Migraine
Migraine comes under the category of Sirorgoa (diseases above neck) in ayurveda. Siroroga has been categorized into 11 in Bhavaprakashkar and Sushruthacharya. They are – vathaja, pithaja, kaphaja, rakthaja, krimija, sannipathaja, kshayaja, anantavarta, suryavarta, shankhaka, ardhavabhedaka. Out of this, ardhavabhedaka (unilateral pain) is migraine or say hemicrania. Recurring acute headache, often with variations in intensity, is experienced. Vomiting, nausea, and/or loss of appetite may come with the migraine.
There are three types of migraine – classical, non-classical and complicated.
Classical : Headache is either preceded or accompanied by sensory or speed defects and/or visual defects.
Non-classical: Only headache with no other complications.
Complicated: Neurological disturbances as described for classical migraine above persist along with headache.
Facial migraine, ophthalmic migraine, aphasic and hemisensory migraine are different variance. Yet another migraine is cluster headache. In this, severe and unilateral pain occurs near the orbit of the eye and the temple. Blockade of nostrils, eye watering and eye redness are experienced along with the pain.
The causes attributed for migraine in ayurveda are :
1 Consumption of dry foods lacking oil or ghee. 2 Post sexual intercourse. 3 Withholding of natural calls of the body system. 4 Improper digestion 5 Premenstrual period. 6 Excessive exertion or stress. 7 Bowel disorders. 8 Hypoglycemia. 9 Hyper acidity. 10 Emotional upset. 11 Certain kinds of unfriendly foods, especially processed foods.
The victims of migraine are more women than men.
Detoxification of the body and avoiding triggering factors play a major role in the treatment. Keep digestive process in order. Keep bowel system in order even by purgation, if needed. Nasya is an effective method. After gentle massage of forehead, administration of fomentation with herbal oil on forehead, sinuses and nostrils is also advised. Oral medicines such has navajeevan rasa, godantibhasma sootshekharrasa etc also give good result. Proper relaxation and placing icepack on the forehead and applying of sandal paste on forehead also provide good relief.
