HEADACHES AND ITS AYURVEDIC TREATMENT PROTOCOL

MODERN DISEASE EXPLANATION

Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints; most people experience them at some point in their life. They can affect anyone regardless of age, race, and gender.The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that almost half of all adults worldwide will experience a headache in any given year.

Headaches can occur as a result of many conditions whether serious or not. There are a number of different classification systems for headaches. Causes of headaches may include fatigue, sleep deprivation, stress, the effects of medications, the effects of recreational drugs, viral infections, loud noises, common colds, head injury, rapid ingestion of a very cold food or beverage, and dental or sinus issues.

A headache can be a sign of stress or emotional distress, or it can result from a medical disorder, such as migraine or high blood pressure, anxiety, or depression. It can lead to other problems. People with chronic migraine headaches, for example, may find it hard to attend work or school regularly.

Headache types

The symptoms of a headache can depend on the type.

TENSION HEADACHES

Tension headaches are the most common form of primary headache. Such headaches normally begin slowly and gradually in the middle of the day.

The person can feel:

• as if they have a tight band around the head

• a constant, dull ache on both sides

• pain spread to or from the neck

Tension-type headaches can be either episodic or chronic. Episodic attacks are usually a few hours in duration, but can last for several days. Chronic headaches occur for 15 or more days a month for a period of at least 3 months.

MIGRAINES

A migraine headache may cause a pulsating, throbbing pain usually only on one side of the head. The aching may be accompanied by:

• blurred vision

• light-headedness

• nausea

• sensory disturbances known as auras

Migraine is the second most common form of primary headache and can have a significant impact on the life of an individual. According to the WHO, migraine is the sixth highest cause of days lost due to disability worldwide. A migraine can last from a few hours to between 2 and 3 days.

Rebound headaches

Rebound or medication-overuse headaches stem from an excessive use of medication to treat headache symptoms. They are the most common cause of secondary headaches. They usually begin early in the day and persist throughout the day. They may improve with pain medication, but worsen when its effects wear off.

Along with the headache itself, rebound headaches can cause:

• neck pain

• restlessness

• a feeling of nasal congestion

• reduced sleep quality

Rebound headaches can cause a range of symptoms, and the pain can be different each day.

CLUSTER HEADACHES

Cluster headaches usually last between 15 minutes and 3 hours, and they occur suddenly once per day up to eight times per day for a period of weeks to months. In between clusters, there may be no headache symptoms, and this headache-free period can last months to years.

The pain caused by cluster headaches is:

• one-sided

• severe

• often described as sharp or burning

• typically located in or around one eye

The affected area may become red and swollen, the eyelid may droop, and the nasal passage on the affected side may become stuffy and runny.

THUNDERCLAP HEADACHES

These are sudden, severe headaches that are often described as the "worst headache of my life." They reach maximum intensity in less than one minute and last longer than 5 minutes.

A thunderclap headache is often secondary to life-threatening conditions, such as intracerebral hemmorhage, cerebral venous thrombosis, ruptured or unruptured aneurysms, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RVS), meningitis, and pituitary apoplexy. Therefore, people who experience these sudden, severe headaches should seek medical evaluation immediately.

DISEASE- AYURVEDA CONCEPT

The traditional science of Ayurveda considers headache to be caused because of two primary reasons – a sensitive nervous system and impaired digestion. Improper diet and lifestyle causes aggravation of Pitta (Ayurvedic humor representing Fire) in the body. In an aggravated state, Pitta impairs digestion, leading to production of digestive impurities (known as ama). This ama gets stored in the manovahi strotas (mind channels), thereby becoming the cause for headaches.

1. Vata type of Headache - If you have throbbing, pulsating, migrating pain in the back of your head, you have a vata headache. Neck and shoulder tension, back stiffness, and signs of toxicity in the colon (like constipation), and unresolved fear and anxiety can contribute to this type of pain.

2. Pitta type of Headache - If your headache starts in your temples and spreads to the central part of your head, you can trace your problem back to pitta-related imbalances in the stomach and intestines (such as acid indigestion, hyperacidity, or heartburn) and/ or unresolved anger or irritability. Pitta headaches are characterized by shooting, burning, piercing, or penetrating pain, and may be associated with nausea, dizziness, and/or a burning sensation in the eyes. These symptoms are worsened by bright light, hot sun, or high temperatures, or by eating sour fruits, pickles, or spicy food.

3.Kapha Headache- If your headache occurs in winter or spring, strikes in the morning or evening, is accompanied by a cough or a runny nose, or gets worse when you bend down, you have a kapha headache. Usually dull and deep-seated, the pain starts in the upper frontal area of the skull, moves down to the forehead, and can creep into the sinuses. Sinus congestion, colds, flus, hay fever, and other allergies cause kapha headaches.

Caraka, one of the great triors of Ayurveda classified ‘SiraSoola’ or headache into 5, namely:-

a) Vaataja SiraSoola - Predominance of Vaata dosha

b) Pittaja SiraSoola - Predominance of Pitta dosha

c) Kaphaja SiraSoola - Predominance of Kapha dosha

d) Tridoshaja SiraSoola - Combination of all 3 doshas

e) Krimija SiraSoola - Due to worms

TREATMENT PROTOCOL

Ayurvedic therapies for migraine: 

1. Shirolepa – Application of herbal pastes which pacify Pitta Dosha like Sandalwood, camphor, Jatamansi.

2. Shiro Dhara – pouring of thin stream of liquid over scalp.

3. Taila dhara with oils like ksheerabala taila, chandanadi taila is carried out where Vata involvement is high.

4. ksheera dhara (cow milk) is done when Pitta involvement is more

5. Takra Dhara (buttermilk) is done when there is obstruction to Vata passage is to be removed.

6. Kavala graha – Oil pulling, with chandanadi taila, mahanarayana taila

7. Shirovasti – Retaining the medicated oils over the leather cap fitted over the scalp. Any vata-pitta pacifying oils are beneficial for this purpose.

8. Sneha nasya – Instillation of medicated oils can be carried to the nostrils. Shadbindu taila or Anu taila yield significant benefits in this condition.

CLASSICAL MEDICINES

PATHYAKSHADATHRYADHI KASHAYAM

KSRUTHA VATTU

SHADBINDHU TAILAM

GUGGULUTIKTHAKAM KASHAYAM

VARANADI KASHAYAM

VARANADI GRITHAM

PATHYAKSHADATHRYADHI KASHAYAM

SAPTHAMRUTHA LOHAM

AHARA VIHARAM

Diet & Lifestyle Advice

• Have warm and easily digestible foods, boiled and steamed vegetables, soups, vegetable juices, porridge, brown rice and whole-wheat flour.

• Eat fruits like apples, papayas, mangoes, grapes and pears.

• Also, 5-6 almonds or walnuts and some raisins can be eaten each day.

• Avoid refined, oily, spicy, cold and stale food.

• Avoid yogurt, especially at night.

• Avoid working for long hours continuously; take short breaks. Have a good night’s sleep in a dark room.

• Avoid overexposure to cold or hot weather. Cover your head with an umbrella, or wear a hat or cap when you go out.