Throbbing, pulsating headaches that are aggravated by high altitude, that get worse when you move your body and that subside when you rest are vata headaches, according to Ayurvedic practitioners. They say these headaches are caused by constipation and an accumulation of toxins in the colon. (For more information on the doshas of Ayurveda, see “All about Vata, Pitta and Kapha” on page 28.)
Try a plain warm-water enema to relieve constipation, suggests Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc., director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (See “How to Perform an Enema” on page 76 for instructions.) To relieve the pain of a vata headache, he suggests rubbing the scalp and the soles of the feet with sesame oil (available in most health food stores). “Massage the neck, shoulders and upper back with sesame oil, too, and then take a hot shower,” he says.
Vata headaches are frequently accompanied by dehydration, says Dr. Lad. He suggests sipping a mixture of one tablespoon of sugar, ¼ teaspoon of salt, the juice of half of a lime and one pint of water.
Shooting, burning, piercing pitta headaches are worsened by bright light and associated with nausea, Dr. Lad says. Pain is often felt behind the eyes, and the headache may be accompanied by dizziness. These headaches are connected to stomach problems, he says.
Dr. Lad suggests this remedy for a pitta headache: Mix one teaspoon of sandalwood powder (available from Indian grocers or from Ayurvedic practitioners) with enough water to make a paste, then apply this sandalwood paste to your forehead and temples. Wash off the paste after it has become dry and crumbly. Then, he says, put a few drops of warm liquid ghee, or clarified but ter (see “How to Make Ghee” on page 26 for a recipe), into the palm of your hand and sniff the drops into your nostrils. Sometimes pitta headaches can be relieved by eating something sweet, says Dr. Lad, who recommends tapioca pudding.
If your headaches tend to occur in winter and spring, generally strike in the morning and evening and get worse when you bend down, you’re getting kapha headaches, according to Dr. Lad. Kapha headaches are usually accompanied by sinus congestion or colds, he says, and are symptoms of hay fever and other allergies. The pain is usually dull and deep-seated and makes you feel drowsy.
Here’s Dr. Lad’s remedy for kapha headaches: Mix ½ teaspoon of ginger powder, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of clove powder into a cup of boiling water, steep for a few minutes, strain to remove the powder and drink. Dr. Lad says you can also make a ginger paste by adding hot water to 1 teaspoon of ginger powder, then apply it to the bridge of your nose and over your cheekbones. He suggests putting it on when you have a headache and leaving it on until your symptoms are relieved.
Finally, Dr. Lad suggests this kapha headache remedy: Mix one tablespoon of warm water and at least 1/8 teaspoon of salt to make a thick solution, draw the solution into an eyedropper and squeeze three to five drops into each nostril. This will help unclog sinuses, he says.
The cool scent of peppermint can often relieve headache pain, says Los Angeles aromatherapist Michael Scholes, of Aromatherapy Seminars, an organization that trains professionals and others in the use of essential oils. He suggests adding a drop of peppermint essential oil to any unscented facial lotion and applying the lotion under the nose and behind the ears. Inhaling the fragrance of peppermint from the bottle can also take the edge off a headache, he says.
For information on preparing and administering essential oils, including cautions about their use, see page 19. For information on purchasing essential oils, refer to the resource list on page 633.
The Gates of Consciousness points, GB 20, can relieve tension headaches as well as neck pain, says Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., director of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, California, and author of Acupressure’s Potent Points. Dr. Gach says to use the thumbs of both hands to press the GB 20 points, which are situated two inches out from the middle of your neck, underneath the base of the skull. (To help locate these points, refer to the illustration on page 565.) He suggests sitting in a chair and bending over, with your elbows propped on a table or desk, to make holding these points most comfortable. Breathe deeply and press firmly for one to two minutes.
Point LI 4 is especially helpful for frontal headaches, according to Dr. Gach. He explains that the point lies in the webbing between the thumb and index finger, close to the bone at the base of the index finger. (To help locate this point, refer to the illustration on page 565.) Holding the point with your thumb on top of the webbing and your index finger underneath, angle the pressure toward the bone that connects the index finger to the hand, says Dr. Gach. Hold for one minute, then repeat on your other hand. This is not recommended for pregnant women, says Dr. Gach, because pressing the LI 4 points can cause uterine contractions.
The Gates of Consciousness points, GB 20, can relieve tension headaches as well as neck pain, says Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., director of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, California, and author of Acupressure”s Potent Points. Dr. Gach says to use the thumbs of both hands to press the GB 20 points, which are situated two inches out from the middle of your neck, underneath the base of the skull. (To help locate these points, refer to the illustration on page 565.) He suggests sitting in a chair and bending over, with your elbows propped on a table or desk, to make holding these points most comfortable. Breathe deeply and press firmly for one to two minutes. Point LI 4 is especially helpful for frontal headaches, according to Dr. Gach. He explains that the point lies in the webbing between the thumb and index finger, close to the bone at the base of the index finger. (To help locate this point, refer to the illustration on page 565.) Holding the point with your thumb on top of the webbing and your index finger underneath, angle the pressure toward the bone that connects the index finger to the hand, says Dr. Gach. Hold for one minute, then repeat on your other hand. This is not recommended for pregnant women, says Dr. Gach, because pressing the LI 4 points can cause uterine contractions.
Headache
Headaches come in all sizes and shapes. Tension headaches are the most common. They start when muscles tighten in your head and neck, then press on blood vessels in your scalp. You may also get cluster headaches, which are extremely painful and isolated to one part of your head. Migraines are the granddaddy of headaches, can last for hours and hours and may be caused by anything from food reactions to changes in barometric pressure. The natural remedies in this chapter-in conjunction with medical care and used with your doctor’s approval-may help prevent a headache or relieve its symptoms, according to some health professionals. See Your Medical Doctor When…· Your headaches are getting stronger and more frequent. · You also notice numbness, blurred vision, memory loss or dizziness. · You have a headache after a severe head injury. · Your headaches are caused by exercise. · Your headaches start disrupting your life-for example, you start missing work because of recurring headaches.
Headache