Tension Headache Management With Ayurveda

Are you experiencing dull pain, tightness or pressure in your head?

In Australia, tension headaches are one of the most common everyday headaches. Stress, poor posture, and overuse of pain-relief medications are common triggers.

In Ayurveda, “stress” is related to an imbalance of Vata dosha – the primary cause of pain in tension headaches.

But you don’t have to suffer in silence. Relieving a tension headache with Ayurveda is possible.

Read on to find out how.

What Is a Tension Headache?

A tension headache is described as a dull pain or tightness around the forehead, scalp, and neck. It is one of the most common forms of headache. Some people describe it as having a vice around your head, squeezing your skull.

Tension headaches often start at the back of the head and move forward. The pain affects both sides equally and can make the muscles in the neck, jaw, and shoulders feel tight.

There are two types of tension headache:

• Episodic
• Chronic

Episodic tension headaches infrequently, about 15 days or less per month. On the other hand, chronic tension headaches happen more regularly, about 15 days or more per month. Both types can last for as little as 30 minutes to a few days.

Causes of Tension Headaches

Tension headaches can be triggered by various causes that are not always stress-related.

Triggers for tension headaches include:

• Stress, tiredness, anxiety
• Depression
• Poor posture
• Bright, noisy environments
• Long periods of reading
• Too much caffeine or nicotine
• Overuse of pain-relief medicines

Tension headaches are not hereditary, but some experts believe tightened muscles in the back of your head or neck may trigger them.

Tension Headache Symptoms

Tension headaches can cause mild, moderate, or intense pain. Common signs and symptoms of a tension headache include:

• Dull, aching head pain
• A sensation of tightness or pressure across the forehead
• Tenderness in the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability
• Mild sensitivity to light or noise
• Muscle aches
• Trouble focusing

Tension headaches are uncomfortable, but they’re not debilitating. Unlike migraines, tension headaches generally won’t cause stomach pain, nausea, blurred vision, or vomiting.

Difference Between a Migraine Headache and a Tension Headache

There are many different headaches, but the two most common are tension headaches and migraines. While the pain is similar in severity, the difference is in the type of pain.

Common migraine symptoms:

• Intense pain worse on one side of the head
• Pressure and pain behind the eyes
• Pain in the temples
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain that worsens with physical activity
• Severe sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells
• Dizziness

While symptoms vary between migraine and tension headaches, they share the same triggers. They include not eating, not getting enough sleep, high consumption of alcohol, stress, and female sex hormone fluctuations.

How to Prevent Tension Headaches

In Ayurveda, the word “stress” is related to an imbalance of Vata dosha. An imbalance of Vata dosha can lead to stiff neck and back pains.

By nature, Vata is cool, dry, and rough. Eating foods that neutralize these qualities will help balance Vata dosha. Consume warm, oily, moist, smooth and nourishing foods—for example, ghee, nuts, avocado, cheese, eggs, and yoghurt.

Additional ways to balance Vata dosha include:

• Eat three meals per day, at the same time each day
• Stay hydrated throughout the day
• Follow the pitta-Vata diet
• Make time for daily self-massage
• Slow down your yoga practice
• Diffuse peppermint or lavender essential oils

The main goal of Ayurvedic treatment of tension headaches is to slow people down, take more breaks during the day, and focus on self-care.

When you skip a meal, you increase Vata. And when you skip a meal and work too hard, you’re also increasing pitta.

Ayurveda Treatment for Tension Headache

Ayurveda treatment aims to eliminate impurities, reduce symptoms, and increase harmony in life. If preventative methods don’t work for you, there are many Ayurvedic therapies for tension headache relief.

Abhyanga

Abhyanga is a massage done with warm oil and is a popular massage in Ayurveda. The oil is applied to your entire body, from your scalp to your feet.

When the massage is performed on your head, it can help relieve a tension headache. When performed on your neck and shoulder, it can relieve the tension on the surrounding nerves.

Nasya

Nasya is a therapeutic oil treatment for the nose, throat, and head. It delivers relief through the nose to relieve the head of its heaviness.

Nasya is divided into three types:

1. Virechana
2. Brimhana
3. Shamana

Brimhana is more effective in Vata and pitta conditions. It can help treat imbalance in the Vata dosha and improve the nutrition level of the body.

Shirodhara

Shirodhara is a healing technique that involves pouring warm herbal oils over the head to reduce tension. Shirodhara induces a soothing effect and brings calmness to your mind.

It is a popular Ayurveda treatment for tension headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and hypertension.

How a Consultation Can Relieve Tension Headaches

An Ayurvedic consultation aims to determine your body type and find out the imbalance of the doshas. From there, an expert Ayurveda doctor may help you in the following ways:

• Prescribe Ayurveda herbs according to your body type and condition
• Advice on lifestyle management
• Suggest changes in your diet to maintain the dosha balance
• Recommend home remedies
• Provide yoga asanas
• Suggest various Ayurveda treatments and panchakarma procedures

You can schedule a follow-up consultation after two weeks or one month, depending on the severity of your condition.

Relieving a Tension Headache With Ayurveda

Ayurveda treatment aims to maintain the health condition of dosha and regain a sense of balance and harmony. You can relieve pain and live a calm and peaceful life with good tension headache management.

Ayurherbs is the perfect place to find relief from your tension headaches.

Our expert Ayurveda practitioner can find out the imbalance of the doshas and offer various Ayurveda treatments and panchakarma procedures to maintain the balance of your body type.

Are you interested in relieving a tension headache?

Schedule an online consultation with an Ayurveda practitioner today.

• December 15, 2022
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