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 Cause

Although 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 Migraines

Bright 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.

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Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Migraines'. Individual results vary depending the cause of your imbalance and by constitution. Please research the ingredients below to find which are most helpful for you, and check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. Please check with your medical doctor before making any changes to your health & wellness routine, and for the proper use of these products.

MORE MIND STRESS SLEEP TIPS

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. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

Everything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using biocharacteristics (gunas). Biocharacteristics 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 biocharacteristics. Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.

Bowel Health:

General Laxative

GENERAL-LAXATIVE

Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.

SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:

Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

,

Dopaminergic

DOPAMINERGIC

Dopamine lifts mood, but also reduces prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutenizing hormone (LH).

SEE ALL 'DOPAMINERGIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:

Flushes Sinuses

FLUSHES-SINUSES

An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.

SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

, Antihistamine,

Antimicrobial

ANTIMICROBIAL

An 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.

SEE ALL 'ANTIMICROBIAL' FOODS / HERBS

,

Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

, Mast Cell Stabilizer

Heart & Circulation:

Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Rebuild Electrolytes

REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES

Substances that increase your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes help you retain water, keep your palate moist, and truly quench your thirst.

SEE ALL 'REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES' FOODS / HERBS

,

Rebuilds Fluids

REBUILDS-FLUIDS

Herbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids.

SEE ALL 'REBUILDS-FLUIDS' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:

Hepatoprotective

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

An herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

SEE ALL 'HEPATOPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:

Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

,

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Magnesium

MAGNESIUM

Helps muscles relax. Laxative.

SEE ALL 'MAGNESIUM' FOODS / HERBS

Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE #3

MIGRAINES IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE #3 - ATTACKING TISSUE

If 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. (See all disease stages on JB)

GET MY FREE AYURVEDA BODY MAP According to Ayurveda, one or more of the following doshas and biocharacteristics may aggravate 'Migraines'. If you have an excess of one of these doshas or biocharacteristics below, Ayurveda recommends reducing foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate them. Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced.

Are you prone to a problem with 'Migraines'? Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Mind Stress Sleep by taking the free mind stress sleep quiz:

TAKE THE MIND STRESS SLEEP QUIZ

The 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. On average the biocharacteristics of people reporting Migraines were more aggravated than 54% of other symptoms. From the 8,013 people who reported Migraines average deviation in biocharacteristic levels were the following:

Risk Factors of Migraines

Complications of Those Reporting Migraines

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