The Ayurvedic name for headache is Shireshoola. According to Ayurveda, headaches are believed to be caused due to aggravation of all the three doshas — vata, pitta and kapha. Ayurveda stresses on curing the root of the problem. There can be several causes for headache. It is mostly caused due to vitiation of vata humor in the body. There are various Ayurvedic remedies for treatment of headache. These remedies are discussed in this article.
Ayurvedic View of Headache
Shireshoola is caused by both physical as well as psychic factors. All types of headache are due to the imbalance of a particular body humor:
- Due to vitiation of the air body humor.
- Due to vitiation of the fire body humor.
- Due to vitiation of the phlegm body humor.
- Due to vitiation of all the three body humors.
- When the headache is only on one side of the head, it is called Ardhava bhedaka.
- The headache that increases and decreases wtih the movement of the sun is called Suryavrata.
- When the headache starts from the back of the head and migrates to the front and sides of the head, this is called Shankhaka.
- When the headache is acute and is difficult to treat, it is called Anantavata.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Headache
- Clove oil — Warmed clove oil is rubbed locally, which is a good handy cure for headache.
- Amla — Apply a paste made from amla and milk for cure of headache associated with the heat stroke.
- Coriander — Pound fresh or dry coriander into a paste and apply on the forehead for recurrent headaches.
- Garlic — Make a paste of garlic in milk and add a few grains of salt. Apply the paste on the forehead.
- Ghee — Use nasal drops of ghee in each nostril once or twice daily for chronic headache.
- Lemon leaves — A few lemon leaves should be pounded to extract the juice and add this to the boiling hot water. Use for deep inhalation.
- Tulsi — Pound a few Tulsi leaves to extract the juice and rub 2 or 3 times a day. Chew fresh Tulsi leaves or breathe fresh Tulsi juice added to boiling water. Tulsi juice should be used as a nasal drops in the nostrils. This soothes the brain and gives relief from anxiety.
- Ajwain — Roast some ajwain and make into a poultice. Use this to make a hot fomentation on the forehead to relieve sinusitis.
- Wheat grass — The forehead should be massaged with Wheat grass juice or 2-3 drops of this juice should be poured in each nostril as nasal drops, specifically for sinusitis.
- Mustard oil — Pour 1 or 2 almonds in mustard oil and use to massage the neck, forehead and sides of the head.
- As a cure for nervous headache or headache caused by heatstroke, try this external application — prepare a mixture of gulab arka ad white chandan powder and apply it on the forehead.
Characteristic Symptoms of Headache
- Pain in the head region that may get aggravated by any little stimulus.
- Perhaps severe and throbbing pain in severe cases.
- Relapses after intervals, as in case of migraine headache.
