Headache

Headache

Definition
A headache is a symptom rather than a disease and may be caused by high blood pressure, insomnia, weak eyesight, sinusitis, hunger, anemia, listening to loud music, studying in improper light, emotional strain, overwork, constipation, and flatulence. In Ayurveda, headache is known as shirehshool. Headache may be accompanied with watering of the eyes, bleeding from the nose or giddiness depending on the body energy that is aggravated.

Causes
Improper diet and lifestyle causes vitiation (impairment) of the vata (air) and kapha (water). Vata is obstructed by the kapha in the head region, causing headache. As the pain intensifies, vata also vitiates pitta dosha (fire), causing a burning sensation in the head, nausea and vomiting. Headache is also often caused by emotional stress, overwork or insomnia.

Symptoms
A headache is characterized by pain in the head and may be associated with pain in the back of the neck and shoulders. Pain can be throbbing, cutting, or penetrating in nature when vata dominates, or burning when pitta dominates. The pain usually occurs sporadically (infrequently and without a pattern) but can occur frequently and even daily in some people.

Ayurvedic View
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.

A sensitive nervous system lowers the ojas (energy) in the body. Ojas is the essence of all body tissues and provides strength to the nervous system and body. If you have a strong nervous system, you are able to fight against problems and carry on with your work with a healthy mind. Lowering of ojas causes migraine-like problems.

Ayurvedic treatment of headache does not focus on simply alleviating the pain but aims at treating the root cause. Herbal preparations are administered to balance aggravated body energies and restore the digestive function.

Diet and 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.
• Buttermilk, salads, and boiled rice sautéed with cinnamon, cumin seeds and garlic or asafetida are good in the daytime.
• 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.

Some Home Remedies

• If there is a burning sensation, apply a paste of ground clay or sandalwood powder mixed with rose water.
• When the headache is due to inflamed sinuses, inhale steam with vinegar added to the water.
• Mix ¼ teaspoon of clove powder with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon oil. Apply this paste on the affected area for 20-30 minutes.