Abdominal Pain

Headache

Headache, also known as shirashoola in Ayurveda, is a type of shiroroga (diseases of the head). It may occur as a symptom of some underlying disease or as a problem in itself. Shirashoola is classified into types based on the cause and the dosha involved.

Treatments are determined based on various factors, such as the individual’s clinical condition and the doshas that cause the disease. Some treatments include basti karma (enema therapy), nasya karma (snuffing therapy), lepa (coating the affected body part with medications), seka (fomentation), snehana (oleation), and shirodhara (pouring medicated liquids or oils over the head).

Medicines that can be used to treat a headache include mahalaxmi rasa, sitopaladi churna, rasona vati, and brahmyadi churna.

Ayurvedic view of headache

According to Ayurveda, both physical and psychological factors are responsible for headaches. Some underlying reasons for headaches are vision defects, brain tumors, high blood pressure, stress, indigestion, constipation, and abrupt changes in the climate. The signs and symptoms vary depending on the dosha that causes the headache.

Ayurveda classifies headaches into the following types:

• Vataja: This type of headache occurs due to an imbalance in the vata dosha.
• Pittaja: It originates in pitta dosha and leads to a burning sensation along with a headache.
• Kaphaja: It is caused by kapha and occurs with a cold and cough.
• Sannipatika: The vitiation of tridoshas causes a sannipatika headache, and it could show symptoms from any or all of the types of headaches mentioned above.
• Ananta vata: In this type of headache, pain is felt all over the head, with accompanying nausea and giddiness.
• Ardhavabhedaka: It involves pain in half of the head.
• Shankhaka: In this type of headache, pain is confined to the left and right sides of the head, which swells and becomes red.
• Suryavarta: This type of headache follows the path of the sun—it starts in the morning, increases until midday, and decreases as the sun goes down.

Ayurvedic treatment for headache

• Nasya karma: Ayurveda states that the nose is the gateway to the head; thus, herbs can be introduced into the body through the nasal route for healing diseases of the head, neck, and throat. Various nasya herbs are made into a decoction or oil and instilled into the nose. The herbs used in nasya will vary depending on the vitiation of the doshas.

• Lepa: This is an herbal paste applied to the head and used to treat disorders of the brain, head, and neck.