head, and
associated with disorders of the digestion, the liver and the
vision. It usually occurs when a person is under great mental
tension or has suddenly got over that state. Patient type:
Persons who suffer from this disease have a particular type of
personality. They are intelligent, sensitive, rigid, and
methodical, and tend to be perfectionist. Migraine comes on
suddenly. The head and neck muscles, reacting from continuous
stress, become overworked. The tight muscles squeeze the
arteries and reduce the blood flow. Then when the person
relaxes suddenly the constricted muscles expand, stretching
the blood vessels walls. With each heartbeat, the blood pushes
through these vessels and expands them further, causing
intense pain. Ayurvedic point:
From Ayurveda perspective, migraine headaches are due to a
disorder in tridosha - the mind-body constitution. Although it
is possible to get headaches from disorders in vata, pitta, or
kapha, migraines frequently occur when systemic pitta moves
into the cardiovascular system, circulates, and affects the
blood vessels around the brain. The blood vessels dilate due
to the hot, sharp quality of pitta. This, in turn, creates
pressure on the nerves, resulting in migraines. Pitta
disorders are characterized by the red complexion and eyes,
light sensitivity, burning sensation, anger, irritability, and
nose bleeds. Liver and blood toxicity are often associated
with these symptoms.
So, the treatment involves following the recommendations for
pitta pacifying foods, herbs and lifestyle.
Avoid hot, spicy foods, fermented foods, and sour or citrus
fruits. A pitta-soothing diet is effective both for migraine
relief and as a preventive measure.
Symptoms
There is a definite pattern of a migraine. The pain is on only
one side of the head and often radiates from the eye.
The right side of the head may be affected in one attack and
the next time, the concentration of pain may be on the left
side. Migraine attacks are usually preceded by a short period
of depression, irritability, and loss of appetite. Some
person’s get attacks daily, others every month or every two or
three months. The main symptoms of migraine are a pounding
pain; nausea and vomiting .The blood vessels on the affected
side of the head become prominent and pulsating. A migraine
gives a fair warning before striking. The patient sees flashes
of light or back spots or only parts of the objects in front
of him. He may also feel numbness or weakness in an arm or
leg, or on one side of the face.
Root causes
Migraine may also results from a variety of causes such as low
blood sugar, allergy, infection, excessive intake of certain
drugs a weak constitution, low energy, nutritional deficiency,
overwork, improper sleep and rest, excessive smoking and
drinking. Menstruation in women is also the important causes
of migraine. This forms of migraine usually decreases
menopause.
Remedies
Home remedies like Vegetable juices, fruit juices, grapes
Avoid constipation
Try to avoid over stress and strain
Preventive Breakfast: If you are one of those individuals
who get migraines at midday, which then
subside later in the evening, there is a preventive
approach available from ayurveda. It is simple,
but effective. (Recommended by Vasant Lad, an ayurvedia
doctor.)
First thing in the morning, take 1 ripe banana. Peel it,
chop it into pieces, and add 1 teaspoon warm ghee, 1
teaspoon date sugar, and a pinch of cardamom on top. This is
delicious, and it will help to reduce pitta and prevent a
headache from arising.
Purgatives (such as aloe vera gel, rhubarb, and fennel),
liver cleansers (such as bhamiamalaki and brahmi),
sandalwood oil on the third eye, temples, heart, and under
the nose, medicated oils or ghee, using gudachi, bala, and
ashwagandha; fomentation, and saturating snuff are also
advised.
Long-term healing includes chyavan prash, brahmi, and
ashwagandha.
Avoid Direct Sun. Because migraine headaches are
predominantly a pitta disorder, they are affected by the hot
sun. When the sun rises, its hot, sharp, penetrating rays
increase pitta in the cardiovascular system and cause the
dilation of the blood vessels in the brain, which results in
the painful headaches. So avoid direct exposure to the sun.
If you have to go out, use an umbrella or wear a hat or
other protection from the sun.
Walks in the full moon and by water; and flower gardening
reduce Pitta causes of migraines.
Soothing Nose Drops. Once a headache has developed, putting
about 5 drops of warm brahmi ghee in each nostril will help
relieve the pain.
Head MassageShiro dhara (hot oil head massage) is also
beneficial. Recommended Yoga Postures: Moon Salutation is
especially good for migraines. Yoga postures such as the
Hidden Lotus, Boat pose, Bow pose, Spinal Twist, Palm Tree
pose, and Standing on the Toes are also good to combat
migraines. A Cooling Pranayama: Do a cooling breathing exercise
such as shitali. To do it, curl your tongue into a tube.
Inhale slowly through the curled tongue, swallow, and then
exhale normally through the nose, keeping the mouth closed.
You will feet the incoming air cool your saliva, your
tongue, and the oral mucous membranes.
This breathing exercise will lower the body temperature, and
make the saliva cool. It also helps to quench thirst, and
improves digestion, absorption, and assimilation.
If you can't curl your tongue into a tube, an alternative
way to perform shitali is with your teeth lightly clenched
together and your tongue pressed up against the teeth. The
air is then inhaled through the teeth.
Some people feel pain when coot air is drawn through the
teeth; keeping your tongue against your teeth will provide
warmth and prevent this discomfort.
A Healing Yawn. When you have a migraine, gently squeeze
your earlobes, pulling the ear down, and do the act of
yawning. This will relieve the pressure on the blood vessels
and help to pacify the headache.
Avoid overexertion.
Migraines from Vata Imbalance:
As mentioned migraines can also originate due to imbalance in
vata dosha. The symptoms of vata imbalance are: anxiety,
depression, dry skin, constipation, and extreme pain. The
recommended treatment is: triphata as a purgative, jatamanshi,
brahmi, and rest. Shiro dhara (hot oil head massage) is also
recommended
Migraines from Kapha Imbalance:
This condition is characterized by dull headache, heaviness,
fatigue, nausea, white or clear phlegm, vomiting, and excess
salivation. Respiratory disorders are often associated with
these symptoms. The recommended treatment is: trikatu, brahmi,
tulsi tea, inhaling eucalyptus oil, vomiting, exercise, nasal
snuff of ginger or pepper. Shiro dhara (hot oil head massage)
is also recommended.
The right side of the head may be affected in one attack and
the next time, the concentration of pain may be on the left
side. Migraine attacks are usually preceded by a short period
of depression, irritability, and loss of appetite. Some
person’s get attacks daily, others every month or every two or
three months. The main symptoms of migraine are a pounding
pain; nausea and vomiting .The blood vessels on the affected
side of the head become prominent and pulsating. A migraine
gives a fair warning before striking. The patient sees flashes
of light or back spots or only parts of the objects in front
of him. He may also feel numbness or weakness in an arm or
leg, or on one side of the face.
