Headaches
What are Headaches?
Headaches are such a common symptom in America that for some people, they don’t question if they’re going to have a headache, but rather when. Each person laments the occurrence of whatever sharp, dull, constricting, isolating, or all-encompassing sensations of pain they feel in the temples, in the scalp, or on the back of the neck.
More technically known as a tension headache, this condition is typically the product of tightness of the muscles or other pain-sensitive components of the afflicted area. Headaches are formally classified in many different ways, and are most typically considered a self-limiting condition in that it resolves itself without the need of medical intervention. There are a variety of reasons why a person might suffer from a headache, including emotional factors (like stress and depression), physical maladies (like the common cold or an injury to the head), and substance misuse (such as excessive amounts of caffeine or alcohol).
Western medicine considers a headache to be a chronic condition if the sufferer experiences at least two headaches per week for several months. Many people in the West are instructed to simply avoid activities or substances that trigger headaches and are given techniques to relax and calm themselves to resolve their occurrence.
Headache sufferers also employ Western painkillers to resolve their symptoms (such as Tylenol, aspirin, and ibuprofen). When someone suffers from chronic headaches, he or she may be subjected to extensive tests, scans, and other forms of assessment to determine what might be causing the symptoms.
How Does Ayurveda View Headaches?
Ayurveda and Western medicine share a commonality in their response to headaches, as both systems cite identifying the cause to be the best way toward resolving it as a condition. However, Ayurveda also stresses identifying the nature of the headache and the qualities it has in relation to the three doshas and their respective imbalances. An Ayurvedic diagnosis of a headache will determine which doshic imbalance might be triggering the headache, what aspects of the sufferer’s lifestyle might be causing the headache, and what other related symptoms (such as an infection or emotional distress) might help to understand its occurrence.
Ayurveda also suggests that headaches can be caused by Vata-related symptoms like constipation and anxiety, Pitta-related symptoms like indigestion and anger, or Kapha-related symptoms like a cold, the flu, and worry.
Additionally the Ayurveda practice suggests that headaches can be caused by external factors such as the environment and weather conditions. When the cold, warm, dry, wet, daytime, or nighttime aspects of the weather come into contact with our body and mind, and one is more extreme than the other, there can be a conflict that leads to a headache. For example, when the head becomes excessively heated, it is likely that a headache will follow suit.
From the Ayurvedic point of view, a person’s thought patterns and habits can also play a big part in contracting not just a headache but any disease or ailment. This system shows us that a headache is no different in energy from cancer because one is the beginning of a health problem and the latter is an extreme and developed version of the first. Pain occurs in the body as a sign and warning that other, more difficult and painful problems are on the way if it is not resolved. What goes on in the mind will end up in the body.
How Does Ayurveda Treat Headaches?
Through a series of observations and other diagnostic tools, an Ayurvedic practitioner will determine that one or more of the headache sufferer’s doshas are aggravated and triggering the headache. The treatment regimen will include lifestyle changes, food choices, herbal remedies, and other therapies as cited below to help balance the specific doshas related to the headaches and other symptoms.
If someone seems to be experiencing headaches that are accompanied by constipation, dry skin, anxiety, and nervousness, it may be determined that his or her headache is Vata-related. Their treatment will include the use of oils, relaxation therapies, and Vata-reducing foods to help resolve the headache.
If someone seems to be experiencing headaches that are accompanied by burning sensations, nose bleeds, red eyes, anger, and irritability, it may be determined that this is Pitta-related. Their treatment will include the use of herbs and other substances that will purge the body and cleanse the blood, and also use Pitta-reducing foods to help resolve the headache.
If someone seems to be experiencing headaches that are accompanied by dull sensations, a buildup of white phlegm, respiratory problems (like a cold or flu), a sense of heaviness and fatigue, and nausea or vomiting; it may be determined that their headache is Kapha-related. This treatment will include the use of strong purgation therapies and Kapha-reducing foods to help resolve the headache.
Lifestyle Changes for Headaches
When we neglect to establish the root cause of one illness, it can turn into another, stronger illness in the future. The first step in resolving a specific ailment or disease in the body is to assess the nature of our lifestyle and make general modifications. Living our day-to-day life with a deliberate intention to improve our health will help us to both resolve the disease we are suffering from and prevent further incidence of it and other diseases in the future. Lifestyle changes are a fundamental aspect of the self-treatment of headaches, and the specific modifications that are made depend on the doshic nature of the symptoms the sufferer experiences.
