Each one of us at some stage of our lives do have experienced heahaches. It is a radiating pain which descends from the frontal part of our brain. There are several reasons for headache. Physical, emotional and mental stress, tensions and worries to name a few. Some times, headache can be a signal of an underlying disease. Many a times people have headache due to an empty stomach or may be due to the cause that they are unable to defecate. In most of the severe headaches, Salicylate analgesics are used. More than medicines, yoga therapy eminently suits many people.
Yoga is a comprehensive mode of culturing the body and the mind. Using an ‘Integrated Approach of yoga’, many Yoga Research Centers have been able to cure some of the tough headaches. Yogas perhaps include breathing, asanas, pranayama, meditation and devotional sessions.
Yoga asanas, especially the ones imitating the natural postures of animals, have a tremendous tranquilizing effect. Thus we need not depend on the tranquilizing drugs which are commonly used nowadays. Pranayama inhibits random agitations in Prana (energy) flows in thereby stabilizing the autonomic nervous system. Dhayan and Samadhi culture the mind and provide a great relief and relax and calm it. This approach alters the reaction of an individual to headache from becoming a chronic problem.
Through asanas that calm you and your body, the pranayama excercises that inhibit random energy flow and the meditation cultivates and relaxes your mind. Yoga offers a holistic relief from pain. It stops you from becoming locked in the vicious circle of pain-anxiety-pain.
Migraines are another kind of headache which is characterized by paroxysmal attack of headache, often preceded by psychic or visual disturbances and sometimes followed by drowsiness. Chronic pain is essentially imbalance in Para (energy). This manifests as insominia, lack of concentration and usually causes headache. Thus yoga should be practiced for its many beneficial effects and pranayama, meditation and devotion given preference over medicines.