In modern days migraine/headache is one of the common problems. Sometimes it is difficult to know the cause but in most of the case it is psychosomatic. The most severe kind of headache is due to disturbances in the widening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Sometimes it can be instability of autonomous nervous system which causes swelling of arteries outside the skull. Stretching of nerve endings in the arterial wall can cause severe pain.
What are the symtoms of migraine?
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Vomiting
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Visual disturbances
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Intolerable to loud noise
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Pain in one side of the head or back or top of the head
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Loss of sensation or weakness of one half of the body or numbness of hands and around the mouth
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Throbbing head pain
There are different types of pain as follow:
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Vascular Headache – Generally occurs at high altitude or after alcohol consumption. Throbbing type pain is caused by dilation of intracranial blood vessels with fever and infections.
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Muscle Spasm – This is most common type of headache due to emotional tension scalp and neck go into a spasm with continuous and persistent pain or tightness in scalp and neck. Cervical spondylitis and poor spinal postures are initiators.
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Referred Headache – Due to eyestrain and glaucoma, inflammation or irritation of sinuses and nasal passages often referred to the skull as headache.
What causes migraine?
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Tensions, High blood pressure.
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Weather change or season change
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With the rising sun
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Diseases of eyes, ear, nose, teeth and sinuses
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Allergy to certain objects or condition or situation
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Digestive problems (constipation, indigestion etc).
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Physical and mental stress, work pressure, emotional upset, depression, excessive worrying, too tense attitude to work, chronic frustration and dissatisfaction.
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It may be inherited from the family also.
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Personality such as rigidity, reserve, and obsessivity
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Eye strain (reading, sitting in front of computer, bad lighting etc).
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Cheese, chocolate, cocoa, pork, eggs, seafood and alcohol (beer) also may cause headache.
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For some people fried foods, butter, milk, coffee also cause headache.
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For some even taking lemon, orange and tomatoes (highly acidic food) cause headache.
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Menstrual cycle fluctuations including premenstrual tension and hormone fluctuations during menopause onset
These are the common internal and external factors for migraine/headache. If we can point out the actual cause of the problem, it will be easier to cure. According to physical constitution, women (2/3 patients) have more tendency to develop migraine.
Causes of migraine can be varied from mental, physical, emotional, or environmental problems, but these affect our physical body. However medical science treats the symptoms by using tranquilizers, sleeping pills, pain killers and the likes. We feel temporary relieved but cause of the problem still remain most of the time, although headache may disappear after the treatment of primary cause such as a fever, eyes disorder, sinusitis, digestive problem etc.
How to treat and prevent migrain with Yogic ways?
Yoga provides wide range of practices to cure the symptoms as well as to solve cause of the problems. In most of the cases it can be eradicated completely due to its holistic approach. The basic practices are Hatha Yoga, nasal cleansing and Kunjal (respiratory & upper digestive tract cleasing). If these practices are performed at the beginning of the migraine then can get immediate relief. If problem is more severe, these practices should be done regularly in the morning followed by some Asanas and Pranayama.
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Asana -- Sun salutation, Joints rotations (pawanmuktasana -1) , can do other asanas according to body limit .
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Pranayama – Bhramari (humming bee), Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing), mild Bhastrika.
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Shatkarma – Neti and Kunjal daily. Laghoo Shankhaprakshalana (intestine cleansing) weekly.
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Relaxation – Yoganindra daily.
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Diet – a simple vegetarian diet is helpful, avoid rich food such as cheese, chocolate and wine. Do not overeat.
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Fasting – sometimes fasting also gives relief.
These practices work even the cause of migraine is unclear. Because it works at all level from physical, mental to emotional. But before implementing the yogic practices, one should consult a qualified yoga teacher to avoid any complications.
Remark: These article is based on the research of Bihar School of Yoga, India.
By Master Sanjiv Chaturvedi
Divine Yoga will be holding a special class "Yoga for Migraine" soon. |
