ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR MIGRAINE

Headache that causes severe throbbing pain or pulsating sensations mostly on one side of the head is known as Migraine. The headache is usually followed by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to sound and light. Migraine attacks usually last for hours to days while causing severe pain that it tends to interferes in day to day life of individual. It is a common neurological disease. There may be worsening of the symptoms due to light, movement, sound and other triggers.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF MIGRAINE?

There are several types of migraines that includes :

• Migraine with aura or Complicated Migraine : This begins with warning sign known as Aura which generally involves temporary vision loss, speech changes, blind spots in vision etc.
• Migraine without aura or Common Migraine : In this type of migraine individual experience no aura. It slowly starts and interfere in day to day activities of individual.
• Migraine with head pain : Also known as “Silent Migraine” or “Acephalgic Migraine” which tends to includes symptoms of aura but do not experience headache which typically follows.
• Hemiplegic Migraine : Individual experience temporary paralysis or sensory or neurological changes on one side of body. Headache onset may be interrelated with temporary numbness, extreme weakness of one side of body, loss of sensation, tingling sensation and dizziness or changes in vision. Individual may or may not experience head ache.
• Retinal Migraine or Ocular Migraine : Short lived, total or partial loss of vision in one eye followed by dull ache behind the eye that may spread to rest of your head. Loss of vision may last a minute or few months.
• Chronic Migraine : Migraine that occurs at least 15 days per month. The individual experience headache for at least 8 days with migraine features for more than 3 months.
• Migraine with Brainstem Aura : In this type of migraine individual experience slurred speech, loss of balance, vertigo or double vision that occur before headache. Pain affect the back of the head. Symptoms generally occur suddenly and is associated with inability to speak properly , vomiting and ringing in ears.
• Status Migrainosus : Severe and Rare type that usually last more than 72 hours . Nausea and pain experienced by individual are so intense that medical assistance may be needed.

WHAT ARE THE TRIGGERS OF MIGRAINE?

There are various triggers of migraine which includes :

• Drinks : Intake of alcohol or too much caffeine can act as a trigger for the migraine.
• Hormone changes : Fluctuation in hormone levels in the body during menstrual cycle, when they are ovulating, pregnancy or menopause can trigger migraine attack in females.
• Foods : Certain foods or drinks like cheese , food additives like monosodium glutamate and nitrates can trigger migraine attack in some individuals.
• Changes in weather : Significant change of weather or barometric pressure can cause a migraine attack.
• Sleep Changes : Getting too much sleep or not getting enough sleep can trigger migraine in some individuals.
• Certain medications : Medications like vasodilators, oral contraceptive etc may aggravate the migraine.
• Sensory stimuli : Strong smells, bright or flashing light , loud sounds tends to trigger migraine in some individuals.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MIGRAINE?

Symptoms experienced by individual depends upon they stages they are going through :

Prodrome Symptoms Includes :

• Mood changes , from euphoria to depression
• Fluid retention
• Constipation
• Increased urination
• Food cravings
• Neck stiffness
• Frequent yawing

Aura Symptoms Includes :

• Vision loss
• Visual phenomena like seeing bright spots, various shapes or flashes of light
• Numbness or weakness in face or one side of body
• Difficulty in speaking
• Needles and pins sensations in leg or arm

Headache Symptoms Includes :

• Depression, anxiety and giddiness
• Nasal congestion
• Insomnia
• Neck pain , stiffness
• Sensitivity to smell, light and sound
• Nausea and vomiting

Post-drome Symptoms Includes :

• Depressed mood
• Euphoric mood
• Fatigue
• Inability to concentrate
• Lack of comprehension

AYURVED APPROACH

Migraine can be correlated with Ardhavabedhaka. Due to exposure to etiological factors such as consumption of dry foods, exposure to breeze and fog, suppressing the natural urges, excessive physical exercise etc. leads to vitiation of the vata dosha. Vitiated vata either alone or along with vitiated kapha gets lodged into half portion of head and leads to development of the condition.

