Headache
A headache is a symptom rather than a disease and may be caused by high blood pressure, insomnia, weak eyesight, sinusitis, hunger, anemia, listening to loud music, studying in improper light, emotional strain, overwork, constipation, and flatulence. In Ayurveda, headache is known as shirehshool. Headache may be accompanied with watering of the eyes, bleeding from the nose or giddiness depending on the body energy that is aggravated.
Causes :
Improper diet and lifestyle causes vitiation (impairment) of the vata (air) and kapha (water). Vata is obstructed by the kapha in the head region, causing headache. As the pain intensifies, vata also vitiates pitta dosha (fire), causing a burning sensation in the head, nausea and vomiting. Headache is also often caused by emotional stress, overwork or insomnia.
Symptoms
Pain in the back of the neck and shoulders.
Pain in the head
View Of Ayurveda
The traditional science of Ayurveda considers headache to be caused because of two primary reasons – a sensitive nervous system and impaired digestion. Improper diet and lifestyle causes aggravation of Pitta (Ayurvedic humor representing Fire) in the body. In an aggravated state, Pitta impairs digestion, leading to production of digestive impurities (known as ama). This ama gets stored in the manovahi strotas (mind channels), thereby becoming the cause for headaches.
Diet & Lifestyle Advice
Have warm and easily digestible foods, boiled and steamed vegetables, soups, vegetable juices, porridge, brown rice and whole-wheat flour.
Eat fruits like apples, papayas, mangoes, grapes and pears.
Buttermilk, salads, and boiled rice sautéed with cinnamon, cumin seeds and garlic or asafetida are good in the daytime.
Also, 5-6 almonds or walnuts and some raisins can be eaten each day.
Avoid refined, oily, spicy, cold and stale food.
Avoid yogurt, especially at night.
Avoid working for long hours continuously; take short breaks. Have a good night’s sleep in a dark room.
Avoid overexposure to cold or hot weather. Cover your head with an umbrella, or wear a hat or cap when you go out.
An ayurvedic treatment has wonderful results in Headache disease. It may cure permanantly if patient follow the complete course of treatment with all diet, life-style & panchkarma realeted advises.