PRANAYAMA FOR MIGRAINE

TAKE MIGRAINE HEAD-ON ! 

Thud! Crunk! Phtak! Dishum... Those sounds are great on the silver screen but excruciating when inside your head! Migraine can be a debilitating condition. Heres a simple asana to shun that nagging pain. But mind it, remember the extra tips too...


Migraine is a problem that affects many of us yet we seem not to be aware or to care till its pretty late. Simply put, migraine is a severe headache on one side of the head, accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. Migraine manifests itself in two forms: 

AURA: 

When the actual pain is preceded by a situation termed aura , where one sees flashing lights or experiences blurred vision, facial numbness and slurred speech before the pain sets in 

NORMAL: 

When the person suffers severe headache without any preceding symptoms In either case, the pain can be excruciating and may linger on for anywhere between 4 and 72 hours. One of the simplest ways to tackle such pain is to rest 
in a dark room, as exposure to light and sound often aggravates it. 

ANULOMVILOM PRANAYAM 

Sit comfortably, either in padmasana or sukhasana, with your back straight and breathing normal. Form the pranayam mudra with your right hand. Close your right nostril with your right thumb and exhale slowly through the left. Breathe in deep, to your lungs capacity . Close the left nostril with your ring and little fingers, lift the thumb off the right and exhale slowly. Next, inhale slowly and deeply through the right nostril to maximum capacity . Close the right nostril with your thumb, lift fingers off the left and exhale. This completes one round. Repeat 11 times. Relax for a minute. Repeat the cycle three times. 

Benefits: 

Cleanses all 72,000 naadis in the body; boosts air supply through nasal passages, boosting the functioning of the nervous system, lungs and heart; curbs nervous weakness, hypertension and insomnia (factors that, if left unattended, can trigger migraine attacks) 

MIGRAINE MADNESS 

Disorders of the stomach, liver or gall bladder, cough and cold, undue stress, high blood pressure, weak eyesight or sudden exposure to excessive heat/cold are common causes of migraine attacks. Consumption of alcohol, tobacco, chocolate, coffee or cheese can also trigger migraine. It is vital to know the right cause of migraine before starting any treatment for it. It is advisable for the patient to maintain a diary and note his/her symptoms. 

HEAD TO HEAD 



Handy tips to ban that niggling ache and bid goodbye to migraine

... Put two drops of ghee made from cows milk into your nostrils before you sleep. Stuff a large, deseeded raisin (munakka) with a few black mustard (rai) seeds and consume it with water first thing in the morning. Repeat for at least five days. Smell some mustard oil in the morning. Space your meals very regularly; long gaps between meals can also cause headaches. Keep your stomach very clean; constipation is a major but manageable cause of migraine. Keep off any drinks and/or foods that you are allergic to.