HERBS :

• Bala
• Kumari
• Yashtimadhu
• Sariva
• Amalaki
• Mallika
• Hareetaki

PANCHKARMA FOR MIGRAINE :

• Shiro Dhara : This is a classical panchkarma procedure in which slowly and steadily medicated oil or other liquids are dripped on the forehead. This therapy helps to pacify vitiated vata thus relieves the symptoms of migraine.
• Kaval Graha : Oil pulling with medicated oil or decoction of herbs helps to reduce symptoms of migraine and also maintain overall health of oral cavity.
• Shiro Lepam : Various herbal powder are made into paste then applied on the scalp to provide relief from headache.
• Nasyam : Instillation of medicated oil drops in each nostril to counter the vitiated doshas in the head region.

CHANDIGARH AYURVED CENTRE MEDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF MIGRAINE :

 1. Nerve up tablet

CAC Nerve up tablet is a herbo-mineral tablet and is purely ayurvedic formulation.  CAC Nerve up tablets help in balancing the vata doshas. It reduces kapha dosha, and acts as nervine stimulant. It shows effective results in improving the central nervous system. It contains natural ingredients like shudha kuchala, shudha shilajeet, praval pishti, shankh bhasma etc. These contains natural vatahar properties and helps in curing vata diseases.

Recommended Dosage– Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.

2. Panchasakar Churna

This churna is specially made to remove the toxins from the body on a regular basis. This herbal remedy is made up of ingredients such as Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Swarna patri (Cassia angustifolia), Shatapushpa (Foeniculum vulgare), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale), and Saindhavan lavana (Rock salt). It balances all the doshas and reduces the symptoms of associated diseases.

Recommended Dosage– Take 1 tablespoon with Lukewarm water at bedtime.

3. Sheet Dhara Syrup

Sheet Dhara is herbo mineral and purely ayurvedic formulation. It works on all the three doshas of body but mainly act on pitta dosha. It contains Ajwaion, Kapur (camphor) and Mint leaves that help reduce Acidity and burning sensation in chest region with its cooling effects. It relaxes your mind also maintains Bloodpressure. CAC Sheet dhara help in controlling mood swings by which many women are affected nowadays. It also controls burping ,nausea and bloating.

Recommended Dosage – Take 1/2 or 1 teaspoon of sheet dhara twice daily empty stomach.

4. Digestion Support tablet

This tablet is unique blend of best digestive herbs like kutaz chal, bilav, dhania, mustak, shankh bhasm, piper mint, and dadim that maintain natural Ph balance in the stomach and aid digestion of all types of food. The herbs present in this control acidity, gas, flatulence and constipation. These all complex problems are root cause of all diseases. If digestive system is proper it leads to proper assimilation of the nutrients in the body. As per Ayurveda digestive disorders are due to imbalance of Pitta doshas. The Ama formation leads to digestive disorders.

Recommended Dosage– 1 tablet twice daily with plain water

5. Mann Mitra tablet

Mann Mitra tablet is herbal and purely ayurvedic medicine. It is used in Ayurvedic treatment for psychiatric conditions and help to balance all the three doshas of body i.e vata, pitta, kapha. CAC Mann Mitra tablet improves intelligence and speech problems. It is helpful for making the nervous system strong and nerves as well. It contains various herbs like Bala, Vacha, Shankhpushpi, Nagkeshar etc that help you fight insomnia, anxiety, and stress.

Recommended Dosage– Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.

6. Anu Tail

Anu tail is herbo mineral and purely ayurvedic formulation. It is used for ayurvedic treatment procedure known as Nasya treatment in most of the disease involving Ear, Nose and Throat involving pain. It has Tridosha balancing properties but mainly help to balance your Kapha dosha that cause Headache, running Nose or Sinusitis. It strengthens Ear, Eyes, Nose, Tongue and Throat.

Recommended Dosage– 2 drops twice a day in both nostrils