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MIGRAINESWHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT'S CAUSING IT? WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Written by John Immel,
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Written by John Immel,
Are you prone to a problem with 'Migraines'?
What Causes a Migraine?A migraine is a recurrent throbbing headache, usually on one side of the head. It is often accompanied by nausea and impaired vision. Migraines develop when there are high levels of undigested toxins (ama) in the blood. These undigested toxins often form as a result of fermentation in the gut, alcohol, drugs, and certain pharmaceuticals. High ama overwhelms the liver, aggravating Pitta and causing excess heat. Irritating foods such as coffee, alcohol, white sugar, and pungent spices also create inflammation and stress the liver.There are many other causes of migraines including allergies, autoimmune disorders, dehydration, stress, and excessively hot temperatures. All of these factors put pressure on the liver and increase liver heat, particularly if there is an electrolyte deficiency or other imbalances in blood chemistry. Inflammation or infection in the sinuses may also cause a migraine. Throbbing migraines are often due to constriction of the blood vessels in the head. Finding the Root CauseAlthough migraines are a primarily hot, sharp, Pitta disorder, they may come from an imbalance in any of the doshas, or gunas. Therefore, it is important to find the root cause of your migraine before attempting a home remedy. To piece together the pattern and find the cause behind your migraine, journal your diet, activity, elimination, emotions, and weather conditions for the 48 hours prior to each migraine. Then, compare your results after 3-5 episodes.As you journal, ask yourself some questions to try and discover what triggered your migraine. How did you feel before the migraine? Were you feeling particularly stressed, agitated, or irritated? When did the migraine start? Where were you when it started? Asking these questions and noticing any warning signs will help you avoid the circumstances that lead to a full blown migraine. Often, various warning signs will appear 24-48 hours in advance of a migraine. Many people experience an aura moments before a migraine. An aura is a sensory disturbance that can include flashes of lights or technicolor spots obstructing peripheral vision. You may also feel more sensitive to light and sound. Seeing an aura is considered a prodromal symptom, or warning sign, that a migraine is coming on. Remedies for MigrainesBright lights and hot temperatures tend aggravate migraines, so taking a break from all screens and lying in a dark room with a cool cloth over your eyes can help provide some immediate relief. Also, remove yourself from direct sunlight if needed and have a glass of coconut water to restore electrolytes. Cumin, coriander, & fennel tea helps gently detoxify and cleanse ama that has accumulated in the blood.Aromatic herbs such as lemon balm have a natural antispasmodic action that reduces colic on the blood vessel. Other antispasmodics that reduce headaches include brahmi, sandalwood, and cloves. Sweet and cooling, licorice root reduces heat and inflammation and supports liver function. A scalp massage with brahmi oil cools a hot and bothered mind, and placing a few drops of brahmi ghee in each nostril can help relieve the pain associated with migraines. To avoid migraines, a Pitta pacifying diet is generally suitable for long term management. Disclaimer: Conditions such as 'Migraines' that cause tissue changes could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.
DIET REMEDIES FOR 'MIGRAINES'PRODUCT REMEDIES FOR 'MIGRAINES' FIND MORE MIND STRESS SLEEP RELATED PRODUCTS
See our herbs & products in these categories. Or, click here for general Mind Stress Sleep Tips.
MIND, STRESS & SLEEP PRODUCTSENERGY VITALITY STRENGTH PRODUCTS DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. HOW DOES AYURVEDA HEAL 'MIGRAINES'?
AVOID DIETS, LIFESTYLES & HERBS THAT AGGRAVATE THESE EFFECTS
With Migraines, one or more of the following
doshas
and qualities may be aggravated.
If you have an imbalance of one of these doshas or qualities, Ayurveda recommends avoiding foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate that quality and/or dosha.
These imbalanced doshas and qualities may need to be brought back into balance before this condition can be healed.
Click on the quality to learn what foods and
lifestyle habits should be avoided.
 Symptoms Tell A Story The first step to healing is learning patterns from your symptoms. Symptoms are clues that reveal underlying imbalances, showing you where your body is weak. Specifically, they reveal the doshas & qualities that may have become aggravated. If you notice a quality or dosha appears next to many of your symptoms, it helps you establish a pattern that may be systemic.V = VATA, P = PITTA, K = KAPHA  
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them. Are you prone to a problem with 'Migraines'?
