Abstract:

Migraine headache is one of the most severe types of headaches. A large percentage of patients fail pharmaceutical treatments for acute migraine attacks or preventing measures. Migraine sufferers can benefit from alternative therapies (biofeedback, acupuncture, supplements, massage therapy, relaxation therapy) if they do not respond to conventional therapy, develop unwanted side effects or are reluctant to take allopathic medications. Unlike the Western allopathic approach of one-size-fits-all, Ayurveda treats the root cause of imbalances by addressing each patient’s unique constitution and illness. Headaches in Ayurveda are classified based on doshic involvement (body-mind-spirit). Migraine is mostly a vata-pitta dosha or tridoshic condition but it can also be triggered by any one of the individual doshas. Ayurveda believes in treating the disease at its root cause from within. Therefore, treatments focus on balancing the vitiated dosha (s) in the digestive and nervous systems. This can be achieved by avoiding triggers and prescribing doshic-specific diet, stress management (meditation, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, yoga and mantra), herbal formulas, lifestyle modification, panchakarma and other holistic modalities to create a balanced physiology. This state of complete balanced in healing the body and mind, can allow the illness to resolve and symptoms disappear.

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