Struggling with relentless headaches and migraines that throw off your day and leave you searching for relief? If you’re tired of relying on painkillers that only offer temporary comfort, it’s time to explore a more effective, time-tested approach. Ayurveda, a centuries-old holistic system of medicine, offers natural remedies for headache that address the root cause rather than just the symptoms. Break free from the frustration and discover natural remedies for headache that work in harmony with your body for lasting relief!
In Ayurveda, the head is considered the “Shira“, the most vital organ and headaches are referred to as “Shiroshoola“.2 This ancient wisdom provides a unique perspective on the causes and remedies for headaches. Keep reading!
How to Diagnose Your Headache-Type?
What makes Ayurveda truly remarkable is its personalized approach to healing. Instead of a one-size-fits-all solution, an Ayurvedic expert goes deep into your unique body composition to identify your dominant dosha—Vata, Pitta, or Kapha. They create a tailored roadmap designed just for you, addressing the root cause of imbalances rather than the symptoms.
And did you know that Ayurveda has a special way of understanding headaches and its causes? It identifies not just one or two, but a whopping 11 distinct types of headaches. Ayurveda makes it simpler to decode the nature of your headache, whether it’s throbbing, burning, or dull. Once you gain this insight, this ancient science offers natural remedies for headaches, tailored to your specific dosha, delivering targeted relief like never before.
Three Main Types of Headache in Ayurveda
| HEADACHE TYPE1,2 | SYMPTOMS |
| VATA | Have you ever experienced those pulsating headaches that seem to throb not only in your head but also in your eyes? It might appear and disappear suddenly, leaving you wondering when the next wave will hit. There might also be a feeling of deafness in your ears. To top it off, you might even feel like someone’s trying to tug your eyeballs right out of their sockets! Giddiness is no joke, and sometimes the pain travels beyond your head, reaching the neck, shoulder blades, and even your jaw. There can be increased sensitivity to light and sound along with an annoying watery discharge from the nose. |
| PITTA | This one can feel like a fiery headache that may feel like your head is fuming! You might also notice a burning sensation, extreme thirst, dizziness, lots of sweating, or even a touch of fever. |
| KAPHA | Kapha headaches appear as sluggish & heavy that turn your head into a numb and cold zone. It may feel like the head is wrapped in a wet cloth, and you can’t escape that lethargic feeling. You might even notice some mild swelling around your eyes. Along with that comes the dreaded combo of dizziness, feeling lazy, loss of appetite, and even some queasiness. Your head wants to take a nap, but the headache won’t let you! Sometimes that mild pain can even transform into an intense throbbing. |
Triggers of Headaches: What does Ayurveda say?
We’ve all experienced those excruciating headaches that leave us frantically searching for relief. Well, guess what? In Ayurveda, these headaches, or “Shiroshoola“, are caused by a variety of factors that resonate with our fast-paced, modern lives. Let’s take a closer look at what may be triggering them:1,2,3
Lifestyle-related Factors
- Sleep disturbances (Atisvapna): We’ve all experienced those moments when our sleep patterns go haywire and wreak havoc on our heads. Whether it’s indulging in a little too much sleep or staying awake the whole night, a disrupted sleep pattern can be a real headache—literally.
- Daytime Sleep (Diwaswapna): Sleeping during the day, especially after meals, can elevate Kapha dosha, leading to heaviness and dull headaches. This practice hampers digestion and metabolism.
- Suppression of natural urges (Vega Dharana): Ayurveda points out that even ignoring the call of nature or resisting the need for sleep or food is a real contributor to that throbbing headache. Resisting your natural urges pushes your body to rebel and your head starts to throb, urging you to listen to its cues.
- Late-Night Sleeping (Ratri Jagarana): Staying awake at night disrupts the natural circadian rhythm, increasing Vata dosha and resulting in headaches characterized by restlessness and insomnia
- Eye Strain (Pratatekshana): Constant gazing at screens for hours, whether for work or pleasure, can take a toll on your eyes. They might become strained, and soon enough, your head will join in the discomfort with a pounding headache. It is advised to take regular breaks, practice eye exercises, and keep a healthy balance of screen time to keep headaches at bay. The secret of sound sleep: Types and techniques for optimal rest is one of our blogs that you may read for more in-depth sleep solutions.
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Dietary Factors
- Fluid Overload (Atyambupana): Hydration is vital, but excessive intake of water or fluids can throw your body’s balance off-kilter. Your head, feeling the pressure of the excess, reminds you to drink mindfully, hydrating adequately without overwhelming your system.
- Hangover (Atimadhyapana): Excessive consumption of alcohol leads to vitiation of pitta and blood and tends to dehydrate your body, leaving your head reeling with regret. It’s a reminder to enjoy alcohol in moderation, hydrate between drinks, and toast to a headache-free morning.
- Contaminated Foods (Dushta Anna): Consuming foods that are contaminated, incompatible, or unwholesome can cause a pounding headache, urging you to prioritize clean, nutritious meals and avoid triggers that disrupt your body’s harmony.
Mental Factors
- Holding back tears (Baashpa Nigraha): Imagine a moment that brings tears to your eyes, yet you try to suppress them, bottling up your emotions. The result? A tightness in your head, like a pressure cooker about to burst. Your head tells you to let those tears flow, release those emotions, and find solace in expressing yourself.
- Constant Grief and Stress (Atirodana): When life throws curveballs, and grief and stress become constant companions, your head might bear the brunt of it. The persistent headache reminds you to find healthy ways to cope with grief, manage stress, and prioritize self-care, so your head can find relief from the weight it carries.
