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A headache (or shirah shula) is a complex disorder caused by many factors. The head is the seat of the brain and the doors of perception, as well as the mental faculties. Most of the srotamsi, or subtle channels of the body, are connected to the head. So, even though headaches may be common, they can be very distressing and may also be pointing out a more serious problem. In this issue we'll explore briefly the Ayurvedic approach to headaches and look at some possible remedies for relief. As usual, these are just general recommendations, and people with chronic or severe headaches should consult a clinician for a more individualized approach and receive proper treatment.
In Ayurveda, headaches are classified according to dosha (vata, pitta, and kapha), as well as the tissues affected (bone marrow, nerve and bone tissues), any possible disorders of the mental subtle pathways, and also depending on the involvement of the GI and respiratory tracts. There are many factors involved in a headache, so understanding the cause of it may be the best tool to deal with it before running for a pain killer to suppress or mask the symptoms, as it may be an indication of a deeper problem that may need to be addressed promptly.
Different Types of Headache
Emotional headaches are located more in the frontal areas of the head. Vata emotions (such as anxiety, fear, and insecurity) cause pain in the superior frontal gyrus; pitta emotions (anger, jealousy, envy, judgment, stress, etc.) affect the middle frontal gyrus; and kapha emotions (greed, possessiveness, depression) are located in the inferior frontal gyrus.
Referred headaches may be due to a tooth or gum infection, as well as infections of the nose or throat, tonsillitis, etc. The pain goes from the cheeks to the temples to the parietal area, or may affect the trigeminal nerve.
Allergic headaches are the result of an allergic reaction to certain chemical toxic products (such as insecticides, disinfectants, perfumes or hair dyes), exposure to carbon monoxide, or toxic substances like tobacco or alcohol. Ragweed and pollen may also cause this type of headache, as also may other substances depending on the sensitivity of each person.
Systemic headaches are due to the dysfunction of certain tissues or systems. This is the case of headaches accompanying conditions such as nephritis, uremia, hepatitis, rheumatism, diabetes, congestive heart failure, edema, hormonal dysfunction, and many other pitta and kapha conditions.
Pathological headaches are generally located in the vertex (top of the head). They may be due to high blood pressure, cerebral vascular accident, or tumors of the pineal or pituitary glands.
Migraine headaches are the result of an imbalance involving both vata and pitta and the cranial blood vessels, which creates an inflammation of the arteries or a dilation of the carotid artery. Usually speaking, the pain begins at pitta time of day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and gradually subsides in the afternoon.
Other Causes of Headache
Eye problems such as glaucoma can cause a headache due to the increased intra ocular pressure. Toxins in the liver can disturb the allochaka pitta in the eyes, thus creating photo sensitivity, redness and eye pain. This type of headache falls under the category of pitta.
Ear infections and mastoiditis can create both temporal and parietal headaches. Ringing in the ear, which is a vata disorder, can also cause a vata headache in the supramastoidal area.
Metabolic disorders such as poor digestion, absorption and assimilation can also cause headaches. These are due to a deficiencies in B12, calcium, magnesium or zinc. Other metabolic disorders include hypo- or hyperglycemia, sprue syndrome (chronic malabsorption), and obesity.
Headaches may also be due to factors such as fatigue, exhaustion, sunstroke, head injury, misalignment of the spine, muscular contraction in the neck area, withdrawal from addiction, or to more serious conditions including meningeal diseases, encephalitis, arteriosclerosis, and cancer.
Headache Management vs. Pain Killers
Most people take pain killers when they experience a headache, so we thought it would be useful to quickly mention their effects from an Ayurvedic perspective.
Aspirin is known to increase vata, which can cause palpitations and other problems, as well as pitta, producing stomach pain, heartburn, and other gastric ailments.
Ibuprofen increases vata and pitta as well, which can lead to bleeding and perforations of the GI tract, and can also cause liver disorders and renal toxicity.
