AYURVEDA PERSPECTIVE ON HEADACHE

If you are prone to headaches and want a natural source of relief, you’ve come to the right place.

While there are many types of headaches, Ayurveda teaches that most are symptomatic of an imbalance in the blood.

Let’s explore some common causes and review Ayurveda’s wisdom on sources of natural relief.

What Causes Headaches?

There are a variety of different causes of headaches, and each requires a different kind of remedy. For example:

• Stress / Tension. Tension headaches (Vata) usually strike when you hold stress and tension in your body, particularly around the shoulders, neck, and jaw.
• Sudden Exposure to Cold Food. This could occur, for example when you drink something cold, and is usually temporary.
• Heat / Sun Exposure. Heat exhausts the liver (disturbs Pitta), which then disturbs your blood chemistry leading to a headache. Liver heat tends to create a vertex headache, which you feel at the very top of your head.
• PMS / Menstrual Related.These are often due to hormonal imbalances and/or your liver's inability to process hormones.
• Dehydration. Dehydration causes the brain to shrink, leading to pain.
• Sinus Inflammation. This type of headache tends to occur more at the front of the head, around the nose and sinus area, in the forehead, behind the eyes, or in the cheeks. The pain is usually less intense with these headaches, but they can feel heavy and dull. They may be worse in winter and spring, particularly if you are prone to seasonal allergies.
• Congestion Headaches (Kapha). These occur as a result of excess mucus in the respiratory tract and sinuses which can form when you eat a rich, heavy diet of Kapha provoking foods.
• Toxicity (ama). Caused by exposure to environmental toxins, constipation, or fermentation in the bowels. This type of headache pain is generally intermittent and located at the back of the head (occipital), but it tends to migrate.
• Colic / Spasms of the Blood Vessels. This condition creates a throbbing headache and is frequently associated with toxins in the blood.
• High blood pressure. This type of headache occurs when you have high blood pressure, or even when a cough or vomiting pushes blood into the head.

Questions for Consideration

Each type of headache has its own causes, symptoms, and remedies. You may be able to find the root cause by examining your own experience, asking yourself these questions, and recording your findings in a journal for future reference:

• What time of day, month year do your headaches occur?
• When did they start?
• Do you experience headaches on weekends or just work days?
• Where in your head is the pain?

Natural Headache Relief

Headache remedies vary by the cause. Here are some of the main ones.

Stress/Tension Headaches

Regular self-massage (abhyanga) with sesame oil will help reduce the tension, worry, and anxiety that are the source of this type of headache.

Heat / Sun Exposure

Cool the environment and your body. Refrigerant alterative foods and herbs can help cool down an overheated liver.

PMS / Menstrual Related

Chastetree (Vitex) and Black Cohosh (Actaea) are specific to PMS headaches. See more on PMS.

Dehydration Headaches

If headaches are due to dehydration, try an electrolyte balancing drink of warm water, a pinch of mineral salt, and a squeeze of lime before meals.

Sinus Headaches - Inflammation & Congestion

To reduce congestion headaches, first clear any accumulated mucus from the head and sinuses:

• Nasya oil helps decongest and clear the sinuses, lifting the heavy feeling from the head.
• Regular use of a neti pot with a saline solution can also help keep the nasal passages and sinuses clear.
• A hot shower or placing a warm, damp towel over your face for a few minutes can help liquefy mucus.
• Avoid heavy, cold, sweet, and fried food as these produce more mucus in the body and can lead to congestion type headaches. Instead, favor a lighter diet of Kapha pacifying meals.

Toxicity Headaches

These headaches may be due to digestive toxins (ama) in the colon. Haritaki can help reduce toxic accumulation and relieve constipation. A gentle enema may also be effective as it cleanses and nourishes the colon, helping relieve excess Vata and tension.

Migraines

Migraines develop when there are high levels of ama (toxins) in the blood. They are generally associated with Pitta dosha and an overheated liver. See more about migraines.

Colic / Spasms of the Blood Vessels

Clear toxins in the blood by following toxicity headache notes above. Peppermint and chamomile are frequently used for relief from spasmodic headaches.

High Blood Pressure

With high blood pressure, it is critical to find the cause, in addition to reducing the pressure.