- Anger and Envy (Dvesha): Frequent bouts of anger and envy can create internal turmoil, resulting in tension headaches. Your head serves as a reminder to cultivate a peaceful mind, practice patience, and let go of negative emotions, allowing your head to find respite from the burden of anger and envy.
Environmental Factors
- Smoke and Fumes (Dhooma): Picture this — long hours spent in traffic, surrounded by smog and exhaust fumes. It’s no wonder your head starts throbbing, desperately seeking fresh, clean air. Excessive exposure to smoke and fumes can trigger those nagging headaches.
- Sun’s Scorching Heat (Aatapa): A scorching summer day with the sun bearing down can make anyone’s head feel like it’s cooking under that blazing heat, begging for shade and a cool respite.
- Exposure to Cold Air (Avashyaya Sevana): On a chilly winter morning, when the air feels damp and frosty, your head might start to ache like an ice pick stabbing through, doesn’t it? Avoiding cold exposure is the best way to keep such headaches at bay!
- Incompatible Smells (Asatmyagandha): Have you ever been in an environment filled with overpowering or really foul odor? Bad odors make your head throb, trying to seek relief from the assault on your senses. Because of this, your head reminds you to create a well-ventilated space and surround yourself with pleasant scents that agree with you.
Ayurvedic Solutions & Natural Remedies for Headaches!
It can get tiring and hopeless to rely on temporary fixes to combat those pesky headaches! But now, it’s time to break free from the cycle and explore a treatment that goes beyond just masking the symptoms. Discovering relief from headaches is like solving a puzzle with Ayurveda’s toolbox of treatments. Let’s dive into some unique Ayurvedic solutions that can actually provide relief! 4, 5
Specialized At-Home Remedies for Headaches
Nasal Therapy
Nasya therapy involves herbal oils or medicated substances administered through the nostrils. It’s a rejuvenating treat for your nasal passages, helping combat sinus-related headaches and enhancing respiratory health. Nasya with anu thailam is one of the best ways to prevent and manage various types of headaches naturally yet effectively.6
Herbal Oil Massage
A soothing head massage is the best natural remedy for your headache, which helps submerge oneself in the calming scents of Ayurvedic oils. This tranquil experience not only releases muscle tension but also nourishes the scalp, leaving you refreshed. Massages work even better when you know which oil to adopt for which dosha type!7
| Blissful Herbal Oil Massage | |
| DOSHA TYPE | OILS |
| VATA | Baladi Thailam, Rasnadi thailam, Narayan thailam, Dashmoola thailam, Triphaladi thailam |
| PITTA | Himsagara thailam, Triphaladikera thailam, Madhuyastyadi thailam |
| KAPHA | Assanvilwadi thailam, Triphaladi thailam, Amrutadi thailam, Manjishthadi thailam |
Shiro Lepas (Herbal pastes)
Imagine getting a soothing head treatment that feels like a blissful spa day for your mind! That’s exactly what shirolepa is all about – an Ayurvedic therapy where a therapeutic herbal paste is gently applied to your forehead, melting away stress and leaving you with a heavenly sense of calm and rejuvenation. 8
| Soothing Shiro Lepas | |
| DOSHA TYPE | HERBS |
| VATA | Tagar paste, kushta paste, devdaru paste |
| PITTA | Sandalwood paste, mint paste, amla paste |
| KAPHA | Nutmeg paste, jatamansi paste, dry ginger paste |
Wondering how to do it? Fret not! First, gather the ingredients (fresh or powdered). Blend together with some water. Now apply this velvety potion to your forehead. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let the aromatic magic transport you to a realm of tranquility. As you rinse off this enchanting mask with lukewarm water after 10 minutes, you’ll discover that the headache has disappeared and a renewed energy is coursing through your being, making you feel refreshed and calmer than ever!
Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies for Headaches
Ayurveda has a treasure of herbs that help with chronic persistent headaches. From Ashwagandha, brahmi, shankhpushpi to ksheer ghrita, kumari (aloe vera), and Amalaki, all these herbs help majorly in dealing with headaches. While consuming Ayurveda herbs it is always better to consult an Ayurveda doctor, some of the basic herbs that you can try by yourself are:
- Svetachandana (Sandalwood): Create a soothing paste by mixing 5 grams of sandalwood with tulsi (holy basil) juice. Apply it gently on the forehead and temples to help reduce fever and alleviate headaches.9
- Lavanga (Clove): Grind cloves into a paste and apply it to the forehead. This simple remedy can provide relief from persistent headaches and is particularly effective for soothing tension.
- Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry): Consume it as a juice, or pickle, or simply keep a bag of amla candies with yourself to munch on throughout the day.9
Now that you’ve witnessed the power of Ayurveda in harmonizing doshas and tackling those relentless headaches, it’s time to embark on a journey of lasting relief. Remember, when those pounding headaches or migraines strike, Ayurveda offers a personalized and holistic approach that goes beyond just temporary fixes. So, the next time those headaches knock on your door, don’t just settle for temporary relief; embrace Ayurveda’s time-tested and natural remedies for headaches to unlock the secrets of balance and vitality.
Here’s to a healthier, happier you, sailing towards a future full of well-being and vitality! Cheers to your journey of Ayurvedic healing!
Your way of explaining everything in this piece of writing is genuinely nice, every thing is understandable without difficulty… Thanks a lot.
Thank you so much for your kind words 🌿🙏 We’re delighted to hear that you found the article easy to understand. Your encouragement means a lot to us!