Headaches can be of various kinds; here’s a guide to identifying and treating them

The searing pain near your temples one moment can shapeshift into a dull throb the next. Headaches can be of several types, but arming yourself with the knowledge behind what each means can help you navigate this condition better. Indianexpress.com set out to understand the causes and ways to effectively mitigate them.

Headaches are one of the most common ailments that any practicing physician comes across and its more common in women as compared to men and can be disabling as well, shared Dr Manisha Mishra Goswami, MD (Ayurveda), Founder, Svahita Ayurveda Clinic, Versova, Mumbai.

“Any kind of disease or ailment including headache in an individual is a sign of imbalance in the fundamental bio energies of vata, pitta and kapha and the solution lies in getting them back in balance,” she added.

Kinds of headaches:

Vataj headache: This kind of a headache can be due to stress, exposure to heavy breeze, suppressing tears, weeping too much, looking down continuously for long periods or speaking too much and also constipation.

Goswami said that the pain is felt on the temples, above temples and forehead with severe pulsations in veins.

“It sometimes settles on its own or with the help of oil massages and a good sleep. It’s best to have a teaspoon of ghee after dinner at night, stick to moist, warm meals and practice some breathing exercise to manage vata, the bioenergy of movement,” she shared.

Pittaj headache: These are migraine-like headaches caused due to the aggravation of pitta, the fiery bioenergy responsible for digestion and metabolism.

In this case, pain can be felt in half of the head or around temples and eyebrows commencing with the rise of sun, increasing in mid day or when hungry.

Goswami recommended that cooling, soothing and fresh food should be a part of the diet. Taking ghee and gulkand on an empty stomach as well as applying cooling oils like that of Chandan also helps in relieving pain.

Kaphaja headache: Often correlated to sinus, this kind of a headache makes the head feel heavy, with a dull ache and rigidness around the eyebrows.

“Warm foods and fomentation help with pain. Application of dry ginger powder paste or taking triphala water help in easing congestion,” said Goswami

Goswami recommended that cooling, soothing and fresh food should be a part of the diet. (Source: Freepik)

So, what can be done?

According to the doctor, the first step is identifying your triggers and making amendments. Eating home cooked meals and staying away from alcohol, smoking and excess oily and fried foods is a must.

“Practice yoga to keep the mind healthy, and exercise regularly. Stay hydrated and maintain a good posture,” she said.

According to her, adopting a healthy lifestyle promotes overall health and wellbeing. And in case you suffer from headaches frequently, she suggested reaching out to your physician for proper guidance.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.