Blog Archive

Can't Find What You're Looking For?

Thursday, November 6, 2008

How To Cure Migraine Headaches By Yoga & Ayurveda



What Is Migraine?

A migraine headache is often severe, causes excruciating pain, and for some people is often disabling. So Migraine or hemicranias is a vascular headache caused by the inflammation and irritation of the nerve endings resulting from the expansion of the blood vessels of the surface of the brain.Many times, those suffering from migraines are unable to receive effective treatment due to the fact that they have been misdiagnosed as having sinus or stress headaches. Although no cure has been found for migraine headaches, if properly diagnosed, they can be managed and even prevented.

Symptoms Of Migraine:
  • Pain that becomes worse with physical activity
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Sensitivity to sound
  • Moderate to severe pain, felt on one or both sides of the head
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Throbbing or pulsating head pain
  • Seeing flashes of light
  • Weakness
  • Visual blind spots

When left untreated, a migraine typically lasts from four to 72 hours, but the frequency with which headaches occur varies from person to person. You may have migraines several times a month or just once or twice a year.Not all migraines are the same. Most people experience migraines without auras, which were previously called common migraines. Some, however, have migraines with auras, which were previously called classic migraines. If you're in the second group, you'll likely have an aura about 15 to 30 minutes before your headache begins. Auras may continue after your headache starts or even occur after your headache begins. When you're experiencing an aura, you may:

  • See sparkling flashes of light
  • Perceive dazzling zigzag lines in your field of vision
  • Experience slowly spreading blind spots in your vision
  • Feel tingling, pins and needles sensations in one arm or leg
  • Rarely, experience weakness or language and speech problems
  • According to Ayurveda, migraine headaches are due to a disorder in tridosha, disorders in vata, pitta, or kapha, migraines frequently occur when systemic pitta moves into the cardiovascular system, circulates, and affects the blood vessels around the brain.

    While the medical community continues to research exactly why migraines occur, researchers have discovered that migraines may be caused by changes in the trigeminal nerve system. The trigeminal nerve system is a pain pathway that sends messages to the brain. Since serotonin levels are known to drop during a migraine, this triggers a change to occur in the trigeminal nerve system, resulting in a migraine headache. There are many things that can cause a migraine.

    Some of the known triggers are:
    • Hormonal changes
    • Certain foods
    • Stress, Anxiety, Excitements,Worries, Tensions
    • Medications
    • Changes in the environment
    • Physical factors
    • Sensory stimulus

    Migraine symptoms in children

    Migraines typically begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood and may become less frequent and less intense as you grow older. In addition to physical suffering, severe headaches often mean missed school days and trips to the emergency department, as well as lost work time for anxoius

    parents.

    Children's migraines tend to last for a shorter time. But the pain can be disabling and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting,lightheadedness and increased sensitivity to light. A migraine tends to occur on both sides of the head in children.

    Children may also have all of the signs and symptoms of a migraine — nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and sound — but no head pain. These "abdominal migraines" can be especially difficult to diagnose.

    Yogic Treatment for Migraine:

    Yoga Can completely Cure Migraine. I believe that hatha yoga practice can help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches. One contemporary theory of how migraines occur states that the arteries that feed the brain narrow temporarily due to a variety of factors, stress and muscular tension being two common ones. For a migraine sufferer, there is then a sudden shift in the blood vessels and they abruptly dilate, increasing the blood flow to the head. This sudden shift results in the intense pain of the migraine episode. If you can somehow keep your body’s nervous system more relaxed from day to day, the initial narrowing of the blood vessels that predisposes someone to a migraine might be eliminated and the chance of the migraine minimized.