General
- Practice a daily breathing routine, as outlined below. This will help to calm the nervous system and reduce the incidence of headaches as related to stress.
- Reduce the amount of television watched in any given day, as well as exposure to computer screens and other visually stimulating electronic devices.
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and other chemical stimulants.
- Craft a regular sleeping routine, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.
- Discuss the potential side-effects of any medications you might be taking with your doctor.
- Make a paste of dry ginger and aloe vera gel and apply to the forehead in response to symptoms. Use a half teaspoon of dry ginger with tablespoon of gel.
- When sitting in silence, see what thoughts run through the mind and repeat themselves.
Vata
- Massage the head with heated sesame or almond oil.
- Avoid suppressing the natural urge to move bowels, sneeze, cough, and other functions of the body.
- Avoid rapid movements and sit quietly for some time throughout the day.
- Avoid long conversations.
Pitta
- Take walks by the water, work in a garden, and conduct other peaceful activities that place you in nature.
- Avoid overexertion in physical activities such as exercise and manual labor.
- Avoid emotional, heated, and passionate conversations.
- Avoid hot foods and favor colder foods and drinks (but not frozen or served with ice).
Kapha
- When appropriate, work to resolve respiratory ailments such as a cold, the flu, and other ailments associated with Kapha symptoms.
- Exercise to move the more stagnant aspects of Kapha energy through activities like stretching and yoga.
- Wash out the nostrils with salty water to drain any stagnant mucus blocking the passages.
- Sit for a bit in the hot sunshine to dry up the excess Kapha in the head region.
Better Foods For Headaches
Ayurveda teaches us that disease and sickness are derived from poor digestion and inappropriate food choices. We then have the opportunity to make deliberate and more conscious decisions as to what foods we do and do not put in our body which increases the chance of resolving the body’s imbalance.
Food needs to be in season, in moderate combinations of one or two food groups, not too hot or cold, in a modest enough quantity to allow for room in the stomach later, consumed without too much liquid which hinders digestive power, and should be fresh and not left over for more than a few hours. When addressing headaches, it is important to eat easy-to-digest foods that help to balance whatever doshas are triggering the symptoms.
Ghee
Milk
Berries
Figs(Fresh)
Apricots
Peaches
Plums
Carrots
Beets
Zucchini
Sweet potatoes
Asparagus
Whole wheat (unbleached)
Rice (white basmati)
Mung beans
Ghee
Apples
Pears
Mangoes
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussels Sprouts
Asparagus
Barley
Oats (cooked)
Rice (white basmati)
Milk
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Prunes
Raisins
Cherries
Pomegranates
Figs(Dry)
Radishes
Onions
Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts
Vegetable soup
Barley
Millet
Mustard oil
Ghee
Foods To AVOID In Response To Headaches
While some foods can help to balance an aggravated dosha, other foods can cause further imbalance. Dry and cold foods as well as pungent, bitter and astringent tastes will dry out the body and aggravate the Vata dosha.Sour, salty and pungent tastes as well as spicy foods will add more heat to the body and aggravate the Pitta dosha.Sweet, sour and salty tasting foods will add heaviness to the body and aggravate the Kapha dosha. The following foods will help the headache sufferer to balance whichever dosha is associated with their particular symptoms:
Apples
Pears
Watermelon
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Celery
Eggplant
Corn
Oats (dry)
Barley
Most legumes including green lentils and garbanzo beans
Raw and cold foods
Dry foods
Dehydrated, packaged foods
Grapefruit
Bananas
Cherries
Pineapple
Tomatoes
Garlic
Carrots
Spinach
Rice (brown)
Corn
Nuts
Lentils
Corn oil
Almond oil
Spicy foods
Sour foods (like yogurt, sour cream, and pickles)
Salt
Meat
Bananas
Melons
Papayas
Avocado
Plums
Sweet potatoes
Zucchini
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Wheat
Rice
Nuts
Seeds
Sweets and candies
Allergy-causing foods
Dairy products (except goat milk, in moderation)
Unnatural sugar
Cold foods
Meat
Beverages For Headaches
Generally, Ayurveda discourages the consumption of too many cold beverages, as doing so hinders the strength of the body’s digestive fire. Instead, favors room temperature or hot beverages to encourage the strength of the digestive fire.
