
Headache is a common disease experienced by many people. The causes of headaches are simple to complex.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEADACHES
- CAUSES OF HEADACHES
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF HEADACHES
- DIAGNOSIS OF HEADACHES
- TREATMENTS FOR HEADACHES
- PROGNOSIS OF HEADACHES
- COMPLICATIONS OF HEADACHES
- HEADACHES AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF HEADACHES
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF HEADACHES
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF HEADACHES
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEADACHES
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF HEADACHES
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR HEADACHES
- AYURVEDIC LOCAL TREATMENT FOR HEADACHES
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR HEADACHES
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR HEADACHES
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR HEADACHES
- HOME REMEDIES FOR HEADACHES
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR HEADACHES
- YOGA FOR HEADACHES
- RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHES
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEADACHES
- Dull to Excruciating pain on any side of the head
- Tenderness on the scalp
- Pain may radiate to other areas of your face and neck
- Pain around the eye may also be found
- Sensitivity to light and sound
CAUSES OF HEADACHES
- Tension headaches
- Migraine
- Cluster headaches
- Allergy or sinus headaches
- Post-traumatic headaches
Other types are;
- Primary headache – without an underlying pathology
- Secondary headache – due to an underlying pathology
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF HEADACHES
The pathophysiology of headache is based on different mechanisms. These include vascular dilation, trigeminal nerve stimulation, circadian effects, Histamine release, increased blood pressure, an increase in mast cells and autonomic nervous system activation may also contribute to the attacks of headaches.
DIAGNOSIS OF HEADACHES
- Proper history taking
- Neurological examinations
- Imaging techniques like CT scan and MRI
- Monitoring blood pressure
TREATMENTS FOR HEADACHES
- Oxygen therapy
- Pain-relieving medications
- Calcium channel blockers
- Antihistamines for allergic headaches
- Blood pressure-lowering agents for headache due to hypertension
PROGNOSIS OF HEADACHES
- In primary headache symptoms are manageable with medications
- Prognosis of secondary headache is based on the underlying pathology
COMPLICATIONS OF HEADACHES
- Frequent attacks of headache interfere with the daily activities and lifestyle
- Migrainous infarction (stroke with migraine)
HEADACHES AND AYURVEDA
- In Ayurveda, headaches fall under shirasoola
- As per ayurveda the types of headaches are vatika, paithika, kaphaja, sannipathika, krimija suryavarta, anandavata, ardhavabhedaka, shankhaka
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF HEADACHES
- Excess consumption of ununctuous, dry, acrid, cold food
- Excessive physical exercise
- Suppression des besoins naturels
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF HEADACHES
- Dull ache on anywhere in the head
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF HEADACHES
- Vata, pitta and kapha dosha move through all channels of circulation. Due to the subtle nature of vata it impels the remaining two doshas.
- Due to the causative factors doshas excessively aggravated.
- The aggravated doshas reside in the head and produce pain.
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEADACHES
- Pain on the head – shirasthoda
- Pain on half part of the head – ardhavabhedaka
- Radiating pain towards face and neck – vatika shirasula
- Burning sensation – shiro daha ( paithika shirasula)
- Shirogouravam – heaviness ( kaphaja shirasula)
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF HEADACHES
- Symptoms are manageable with ayurvedic medications
- As per ayurveda a type of headache called shankhaka is incurable
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR HEADACHES
Ayurvedic local treatment for HEADACHES
- Svedam – local fermentation
- Pain-relieving lepa application
- Shirodhara
- Murdhataila – oil massage on the head
- Shiropichu – chandanadi tailam
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR HEADACHES
- Pathyashadangam kashayam
- Brahmi vati
- Shirasuladi vajra rasa
- Lakshmivilasa rasa
- For head massaging:
AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR HEADACHES
- NASYA- anu taila, shadbindhu taila
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR HEADACHES
Administration interne
- Pathyashadangam kashayam
- Gandhaka rasayanam
- Brahmi vati
- Shirasuladi vajra rasa
- Lakshmivilasa rasa
Ayurvedic Supplement to Reduce Headache
HOME REMEDIES FOR HEADACHES
- Massage the painful area for 15 minutes ( NOT too much pressure )
- Drinking an adequate quantity of water
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR HEADACHES
- Avoid food items that produce vata , pitta dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, acrid, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consommer des aliments faciles à digérer, du lait de vache
- Practice regular exercise
- Oil massage on affected area advised. Which alleviates vata dosha
- Take proper rest.
YOGA FOR HEADACHES
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam – calms the mind, cleans the respiration, and gets relief from headaches
Le patient doit être assis dans une position méditative, la tête et la colonne vertébrale droites, le corps détendu. Le patient doit fermer une narine (par exemple la narine gauche s'il utilise la main droite et vice versa) avec le pouce et expirer complètement par l'autre narine. Il devra à nouveau inspirer profondément par l'autre narine tout en continuant à fermer la narine opposée avec le pouce.
RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHES
- Ayurvedic management of cluster headaches: a case report
http://www.iamj.in/current_issue/images/upload/2191_2194.pdf
- Response to Ayurvedic therapy in the treatment of migraine without aura
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2876931/