    Asanas for curing Migraine

    • Nouka Asana (Boat Pose), Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
    • Dhanura Asana (Bow Pose),Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)
    • Ardha Matsyendrasana (Spinal Twist Pose), Vriksha Asana (Tree Pose),
    • Shirsha Asana (Head Stand),
    • Sarvanga Asana (Shoulder Stand)
    • Hands to Feet (Pada Hastasana)
    • Matsayasana
    • Jalaneti, Kunjal, Laghu Shankhaprakshalana, Suryanamaskara, Shalabhasana, Paschi - mottanasana, Yoga Nidra.
    PranayamaFor Treatment of Migraine
    • Kapalabhati.
    • Sheetakari,
    • Shitali pranayama (without kumbhaka)
    Besides breathing practices, relaxation and meditation also are very helpful in curing Migraine pains. Rest in a quiet and darkened room. Place a cool cloth on your head.Hot foot and arm bath, massage to head, contrast foot bath, hot and cold hip bath (twice a week), massage to abdomen, fomentation and pack.

    Diet to be Taken by Migraine Patients:
    • Take more of Ginger, whole Grains, Vegetables, & Ginger Tea & water
    • Irregularities of diet and excessive exertion must be avoided.
    • The diet should have low content of fats and oils.
    • Avoid hot, spicy foods, fermented foods, and sour or citrus fruits.
    • Exposure to heat or cold should be avoided.
    • One Should Reduce intake of salty foods, meat, soda, salt, Alcohol,
    Ayurveda Cure For Migraine Headaches :

    Memocare Capsules - A combination of memory booster herbs like BRAHMI,ASHWAGANDHA, VACHA, MULATHI which guards against stress, depression and improves learning ability in a natural way. MEMOCARE Capsules improves mental attitude and channalises the memory to increase mental alertness.

    Brahmi Capsules - It is said to combat stress and depression, energize flagging mental powers, fight sterility, ward off a nervous breakdown, and improve reflexes.

    Ashwagandha Capsules - has many significant benefits, but is best known for its powerful adaptogenic properties, meaning that it helps mind and body adapt better to stress. It nourishes the nerves and improves nerve function to help you maintain calm during stressful situations.

    The following herbal compound is beneficial in managing migraine.
    1. shatavari 5 parts
    2. brahmi 4 parts
    3. jatamansi 3 parts
    4. musta 3 parts
    Prepare this mixture, and take 1/2 teaspoon twice a day, morning and evening, after breakfast and dinner, with a little lukewarm water. This formula is designed to pacify the aggravated pitta and help relieve migraine headaches.

    Those suffering from migraines do have a choice when deciding on a treatment option; preventative and pain relieving. Preventative measures can be taken to actually thwart off a migraine, and pain- relieving medications can be used after the migraine has manifested. Both treatments offer numerous options. Pain relieving medications that can be used to alleviate the pain associated with migraines include:
    • NSAIDs
    • Triptans
    • Ergots
    • Anti-nausea medication
    • Options for prevention include:
    • Cardiovascular drugs
    • Antidepressants
    • NSAIDs
    • Anti-seizure drugs
    • Cyproheptadine
    • Botox
    It is important for you to consult with your physician to determine what type of treatment will work best for you. Some migraine sufferers are able to get relief from over-the-counter medications, while others must rely on prescription medications offered by their doctors.

    Some of these alternative methods are:

    Biofeedback-This relaxation technique uses specialized equipment that enables the user to monitor and control certain things such as muscle tension. Biofeedback is used to relieve the pain from migraines.

    Acupuncture-Very small, fine needles are used in this treatment. They areplaced just under the skin in areas of nerves and nerve endings that correspond to the nerves sending pain messages to the brain. Acupuncture is also used to treat the pain associated with migraines.

    Massage-This treatment may prevent migraines, as it allows for complete relaxation and tension relief of the muscles.

    Vitamins, Herbs and Minerals-Feverfew and butterbut are herbs that may prevent migraines or reduce their frequency. Vitamin B-12 may also prevent migraines from occurring.

    According to a new study, a combination of breathing exercises, yoga postures and relaxation may help reduce the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks & cure migraine. A group of Indian Researchers, led by Dr. P.J. John of Rajasthan University, Jaipur, studied seventy two migraine patientsAccodring to John’s team the study is the preliminary evidence that indicates yoga therapy could be an effective migraine treatment, and more studies are required for confirmation of results.

    1 comment:

    Anonymous said...

    Never thought that sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting will be some symptoms of migraine, it alarmed me after reading this because sometimes I experience this things after working. Thanks for sharing this post.