Migraine is a powerful headache with severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, which usually occurs on one side of the head. The pain gets so severe that it hampers your daily activities. It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last for hours and sometimes even over days.
Major causes of migraine
- Hormonal changes in women such as before or during menstrual periods, menopause, etc
- Hormonal medications, such as oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy
- Drinks that include alcohol, especially wine, and too much caffeine, such as coffee
- Stress of any type
- Sensory stimuli like bright lights and strong sunlight can induce migraines. Loud sound and strong smell including perfume, paint thinner, can trigger migraine
- Sleep changes like less sleep or too much sleep
- Intense physical exertion
- Weather changes
- Foods like aged cheese and salty and processed foods
- Skipping meals or fasting
- Food additives like sweetener aspartame and the preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG), etc
Ayurvedic approach to migraine
According to Ayurveda, an imbalance in tridosha may trigger migraine. It is essentially caused by Vata and Pitta dosha. When there is an imbalance of Vata, which controls the nervous system and brain activities, it triggers migraine. People with a Vata constitution are likely to suffer from migraines.
Vata imbalance can happen due to many reasons like improper metabolism, mental and physical stress, menstrual cycles, insomnia, hunger, barometric changes, toxicity in the body and excessive use of computer. Pitta usually causes dilation of the blood vessels, which usually leads to a migraine attack.
Ayurveda suggests following a Pitta-pacifying diet and lifestyle to get relief from migraines. This means adding more sweet, bitter, and astringent foods and avoiding acidic, pungent, sour, and salty foods.
It is also recommended to follow a lifestyle that helps eliminate stress, strengthens digestion, and balances the doshas.
Home remedies
When you get a migraine attack, stop your work and lie down in a dark room with a cool cloth over your eyes. This will provide some instant relief.
Avoid direct sunlight and have a glass of coconut water to restore electrolytes.
Cumin, coriander, and fennel tea help to cleanse the toxins and impurities that have accumulated in the blood.
Use the liquorice root, which reduces heat and inflammation and supports liver function.
A soothing scalp massage with Brahmi oil helps. Place a few drops of Brahmi ghee in each nostril, it will give you quick relief from migraine pain
A Pitta pacifying diet always helps to tackle migraine.
Besides these home remedies, Ayurveda suggests some medicines made with herbal extracts that are beneficial for treating migraine.
Migrakot tablet is a formulation based on the preparation of Pathyakshadhartriadi Kwatham mentioned in Sarnagadhara Samhita. Manufactured by Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, it is highly effective in the treatment of migraine, and reduces the chances of getting headaches. The drug is prepared from a unique combination of herbal extracts that have anti-emetic, analgesic and cooling properties.
Ingredients of Migrakot tablet
- Pathya (Terminalia chebula), fruit rind, 0.537g, Haritaki
- Aksha (Terminalia bellirica), fruit rind, 0.537g, Vibhiakti
- Dhatri (Phyllanthus emblica), fruit rind 0.537g, Amla
- Bhunimba (Andrographis paniculata), whole plant, 0.537g, useful in Pitta dosha balance
- Nisa (Curcuma longa), rhizomi, 0.537g, Turneric
- Nimba (Azadirachta indica), bark, 0.537g, Neem
- Amrita (Tinospora cordifolia), stem, 0.537g, Indian Tinospora
Benefits of Migrakot tablet
A Migrakot tablet, which is made from this unique combination of herbal ingredients, is an ideal choice in the treatment of migraine. The medicinal properties of the herbs in the formulation have anti-emetic analgesic vaso-relaxation and cooling properties, thus treating migraine. It supports the nervous system and strengthens the senses.
Dosage
It is recommended to take two tablets thrice a day or as per the advice of your Ayurvedic doctor.