- Hot water, especially during meals and first thing in the morning.
- Hot milk.
- Herbal teas of ginger, licorice, Gotu Kola (brahmi), and Tulsi.
- Avoid cold and frozen drinks.
- Avoid sugary or fizzy drinks that blend with the digestive juice and make it weak.
- Avoid alcohol, coffee, and black tea.
Herbs For Headaches
Herbs are used in the Ayurvedic system much like Western medicine utilizes drugs and vitamins and can be taken like tea 2 to 3 times a day. Herbs aid in the digestion of food, the breakdown and elimination of toxins, and help to strengthen the cellular structure of our system for greater vitality. Herbs become more potent once mixed with other herbs of similar properties. Mix together 2 to 4 different herbs from the below list by adding a quarter to a half teaspoon full of each, for a total of 1 teaspoon. Drink these in half cup of hot water.
Ginger
Licorice
Tulsi
Saffron
Bringaraj
Haritaki
Muskroot
Gotu Kola
Cardamom
Calamus
Bibhitaki
Dhataki
Bibhitaki
Dhataki
Cardamom
Calamus
Yoga Postures For Headaches
When applied therapeutically to specific ailments, yoga postures provide an opportunity to strengthen the body, rid it of toxic matter, and restore balance. The postures included in this section can be practiced as part of a more general sequence or can be focused on in short sessions. When first exploring yoga postures, it is best to only practice them for twenty minutes or so per day and buildup from there once the body becomes more flexible.
- Seated Forward Bend
- Shoulder Stand or legs up the wall
- Headstand
- Fish
- Corpse
- Easy Seat
Aromatherapy For Headaches
Aromatherapy utilizes the fragrances of essential oils when applied to the skin. Essential oils can burn the skin and therefore must be diluted with a base oil such as sesame, coconut, sunflower, canola, or mustard oil. Mix 1 fluid ounce of base oil with about 12 drops of essential oil before applying to skin. You can also just mix 5 drops of base oil to one drop of essential oil if using on one spot.
A Vata-like headache can be treated with basil, camphor, cedar, eucalyptus, frankincense, ginger, lavender, lily, lotus, musk, myrrh, patchouli, sandalwood, or cinnamon oil.
- Use a sesame oil base.
- Apply oil on the forehead or on the back of the neck.
A Pitta-like headache can be treated with sandalwood, tea tree, rose, honeysuckle, gardenia, lily, iris, mint, lavender, or lotus oil.
- Use a coconut or sunflower oil base.
- Apply oil in the chest center in front of the heart, or on the location of the headache.
A Kapha-like headache can be treated with cinnamon, eucalyptus, sage, basil, musk, cedar, frankincense, or myrrh oil.
- Use a canola or mustard oil base.
- Apply oil on the skin between the navel and pubic bone, or on the location of the headache.
Mantra Therapy For Headaches
Ayurvedic tradition suggests that repeating certain words or sounds can help a person suffering from an ailment to restore subtle balance to nerve tissue and enhance one’s mental clarity. Different sounds are prescribed to either repeat mentally or chant outwardly. These sounds are also used and repeated in the mind for the purpose of spiritual growth.
For a Vata-like headache, repeat the syllable “Lam” for several minutes a few times a day and build more practice over time.
As a Vata-related disorder, it is helpful to inwardly repeat this syllable for the duration of time it is practiced.
For a Pitta-like headache, repeat the syllable “Aum” (pronounced ohm) for several minutes a few times a day and build more practice over time.
As a Pitta-related disorder, it is helpful to both outwardly chant and inwardly repeat this syllable for the duration of time it is practiced.
For a Kapha-like headache, repeat the syllable “Ham” (pronounced hahm) for several minutes a few times a day and build more practice over time.
As a Kapha-related disorder, it is helpful to outwardly chant this syllable for the duration of time it is practiced.
Breathing Practices For Headaches
Controlling the breath is a central practice toward developing peace and stillness in the mind and body. When the breath is under our control, we are no longer at the mercy of the senses that are stimulated by everything and lead to greater fluctuations of the mind. When applied to the context of resolving specific ailments, the breath is used as a tool for developing lung capacity, heating and cooling the body and resolving mental afflictions like anxiety and stress. Like with the yoga postures above, breathing exercises are likely to be of significant benefit to those who suffer from considerable amounts of stress.
General
Vata
Pitta
Kapha