Abstract

AYURVEDA’S INTERPRETATION OF MIGRAINE TYPE OF HEADACHE: A LITERATURE REVIEW

*Dr. Akshay Bhoir and Dr. Varsha Jaraje

ABSTRACT

Migraine headaches are defined as pain occurring on either one or both sides of the head that is throbbing, shooting or pulsating in nature. The pain can be combined with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sound (Phonophobia), distorted vision and burning sensation. It is one of the most severe types of headaches. A large percentage of patients fail pharmaceutical treatments for acute migraine attacks or preventing measures. Migraine is mostly a tridoshic condition or mostly pitta-vata Dosha oriented but it can also be triggered by any one of the individual doshas. Ayurveda believes in treating the disease at its root cause from within. Therefore, treatments focus on balancing the vitiated dosha (s) in the digestive and nervous systems. Acharyas mentioned various type of headache in Ayurveda literature. Migraine does not show exact similarity with any one of them but still according to the symptoms, severity and duration its very close to Pittaj Shiroshula.

Keywords: Migraine, Headache, Ayurvedic interpretation, Pittaj Shiroshula.