FAVOR DIETS, LIFESTYLES & HERBS WITH THESE MEDICINAL EFFECTSEverything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using gunas. Gunas are qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Migraines', you should select foods with the following qualities (gunas). Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them. Digestion: Antispasmodic ANTISPASMODICHerbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, colic or IBS.Cleanse and Detox: Detoxicant DETOXICANTAn herb that eliminates or metabolizes toxins from the body.Heart & Circulation: Rebuild Electrolytes , REBUILD-ELECTROLYTESSubstances that increase your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes help you retain water, keep your palate moist, and truly quench your thirst.Rebuilds Fluids REBUILDS-FLUIDSHerbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids.Immune System: Analgesic , ANALGESICRelieves or reduces feelings of pain without eliminating sensation.Antihistamine , ANTIHISTAMINEHerbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system.Antimicrobial ANTIMICROBIALAn agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.Liver & Gall Bladder: Hepatoprotective HEPATOPROTECTIVEAn herb that is capable of preventing liver damage.Lung and Sinus: Flushes sinuses FLUSHES-SINUSESAn herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.Mind, Stress & Sleep: Nervine NERVINEHerbs that specifically go to the nervous system and brain. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer?s, even chronic pain.Muscle-Health: Muscle relaxant MUSCLE-RELAXANTHerbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.Bowel-Poop-Elimination: General Laxative GENERAL-LAXATIVEPromotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives...ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE 3MIGRAINES IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE 3 - ATTACKING TISSUEIf you have symptoms in this category it means that your imbalances are becoming stronger and weakening your body's resistance. Most people have a weakness in one or more organs. These areas of weakness are the 'weak link in the chain.' They are first to succumb when an imbalance reaches a tipping point. Repairing imbalances in this category often represent your last opportunity to prevent disease. At any moment, these imbalances could overwhelm weakened tissue and develop into a disease. You may feel pain or discomfort in the weakened area. At this stage you will need to support the weakened tissue with specialized foods and herbs for the weakened tissue. REDUCE THESE RELATED SYMPTOMS & HABITSThe following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Migraines'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them.
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HOW AYURVEDA WORKS
ARE YOU WONDERING HOW AYURVEDA CAN HELP YOU?
WHY IS AYURVEDA THE RIGHT SOLUTION?Ayurveda strengthens the body, in addition to addressing the disorder. It take a holistic, systemic approach, instead of myopically focusing on the disorder in question. Ayurveda shows a person how to interpret signs and symptoms of imbalance, and how to address them using materials from home, so they can optimize their health on a continual basis. You can't take the doctor home with you, but you can take Ayurveda home with you. Ayurveda is the most advanced and easy to use home system for self healing with an exceptional focus on digestion.HOW DOES AYURVEDA WORK?Ayurveda starts by identifying your body type, which identifies certain tendencies in your body to get sick (as well as identifying your strengths). It uses body type to determine the likely root causes of your disorders. Next, Ayurveda analyzes the nature of your disorder. It fits all your signs and symptoms into a pattern, expressed as a combination of gunas / qualities. For example, you may have a heat disorder, a cold disorder, or an oily disorder, etc. This simple categorical approach shows you how to correct systemic imbalances and strengthen your body as a whole.On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalances (gunas). By eating an optimal diet that balances your gunas, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing. Want to learn more about Ayurveda and its step-by-step approach to healing? Click below.LEARN MOREGET STARTEDTo get started on your Ayurvedic journey, we first recommend that your find your body type by taking our free quiz. In Ayurveda, every solution is based on your unique body type, so by taking this quiz, you’ll get the best results.5 WAYS TO HEAL YOUR BODY
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About the Author John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful. His online course Balance Your Ayurvedic Diet in a Week provides tools for gracefully healing with Ayurveda to thousands. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda , which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition. John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Comments & Personal ExperiencesHow does 'migraines' affect your quality of life? What aggravates it? What has helped you? Is there something you'd like to know about 'migraines'?38 likes |
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