Migraine in Ayurveda: Understanding Your Trigger Pattern

Ayurveda describes migraine as Ardhavabhedaka: severe, splitting, one-sided head pain occurring in episodes with periods of complete freedom in between. The description is over two thousand years old and still clinically precise.

Vata-type migraine is triggered by missed meals, late nights, travel and cold wind, and the pain is throbbing and shifting. Pitta-type is triggered by heat, sun, spicy food, anger and skipped lunch, and comes with nausea, light sensitivity and burning eyes. Kapha-type is heavy, dull, worse in the morning and linked to sinus congestion.

Shirodhara helps all three but with different liquids. Nasya is central where there is a sinus component. Virechana is often the turning point in long-standing Pitta migraine.

A typical course combines 7 to 14 days of Shirodhara, a 7-day Nasya course, internal medicines suited to your pattern, and a diet and routine plan. Most patients see attack frequency drop substantially within two months, and many reduce their acute medication use considerably.