Headache

Symptoms

The main symptom of headache, as is clear from the name, is pain in the head. There can be different areas of pain, depending upon the type of headache. The pain can be mild, moderate or severe and can affect the whole head, a part of the head, fore head or eyes. Other associated symptoms of headache can be vomiting sensation, difficulty in sleeping, anorexia and a feeling of uneasiness.

Causes

It is generally said that headache is a headache for the physician. But it is not so in Ayurveda because here we try to find out the root cause of the headache and give treatment to cure it. So the treatment in Ayurveda is not just the pain killers but we find the cause and then give the treatment. It is because of this principle that Ayurveda is able to help patients suffering from chronic and severe migraines.

Headache can be caused due to sinusitis, hypertension, constipation, over working, mental stress, indigestion, acidity, sleeplessness and fever. Many times it is also present as a symptom of some other disease. Taking too much tea, coffee, aspirin, excessive smoking, nervous weakness, anemia, deficiency of oxygen in the blood, watching television closely, reading with insufficient light or reading in a moving train or car can also cause headache.

As there are so many different causes for headache the treatment can not be pain killers in all the cases. The pain killers can kill the pain but the cause still remains in the body and the patient rarely gets permanent relief. This is not the case in Ayurveda where the cause is treated along with the symptoms and the patient gets permanent relief. According to Ayurveda eleven types of headaches are caused due to aggravation of different doshas. The aggravation may be of one, two or all the three doshas(Tridosha)

Remedies

1. As mentioned above to get permanent relief it is necessary to find out the cause of the headache and then treat it. It is not possible to give treatment for all different types of headaches therefore we are suggesting some general remedies.
2. Take clove, cinnamon, and almond in equal quantity, say, 5 gms. each. Grind them together with a little water to make a paste. Apply this paste on the fore head.
3. The paste of sandal wood powder can also be applied on the fore head to get relief.
4. Mix one gram clove powder in 5 ml. of cinnamon oil. Apply this mixture on the fore head or on the site of pain.
5. Take about four drops of ghee (clarified butter ) on your palm. Mix 3 or 4 pieces of saffron and rub it for two minutes. The saffron does not dissolve in ghee but its qualities go into it. Take out the saffron and put two drops of ghee in each nostril. This can be done twice a day.
6. Take about 20 ml. milk and about 5 gms. ginger powder. Mix them together and put one or two drops in each nostril. This can be done twice a day.
7. Take a wet cloth and wrap it around the neck. This relieves headache.
8. Oil massage on the head also relieves the tension and headache. Sesame oil, almond oil, mustard oil or ghee (clarified butter) can be used for massage.
9. Take 5 ml. of almond oil and boil it. When it cools down, put two drops in each nostril.
10. Meditation and relaxing the mind also helps in treating headache.
11. If the patient is having vomiting sensation it should not be suppressed. Try to vomit. Trying some simple techniques to vomit is ok.
12. Some fragrances, aromas or incenses can be used depending on the choice of the patient. Sometimes music which is sweet and soothing is also helpful.
13. If the patient is constipated, he should take some laxatives or enema with warm water.

Diet and regimen

Hot cow milk is very good if taken. The patient should take light foods which do not aggravate the doshas. Simple cooked vegetables without oil, vegetable juices and soup, fruits like apple, orange, mango, grapes and fruit juices should be given to the patient. Some sweets and milk products can be taken moderately according to the digestive capability of the patient.

Rice, salad and buttermilk is good. The patient can eat nuts in small amount. Fried foods, meat, spicy foods and foods which are not easily digested should not be taken. Yogurt should be avoided specially in the night. It is also not good to take sour foods. The patient should take rest. He should not be exposed to cold, heat and rain. The natural urges in the body like sneezing, passing stool and urine, hunger, thirst, sleep, breathing and yawning etc. should not be suppressed forcefully. The patient should also try to keep the mind free from anxiety, anger, mental tension, worry etc. and should try to relax the mind and take a sound sleep.

 
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