The third most prevalent neurological disease and the sixth most disabling disorder in the whole world. It has the ability to drive you crazy anytime and anywhere and won’t allow you to work or function normally. The majority of patients experience it once or twice a month but you may not know that some people experience the pain of chronic migraines almost on a daily basis or at least 15-20 days a month. Only a sufferer would know the reverberation of the horrible pain it offers.
It is a complex brain network chaos that pulls the strings behind this horrendous pain.
Although there is no specific medication for curing migraine for now yet there are some tips and tricks which can help you prevent the onset of headache or manage through the pain.
To prevent Migraine
- Put on a pair of shades
Light sensitivity is the crucial causative factor of migraine headaches. You can’t certainly cover your eyes when you are under sun exposure. So, a pair of glasses will serve as your savior.
- Comprehend your stress issues
Avoid taking stress as it only triggers your nerves. Try to stay away from stressful conditions or environments as much as possible.
- Block the scents
If some particular scent of perfume or odor triggers the pain then it is better to block the scent by a substitute one. Smelling lavender can do the trick very nicely as it soothes your nerves and calms your humors.
- Reduce your screen time
Prolonged screen exposure causes the blue light to intensify the migraine headache. So cut the blue light when you feel like your head is feeling heavier.
Management of Pain
- Darken your surroundings
The very first thing you must do is to cut the light exposure whether it is from the sun or any other source. You need to rest in a dark room to avoid the further influence of bright light on the pain.
- Comfort yourself
You can try two ways to comfort yourself depending on your body type and preference. You can have a steam bath, hot oil massages, or soak your body in hot water to release the tension from your muscles and relax or you can try it another way round by using the cold compress method by placing an ice pack around your neck which as suggested by the studies cools down the blood flowing to your head and soothe your nerves.
- Stay hydrated
To maintain the water-electrolyte balance in your body, hydration does wonders and helps in alleviating headache since dehydration is said to be one of the causative factors of migraine.
- Breath intentionally
Center your attention to your breathing pattern. Try to be intentional with prolonged inhalation and exhalation. This exercise will regulate your oxygen flow in your head and the whole body and make you feel better.
- Cut the sound
Noise from the surroundings acts as oil on flame. It makes the pain more severe. So block any sound that irritates your nerves.
- Satisfy your stomach
If migraine sets your stomach on motion sickness or gives you nauseating feeling then take care of your stomach. Always remember one thing; nausea creates nausea. If you are not able to eat because of this, it will keep wrenching your gut but if you act the opposite then it will die down gradually.
- Move your body
Do some light exercises; dance or move around the house whatever you prefer will do the trick. Moving your body intentionally produces endorphins or we can refer them as feel-good hormones that help you subside your headache.
Ayurvedic Aspect
In Ayurveda, Migraine is linked with a disease named ‘Suryavarta’ in which the headache of migraine is associated with the positions of the sun throughout the day. For instance, the headache initiates in the morning, intensifies with the increase in brightness of sun at noon, and with the setting sun; pain gets milder.
Prevention and Management according to Ayurveda:
- Asana (eg. Suryanamaskara, shavasana)
- Meditation
- Pranayama (Bhramari, anuloma-viloma, ujjayi)
- Aromatherapy
Ayurvedic Procedures:
- Nasya
- Shiro dhara
- Shiro vasti
- Shira Abhyangam (Forehead massage)
- Siravedha at lalata (Raktamokshana or drainage of impure blood by incision on forehead)