Acetaminophen, which is known to have less side effects than aspirin, also increases vata and in the long run aggravates pitta too.
Basically, these drugs only pacify kapha, and while they may be effective at relieving pain, they disturb the doshas and may damage the tissues. Plus, they act symptomatically and never address the underlying cause. The aim of allopathic drugs is to alter the metabolism one way or another, while that of Ayurvedic herbs and therapies is to promote the balance of the doshas and protect all the tissues.
Because there are so many factors involved in a headache, it is best to find the underlying cause and treat at a constitutional level if it is a persistent problem. To better assess the cause one should be aware of the time of the headache (both its onset and time of aggravation), and its relationship to food, emotions, environment, and stress, as well as other signs and symptoms accompanying the headache. During the attack there are a few things one can do to alleviate the pain.
Essential oils and pastes can be applied on the site of the pain. Nutmeg, hina or musk oil can be used for vata headaches. Sandalwood, jatamansi, jasmine, khus, rose and coconut are good oils for pitta headaches. Ginger or vacha (calamus) pastes and eucalyptus, clove, cinnamon and cardamom oils can help with kapha headaches.
Nasya, or nasal administration of oil, can be used as well: ghee is used for vata; brahmi ghee for pitta; and vacha oil for kapha. A clinician can also select a more specific oil to meet the individual needs of a person.
When doing yoga, it is best to avoid inverted poses during acute headaches and do simple asanas such as camel, cobra, cow, boat, bow, bridge and spinal twists. Vata and kapha types of headache can benefit from inverted poses once the pain has subsided.
Meditation is a good way to bring prana to the head as well as to distance ourselves from the pain. A simple meditation focused on the breath is advised. (For those familiar with them, Ujjayi pranayama and yoga nidra techniques can be used to increase the flow of prana as well.)
If the headache was triggered by a food allergy, try avoiding sour foods, mushrooms, tomatoes, peanuts, chocolate, fermented foods, excess soy and dairy products, as well as leftover food.
Ayurvedic herbs and Ayurvedic therapies can be very effective for headaches, both on a constitutional and an acute level. An Ayurvedic clinician should be consulted for specific formulations.
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Doshic Type of Headache
Vata type of headache is throbbing, shooting, and vague. It usually comes on or is worse during the vata times of day (dawn and dusk) and it becomes prominent during the fall. The pain is located mostly on the occipital area at the base of the skull. This type is associated with constipation, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort. Causes include stagnation of chronic ama (toxic food byproducts) in the colon, accident or injury such as whiplash or concussion, too much exercise, or insufficient sleep.
Pitta type of headache is usually due to excessive exposure to sunlight, hyperacidity, or acid indigestion. The pain is located in the temporal area, and is sharp, intense, penetrating, and makes the person irritable. This type is associated with nausea and vomiting, and in general vomiting relieves the pain. It is more common in the summer, during midday and midnight.
Kapha type of headache is slow, dull, and aching, and the pain is usually worse when bending forward. The location of the pain is the front of the head. It may be associated with sinus congestion, stuffy nose, a cold, or kapha type of allergies.
Because more than one dosha can be aggravated simultaneously, symptoms can be mixed,which makes it harder to identify without proper clinical training.
More on Doshas
Marma Points for Headache
The red spots on the picture are marma points (energy points) that can help with a headache. They can be rubbed and pressed, as well as anointed with the appropriate oil according to the type of headache.
If oil is not available, simply pressing for 60 to 90 seconds is also effective.
Another point to consider is the mid-point of the thumb and big toe.
Gently massaging the muscle between the thumb and index fingers also helps, especially if it feels sore when rubbed or pressed.
Shirodhara
Shirodhara therapy is highly recommended for headaches. It pacifies vata (which is the dosha related to pain anywhere in the body), relaxes and nourishes the nervous system, and can be done with oils specific to the type of headaches or doshic imbalance causing them.
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