Ayurvedic Treatment for Migraine
How Effective is Ayurvedic Treatment for Migraine?
A migraine is a disorder, which is characterized by the recurrent episodes of a headache that could be moderate to extremely severe. A migraine headache is generally unilateral and pulsating in nature and can last for 2 to about 72 hours. 1 in about 4 women and 1 in about 12 men can develop a migraine during their lifetime.
A headache could start early in the childhood or during the pubertal period though most of the headaches cease to occur during the later period of the adulthood. The frequency of attacks varies from person to person.The attacks can be frequent in certain adults occurring several times in 7 days and some individuals may not experience it within several years. Ayurvedic treatment for a migraine can prove to be effective. Arth Ardhari is one of the popular ayurvedic medicines for a migraine headache.
Causes and Triggers of A Migraine
- Unhealthy lifestyle and food habits.
- Underlying CNS disorder can cause a migraine attack.
- Irregularities in the vascular system or blood vessels of the brain can bring about a migraine headache.
- A genetic predisposition could be a factor contributing to a migraine.
- Abnormalities in the nerve pathways and brain chemicals can set off migraine attacks.
- Salty foods, stress, and alteration in the sleep-wake patterns and hormonal levels are the common triggers of migraine attacks.
Signs and Symptoms of A ‘Migraine’
15% to about 30% of the people experience a migraine associated with the ‘aura’. The frequency, severity of the pain and duration of a migraine headache vary from one person to another. A migraine which lasts over 72 hours is known as ‘stratus migrainous’.
A migraine headache can be divided into four phases
The Prodrome: The prodrome phase lasts for a few hours to a couple of days ahead of the onset of a migraine headache. The symptoms of prodrome are constipation, mood swings, neck stiffness, frequent yawning, food cravings etc.
The Aura: The aura phase comes immediately before a headache. These are basically a symptom of the nervous system such as difficulty in speaking, loss of the vision, numbness in the face etc.
The Attack: The attack phase is called the ‘headache phase’ and lasts for 4 to about 72 hours. The symptoms of this phase are blurred vision, vomiting, nausea, pulsating headache etc.
The Postdrome: The postdrome phase occurs immediately after an attack of a migraine. A person in this phase experiences dizziness, confusion, moodiness, weakness, etc.
The common symptoms of migraine are double vision or temporary blindness, slurred speech, difficulty in hearing, headache, difficulty in swallowing, needle-like feeling in arms or legs, food cravings, irritability, depression, constipation, hyperactivity, vomiting and nausea, sensitivity to smell, sound or light. The symptoms can be effectively treated with ayurvedic medicine for migraine.
It is always better to choose a natural remedy for a headache over the allopathic synthetic drugs. The migraine headache pain worsens by physical activity. Some individuals experience aura, which is the visual disturbance which precedes a migraine headache. Aura can occur many times with slight or no headache.
The Powerful Role of Ayurveda in Treating Migraine
Ayurvedic treatment for a migraine is gaining popularity for being safe and effective. Ayurveda is the form of medicine that deals with roots and herbs that offers a natural remedy for headache.
There are many efficacious Ayurvedic medicines for a headache. The importance of powerful herbs and plants for treating diseases cannot be undermined. ‘Ath Ardhari’ is an efficacious ayurvedic medicine for a migraine. It is widely preferred over synthetic antibiotics for having no side effects. It aims to strengthen the immune system as a whole and not only treat the symptoms.
Ath Ardhari is one of the popular ayurvedic medicines for a migraine headache, which is available in the form of a capsule. The recommended dose is to take two capsules three times a day after meals for a period of 3 months or depending on the severity of the disease.
A migraine attack can be associated with symptoms such as flatulence, gas formation or bloating. To get relief from these symptoms the ajwain ayurvedic medicine is recommended. One-fourth teaspoon of Ajwain Ayurvedic medicine is to be taken with a pinch of black salt (sendha namak) in lukewarm water.
Trifla powder is also used as ayurvedic medicine for a headache. It is used for treating constipation. One teaspoon of Trifla powder should be taken with warm water during bedtime.
Tips by Ayurvedic Practitioners to Prevent a Migraine Attack
The Ayurvedic practitioners suggest a natural remedy for a headache. They suggest applying clarified butter or badam oil in the nostrils before going to bed at night. As part of Ayurvedic treatment for a migraine, they suggest massaging the chest for about 2 to 4 minutes with sesame or badam oil before falling asleep at night.
The Ayurvedic doctors consider ayurvedic medicines for a migraine headache to be effective as they are devoid of steroids and additives and made from only powerful and natural herbs. They suggest apart from consuming ayurvedic medicine for a migraine a person suffering from the disorder can avoid triggering off an attack by avoiding brightly lit and noisy areas. Certain types of pulses such as urad, rajma or chana that can cause flatulence should be avoided to prevent triggering a migraine attack.
They further advice that in addition to taking ayurvedic medicine for a headache, individuals suffering from a migraine should avoid undue pressure, stress and staying awake all night.