By Dr. Leena Athparia, ND, AAWC
Almost everyone has had a migraine or
headache at some point in their life, but for many individuals chronic
migraines can be debilitating and impact daily life. Conventional medicine has
several tools to help ease the pain of migraines – though not without side
effects. While these medications are commonly prescribed or taken over the
counter, they don’t necessarily address the root of the issue. In this article,
the words migraine and headache may be used interchangeably; though they
manifest slightly differently, the treatment approach is similar.

Ayurveda and other systems such as
Naturopathic medicine or TCM have developed thorough systems of assessments to
help identify various types of migraines stemming from a variety of causes. The first step to healing headaches is to
understand why they are manifesting in the first place. Once the imbalance is
identified, a treatment plan can be laid out.
Causes of Headaches & Migraines
Pain is your body’s way of telling you that
something is not right. Headaches could be a sign of dehydration or lack of
sleep – a signal to get some rest. Chronic headaches can also be a sign of a
more serious or underlying issue such as inflammation in the brain due to food
sensitivities, auto-immune diseases or from chronic structural issues such as
poor posture or injuries. Some common causes of migraines and headaches:
- Stress
- Insomnia
- Food allergies
- Weather changes
- Dehydration
- Overwork
- Postural imbalances
- Eye strain
- Hormones
- Medications
According to Ayurveda, headaches are seen
as a sign of dosha imbalances – when the equilibrium of the 5 elements is lost,
there is an accumulation of vata, pitta
or kapha leading to symptoms. The location, quality, severity, duration and
characteristics of the migraine can give clear information on the specific
dosha imbalance. Tongue & pulse assessments can further reveal the
individual’s prakruti and vikruti.
Types of Headaches & Migraines
According to Ayurveda, headaches are seen
as a sign of dosha imbalances – when the equilibrium of the 5 elements is lost,
there is an accumulation of vata, pitta
or kapha leading to symptoms. The location, quality, severity, duration and
characteristics of the migraine can give clear information on the specific
dosha imbalance. Tongue & pulse assessments can further reveal the
individual’s prakruti and vikruti. Migraines can be classified
into 3 major types:
Vata Headaches
Vata headaches are often caused by fear,
stress, anxiety and chronic muscle tension in the neck and shoulders. These
headaches are often triggered by travel and having too many activities or
commitments. Pain is often felt in the back of the neck and head and may come
and go. These headaches are generally relieved with warmth, rest, quiet and
massage to release tension.
Pitta Headaches
Pitta Headaches are triggered by heat, dehydration,
anger, impatience and overwork. When you are under pressure or take on too many
responsibilities, this is your body’s way of telling you to ease up. The
quality of these headaches are throbbing and pounding and are often felt at the
temples or behind the eyes. These types of headaches resolve with relaxation,
slowing down and cooling therapies.
Kapha Headaches
Kapha Headaches are perpetuated by heavy
foods, sleeping in, colds and sinus infections. They are characterized by
heaviness and dullness in the frontal and sinus areas and mucus congestion.
These types of headaches get better with heat, movement and light food.
Treatments
Healing from headaches involves understanding
the cause, relieving discomfort and preventing reoccurrence. There are many
ways to do this using natural approaches once the type of headache has been
identified. Someone with pitta headaches will need a different approach than a
kapha headache for example. Below is an outline of some of the common
treatments for headaches and migraines.
Diet
Eating according to the season and one’s
dosha type is an essential foundation to healing headaches. In addition, it is
very beneficial to identify food sensitivities and migraine triggers: this can
be through keeping a food diary, or doing IgG/IgA food sensitivity testing with
a practitioner. Some common triggers are: caffeine, alcohol, cheese, dairy,
wheat, eggs, citrus and preservatives, though it will vary for each individual.
You can do a food sensitivity test through your ND to identify your specific
sensitivities or do an elimination diet where you remove all the common
triggers for a month and slowly introduce one new food item at a time and
record your symptoms.
Lifestyle
Ayurveda has always emphasized the
importance of dinacharya – the
concept of healthy daily routines as part of a healthy lifestyle. Many people
have lost touch with the cycles of nature and healthy routines, yet they are a
foundation for health. Waking up by sunrise, drinking a glass of water first
thing in the morning, tongue scraping, dry skin brushing or self-massaging and
incorporating yoga and meditation before eating a balanced breakfast is an
outline of a healthy daily morning routine. In the evening, eating dinner
before sunset and winding down with bedtime routines (such as aromatherapy
massage and light reading or meditation) can help reset the body for a restful
sleep. There are many routines in Ayurveda that can be customized based on your
dosha type and lifestyle. More than a medicine, it is a way of life.
Botanicals & Supplements
A mainstay of naturopathic, supplements
play a key role of delivering concentrated nutrients to the body – especially
when there are deficiencies. Common supplements that can benefit individuals
with headaches are: Magnesium, omega-3 oils, B vitamins, and antioxidants.
Many nervine herbs help to relax muscle tension and support relaxation,
especially in vata headaches. Some common herbs used in botanical medicine are:
skullcap, passionflower, lavender, brahmi and jatamansi. It is always advised
to work with your practitioner before taking supplements and herbs so that they
can be adjusted to your individual needs.
Therapies
When
your head is pounding with a headache what brings the most relief? Many will enjoy a massage around the temples or forehead with a warm
or cold compress. Receiving treatment is one of the most effective ways of
dissipating pain. Some of the most effective treatments for relief of migraines
(acute or chronic) are acupuncture and massage. These therapies reduce tension
in the body and promote circulation. They also help your mind to slow down and
break the pattern of stress and overwork.
Abhyanga or Ayurvedic massage along with essential oils can bring
instant relaxation and you can learn which oils to keep handy. Lavender or rose
oils cool down a pitta headache, eucalyptus
or pine helps with kapha headaches, and lavender or frankincense helps
with vata headaches. There are many other oils and techniques that
your practitioner can show you.
The body has the remarkable ability to
heal. Migraines and headaches are not something that you have to live with.
Once the cause has been identified it is much easier to treat them with a
combination of diet, lifestyle, herbs and therapies according to dosha type. Before you pop that painkiller – take a
moment and tune into what your body is telling you. With chronic migraines,
a significant change in terms of diet or lifestyle is usually needed for
lasting effects and best done under supervision by your practitioner. Once your
headaches are addressed, you will feel better, have more clarity, productivity
and energy in your day!
Dr. Leena Athparia is a Naturopathic doctor & Ayurvedic practitioner at Naturopathic Foundations with a focus on joint health, pain and chronic disease. If you are healthy and looking into preventing disease or learning more about your constitution, Dr. Athparia can help you. Please call the clinic at 905-940-2727 to book an appointment.