AN OPEN LABEL SINGLE ARM CLINICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF GAJAPIPPALI AGNIKARMA WITH RASNADASHAMOOLA KASHAYA GHANAVATI ABHYANTARA PRAYOGA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ARDHAVABHEDAKA VIS-A-VIS MIGRAINE

Ardhavabhedaka is characterized by Bheda (splitting type of pain), Toda (pricking type of pain), Bhrama (giddiness) and Shirashoola (headache) on half part of the cranium. It occurs once in 10 or 15 days or suddenly. Ardhavabhedaka can be correlated to migraine. Migraine affects more than one billion individuals each year across the world, and is one of the most common neurological disorders, with a high prevalence and morbidity, especially among young adults and females. Migraine headache reoccurs frequently, which is more severe and has unilateral involvement. The pain has pulsating quality, is aggravated by routine physical activities and is associated with nausea, photophobia and phonophobia. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide -38 (PACAP) is one of the important mediators in the pathogenesis of Migraine. PACAP-38 causes dilatation of extracerebral vessels and Migraine attacks. It selectively activates the PAC1 receptor, which is a signaling pathway implicated in Migraine pain. Ardhavabhedaka is a Vata Dosha Pradhana condition and pain cannot occur without involvement of Vata. So Agnikarma pacify vata by virtue of its Ushna and Tikshna Guna. Pippali and Panchadhatu shalaka are the dahanopakaranas mentioned by Acharya Sushruta. Rasna dashamoola Kashaya and Pathyadi Kashaya are indicated in Ardhavabhedaka.