Natural Healing for Migraine Headaches
By Dr. Neha Tank Modha, MD, PhD in Shirodhara, and Shirodhara Expert Poonam Patel
What is Migraine?
days. Symptoms can be so severe that all the individual can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down. Some migraines are preceded or ac- companied by sensory warning symp- toms or signs (auras), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in the arm or leg. A migraine is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensi- tivity to light and sound. Migraines disturb the social and
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personal lives of those affected, hamper routine activities and ultimately result in lowered productivity. The overall cost of migraines to society is quite large–com- parable to that reported for diabetes and higher than reported for asthma. Statis- tics show approximately 70 percent of migraine sufferers are women. Despite of various drug treatments and much effort put forth through multiple other means, there is no satisfactory conven- tional medical solution for migraine. So the question becomes, what can one do to treat migraines? Fortunately, there is a natural solu- tion, one gleaned from the treasures of Ayurveda. Shirodhara is perhaps the best known Ayurvedic treatment as it is offered in many spas and Ayurveda hospitals around the world. It is similar to the experience of meditation and is one of the most beautiful ways to bring the body and mind into harmony.
What is Shirodhara? ‘Shiro’ means “head.” ‘Dhara’
means “flow of liquid.” Shirodhara is a sacred ancient therapy from India, and has been utilized to treat migraine for thousands of years. Shirodhara is a pro-
igraines are chronic headaches that can cause significant pain that lasts for hours or even
found mind-melting treatment that uses liquids like Ayurvedic oils, water, milk, buttermilk and warm herbal liquids. This is poured in a steady stream onto the forehead (the ‘third eye’) in oscilla- tory movements for a period of about 45 minutes. This relaxing natural therapy starts with a consultation with an Ayurvedic practitioner. He or she will determine the patient’s body type and make rec- ommendations as to the type of Shirod- hara treatment needed for the individ- ual. The treatment is usually performed while the recipient is in a supine posi- tion on a specially designed table. The treatment takes place in a calm room designed to promote relaxation. There will be neutral music, diffused natural light, scented candles and flowers. After the session, the patient is gently cleansed with warm, moist towels. In addition to treatments like
Shirodhara, Ayurveda emphasizes the preventive aspect. For migraines, one should try to avoid such causative fac- tors as chocolate and canned, frozen, sour, and fermented foods. Also avoid excessive intake of hazardous chemi- cals such as monosodium glutamate, sodium benzoate and the chemicals used to formulate carbonated drinks. According to research conducted on Shirodhara and stress management, it was observed that migraine headaches are an outcome of long-term exposure to different stressors. These are the root causes of migraines. The relaxing Shirodhara treatment helps control migraines by decreas- ing the severity the headaches and by increasing the time period between attacks. It cleanses both the mind and the senses, and allows the body’s natural healing mechanisms to release stress from the nervous system. This
Photo by Mithun Oorath
in turn improves mental clarity and comprehension. Shirodhara balances the third-eye and stimulates the nervous system by releasing neuro-hormones. This creates feelings of relaxation and pleasure and induces calm sleep. Our goal is to help control your
migraine headaches and help you reach higher levels of self-actualization so that you can better serve your loved ones, yourself, your work environment and mother earth and its people. This relaxing experience is for everyone in search of eternal calm. Each second you can be reborn, each second there can be a new beginning. It is choice, and it is your choice! Come join us as we embark on this journey of radiant health and well-being….one drop at a time.
For information on Shirodhara, contact Dr. Neha Tank Modha, MD, PhD in Shirodhara, via her website:
Ayurvedcure.com, her email:
jkmodha@yahoo.com, or Shirodhara Expert Poonam Patel at
www.spaoasisnc.com.
natural awakenings May 2011 41
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