What you can do to alleviate migraine problems based on doshas
We have all suffered headaches at least once in our lifetime , right? Headaches can feel debilitating. According to the World Health Organization, “Globally, it has been estimated that prevalence among adults of current headache disorder (symptomatic at least once within the last year) is about 50%. Half to three quarters of adults aged 18–65 years in the world have had headache in the last year and, among those individuals, 30% or more have reported migraine.” [1]
Headaches: A Public Health Concern
Headache disorders are a major public health concern given the large amount of associated disability and financial costs both to the individual and to society.[2] In modern living, most people pop an analgesic or a painkiller to manage the headache. Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is one of the most common chronic headache disorders and a public health problem with a worldwide prevalence of 1–2%.[3]
Link Between Headache and Ayurvedic Doshas
Have you noticed that not all headaches feel the same? This means the intensity of pain or the location changes sometimes. I have had headaches where it felt like the pain was moving to different parts of the head. Sometimes there was dullness and heaviness, and other times it felt like someone was either hammering my head or only one part of my head was affected. Some headaches are also linked to digestion. If you are anxious or traveling (which increases vata dosha), you might encounter constipation, which leads to headache.
Ayurveda asks questions about the root cause and recommends herbal medicine, dietary protocols, lifestyle changes, and other measures that can be effective for managing headaches. In Ayurveda, headaches aren’t considered a disease but a symptom because of dosha-vitiation. Headaches are classified according to the doṣhas of vata, pitta, and kapha.
Let’s look at the main symptoms of the three different doshic types of headaches:
Vata-Type Headaches
The pain is throbbing, intermittent, and pulsating. It feels like someone is hammering your head. This headache may be accompanied by constipation and insomnia. What contributes to this type of headache? It can be mental tension, emotional stress, erratic sleep schedule, heightened fear or anxiety, and ama or toxins in the gut stemming from constipation. Ringing in the ear, which is a vata disorder according to Ayurveda, can also lead to vata headache in the supramastoid area.
Managing Vata-Type Headaches
Vata is cold, dry, and mobile. We want to relieve these qualities and clear up the gut—attend to constipation. Triphala churna is the first line of recommendation as it works as a purgative. Drink warm water and sip on ginger tea. Ghee is a fantastic lubricant, so include it in your diet. I find putting nasya oil (4-5 drops in the nostrils) while lying down can lower the headaches.
Shirodhara (pouring a stream of warm, medicated oil on the third eye) is also very beneficial in lowering vata. Consider getting a gentle massage and slowing down as they both lower tension in the mind and body.
Pitta-Type Headaches
The pain in this type of headache is usually felt in one half of the head. It often starts in the temples and spreads to the central part of your head. Pitta-type headache is accompanied by a burning sensation, shooting pain, nausea, and wateriness in the eyes.
Migraine is considered a pitta-type headache. The individual dealing with this headache is often unable to tolerate bright light. Who is the culprit for pitta-type headaches? Ayurveda says it’s often acid indigestion, hyperacidity, or heartburn. Basically, imbalances in the stomach and intestine.
Managing Pitta-Type Headaches
Pitta is made of up fire and water elements. To combat a pitta-type headache, we want to cool the fire element in the body, which means to decrease the internal heat, balance the digestive fire, ground the mind-body, and lower acidity.
First things first: Slow down, rest, breathe deeply, spend time in nature, do full moon bathing, and don’t overschedule. Avoid excessive heat, sun, and overexertion. Amalaki is often the herb of choice for this type of headache. Pay attention to your diet and avoid sour, salty, spicy, fried, processed, and fermented foods. Favor cooling spices and herbs like cilantro, fennel, mint, coriander, avocado, coconut, and cucumbers.
You can warm up coconut oil or brahmi oil and massage the soles of your feet as well as crown chakra. It can be helpful in lowering intense pitta headaches. Use only a few drops of either of the oils. A few drops of warm (not scalding hot) ghee in the nostrils before bed can help navigate migraines. Apply diluted sandalwood oil on the third eye, temples, the heart as well as under the nose.
Kapha-Type Headaches
Ever go to bed and wake up with a heaviness in the face and head? Sometimes this headache is accompanied by cough, congestion, or runny nose? That’s your kapha-type headache—a byproduct of excess pressure in the sinus cavity. The pain is of a dull and draining type. The individual might feel nauseous. You might be hit with extreme exhaustion and the pain increases when you bend over or lie down.
This kind of headache is more common during seasons when kapha is predominant, which is late winter to early spring. You can compare the kapha headaches to sinus headaches.
Managing Kapha-Type Headaches
Cut out dairy as it creates more congestion and mental fog. You want to drink hot ginger tea, it helps clear sinuses and improves appetite. Also incorporate tulsi tea since it’s nourishing for the respiratory system. Include pungent spices like cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper in your diet to reduce mucus congestion.
One of my clients loves doing inhalation with eucalyptus oil as it lowers his kapha headache. In kapha-type headaches, anu tailam is often applied to clear the nostrils first. Then doing jal neti with salt can help open the sinuses. Trikatu and brahmi are the herbs recommended for kapha-type headaches.
Ayurveda reminds us that headaches are a wake-up call to assess what’s going on in your bodies as well as the state of your emotional and mental health. As always, please consult with an Ayurvedic expert. Through the Ayurvedic consultation, the practitioner will determine the root cause of the headache and the dosha imbalance. Based on their findings, they will make diet, lifestyle, and herbal recommendations.
“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”
Disclaimer: The content is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. The information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. Please use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional. If you are nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition, please consult with your health care practitioner prior to the use of any of these herbs. If you are looking for advice from a trained yogi and ayurvedic doctor, contact the author here.
