Migraine & Headaches

About headaches and migraine

Most headaches are tension-type headaches: a tight, pressing pain on both sides of the head, often linked to stress, tiredness, posture and eye strain. Migraine is a different condition: usually a throbbing headache, often on one side, that can come with nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes visual changes (aura). The World Health Organization lists headache disorders among the most common disorders of the nervous system.

Common triggers

• Missed meals, dehydration and irregular sleep.
• Stress, and sometimes the "let-down" after stress.
• Long screen time, poor posture and neck tension.
• Bright light, strong smells and loud noise.
• Caffeine (too much, or sudden withdrawal) and alcohol.
• Hormonal changes, such as around periods.

Keeping a headache diary for a few weeks can help you and your doctor spot patterns.

How natural care may help

• Routine. Regular meals, water, sleep and screen breaks. See Mental Well-Being & Sleep Care.
• Acupuncture. Studied for preventing migraine and tension headaches. See Acupuncture.
• Acupressure. Points such as LI4 for tension, and self-care techniques. See Acupressure.
• Yoga and relaxation. Neck and shoulder release, slow breathing and yoga nidra. See Yoga Therapies.
• Meditation. For stress-related headaches. See Meditation.
• Calming therapies. Such as shirodhara and head massage, between attacks.

What the research says

NCCIH reports that acupuncture may help prevent migraine and reduce how often tension-type headaches happen, and that relaxation training and some mind-body approaches may help. Overuse of painkillers can itself cause headaches. Natural care at Arogyam Sutra is complementary. Please keep seeing your doctor, keep taking prescribed medicines, and tell the clinic about every medicine and supplement you take.

Further reading

• Headache disorders fact sheet, World Health Organization
• Migraine, NHS
• Headaches and complementary health approaches, NCCIH