Herbal Remedies for Headache, Ayurvedic Treatment – Causes & Symptoms

16 Sep, 2021
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Headache is defined as the pain in and around the head and neck. Headache is a symptom rather than disease. Headaches are characterized by a feeling of tenseness in the neck, shoulder and scalp.

CAUSES

Stress
Lack of sleep
Physical and mental exhaustion
High blood pressure
Weak eyesight
Sinusitis
Hunger
Anemia

Listening to excessive loud music
Studying in improper light
Due to emotional strain
Overwork
Fasting
Constipation and flatulence
Due to intake of alcohol and smoking
Sudden stopping of intake of coffee or tea
Abnormal activity of certain neurons
Dilatation and constriction of blood vessels
In females, changes in the hormone levels during menstrual cycle or with the use of birth control pills

SYMPTOMS

Watering from the eyes
Bleeding from the nose
Giddiness
Pain in the back of the neck and shoulders
Pain in the head

AYURVEDIC VIEW AND TREATMENT ACCORDING TO CHANDIGARH AYURVED CENTRE

According to Ayurveda, headache is compared with Shirhashoola. It is caused due to vitiation of vata and kapha dosha in the body. When vata dosha gets obstructed by the kapha dosha in the head, it causes headache. As the pain increases in its intensity, pitta dosha also gets imbalanced and hence causes burning sensation in the head along with nausea and vomiting.

It is believed that the headache is caused due to two main reasons. One is impaired digestion and the cause is sensitive nervous system. Improper diet leads to the aggravation of the pitta dosha. The aggravated pitta dosha leads to the production of toxins in the body which is known as ama in ayurveda. This ama dosha then starts getting accumulated in the manovahi srotas and hence causes headache.

Panchkarma therapies that are indicated in shirhashool are:

Shiroabhyanga
Shirodhara
Shirobasti
Takradhara
Nasya

Single herbs beneficial in this case are:

Sariva
Yashtimadhu
Bala
Amalaki
Aloe Vera
Haritaki
Coriander
Saffron
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Ginger

Ayurvedic formulations recommended in shirhashool are:

Shirhashooladi Vajra Rasa
Chandrakala Rasa
Manasmitra Gutika
Brahmi Vati
Pathyadi Kwatha
Saptamrita Loha
Godanti Bhasma
Kamdudha Rasa
Madananand Modak Churna
Nidrodya Rasa

DIET AND LIFESTYLE

Avoid taking tea, coffee, cold drinks and other caffeinated beverages.
Baked foods, dairy foods, heavy to digest non veg foods, processed and fermented foods should be strictly avoided.
Have warm and easily digestible foods
Have boiled and steemed vegetables, soups, vegetable juices.
5-6 almonds or walnuts and some raisins can be eaten every day.
Eat fruits like apples, papayas, mangoes, grapes and pears.
Buttermilk is highly beneficial in case of headache.
Avoid working for long hours continuously
Avoid exposure towards hot and cold weather.
Perform simple exercises to reduce the intensity of headache. Move your chin upwards and downwards, left and right and bend the neck sideways towards each shoulder by turns. These exercises cause the relaxation of the muscles and hence reduces the pain.

HERBAL REMEDIES

Take one cup of warm water and add a green tea bag to it. Squeeze half a lemon and mix well. Drink this for instant relief.
Separate the outer covering of 2-3 lemons. Chop and crush the lemon’s outer covering to make a paste. Apply this paste on the forehead for quick relief from the headache.
Take two tablespoon of cinnamon powder and add water to prepare its paste. Mix well and apply on the forehead for relieving headache.
Take one glass of watermelon juice and mix one teaspoon sugar in it. Have this mixture. This is helpful in relieving headaches caused due to heat.
Prepare a paste of sandal wood and mix it with rose water and apply this over the forehead.
Grind 10-12 grains of black pepper and 10-12 grains of rice with water to make a paste. Apply this paste on the area where it pains.
Mix one fourth teaspoon of clove powder with one teaspoon of cinnamon oil. Apply this paste on the affected area for 15-20 minutes.

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