Ayurveda tips for migraine relief

A migraine is a type of headache which occurs in one side of your head and sometimes spreads to the whole head. It is a very common type of headache experienced by one in four women and one in 12 men. It usually starts in childhood or early adulthood. There is no known cure for migraines and no known reason why it affects particular people.

Migraine symptoms

The symptoms of a migraine include a headache starting from one side of the head and throbbing and pulsating pain. Migraines may occur with an aura – a warning sign that occurs before the migraine. It might be a visual aura, sensational aura, an odd smell or speech disturbances. It will typically last up to a few minutes before the headache starts.

What causes migraines?

A migraine is usually affected by certain triggers like stress, loud music, odd smells, bright sunlight and head bath. These triggers are different to one another; if one can find the trigger responsible for the attack, avoiding it may reduce the frequency of migraines.

If you suffer from regular migraines, you are encouraged to speak to your doctor. If you want to try some natural treatments, Ayurveda has some of the best remedies to reduce migraine episodes...

Ayurveda tips for reducing migraines

• Regular exercise with a healthy diet and a stress-free environment is always the first step.
• Avoid the triggers which might be causing the attacks of migraines. Maintain a diary of attacks including frequency, possible triggers, and timings of the day.
• Avoid looking straight into bright sun or watching a laptop or television for long periods of time.
• Meditation or Pranayama can help to reduce stress in our body, and yoga postures like “advanced lotus pose” can be beneficial for migraines.
• Eating green leafy vegetables and a protein-rich diet can help the body with pain management.
• Drink plenty of fluids because sometimes dehydration may be the reason behind your headache.
• Rub peppermint oil or any kind of soothing balm on your head for relief.
• Hot compresses work for any kind of contraction; so try this next time.
• “Nasya Karma” is one of the Panchakarma procedures described in Ayurveda where medicated oil or decoctions are infused through the nostrils. It is regarded as the best treatment for migraines.