Ayurvedic management of Headache

Phase 2/3

Not yet recruiting

Conditions: Chronic pain syndrome, (2) ICD-10 Condition: G894||Chronic pain syndrome,

Registration Number: CTRI/2020/04/024487

Lead Sponsor: All India Institute of Ayurveda

Brief Summary: Ayurveda classics have described *Shiraha* as the supreme part of thebody and it is said to be of immense importance. Our ancient sages have described three vital organs in the body and they have given prime importance to the head, as the existence of a body depends upon all the vital organs, and primarily, on the head. *Shiraha* is that part of the body where life along with all the five senses resides. *Shiraha* is the site of *prana*, all the vital stuff supported by *prana* and all the senses. It has been described that *Sirah* is the most important of all the body parts. Further, it has been told that, out of the total 107 *marmas* present in the body, 37 marmas are present in *urdhvjatru* parts.Therefore, all the *shirorogas* should be treated at the earliest and with care, because, if untreated, then, it may lead to grievous after-effects.

It has also been emphasized that in a foetus, development of the head occurs at the first, as it is the site of all the important faculties of the human body.

Ayurveda has eight main branches, out of which, *Shalakya Tantra* also called as *Urdhwanga Chikitsa* is the branch which deals with the diseases of head, neck, eye, and oro-dentistry. Diseases of *Shirah* and their management is dealt in *Shalakya Tantra* which is one of the eight main branches of Ayurveda.

*Shirahshoola* is the synonym as well as the symptom of all the *Shirorogas* described in Ayurveda.

Different types of *Shirorogas* have been described in all the classics of Ayurveda. *Acharya Charak* has mentioned that there are 5 types of *shirorogas* i.e. *Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Sannipataja* and *Krimija* and described the *Nidana* and *Lakshanas* of these *shirorogas*. Further 09 types of *Shirahshoola* are also described by *Acharya Charaka*.

*Acharya Sushrut*has described11 types of *Shirahshoola* i.e. *Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Tridosaj, Raktaj, Kshayaj, Krimija, Suryavrat, Anantvata, Ardhavbhedaka* and *Shankhaka.*

*Acharya Vagbhatt*has described10 types of *Shirahshoola* i.e. *Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Raktaja, Tridosaja, Krimija, Sirahkampa, Shankhaka* and *Suryavrat.*

***Vataja Shiroroga*** â€“

A detailed study of *Vataja Shirahshoola* has been carried out from Ayurvedic and modern point of view. The references collected were compiled, critically examined and utilized to frame the conceptual part of the study.

A fit of violent headache without any apparent cause and which becomes worse in the night and is relieved by pressure or by being bandaged or by an application of fomentation around the head is known as the *Vataja*-*Shiroroga*.

**Contemporary**:

Headache is among the most common reasons patients seek medical attention,on a global basis being responsible for more disability than any other neurologic problem. Headache is the common human experience in todayâ€™s life, diverse in its expressions, complex in its manifestations and difficult to understand in any simple mechanistic way. Headache causes disturbance and various degree of disability of an individual to deal with daily chores of life.

Headache is classified as primary or secondary. A headache is considered primary when it is not caused by any disease or other medical condition. Secondary headaches are caused by various medical conditions, such as sinusitis, neck injuries or abnormalities and stroke, which account for 2% of all headaches.

**POSSIBILITIES IN AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR SIRAHSHOOLA:**

Ayurveda has a variety of natural medication in the treatment of various types of *Shirah-roga*. All *Shirorogas* are due to *tridosha prakopa* and chiefly due to *Vata* or *Vata-Kapha*. *Sadhya Shirorogas* can be best managed with *aushadhis* having *Ushna, Snigdha* properties. *Vatahara* or *Vata-Kaphahara* properties. Various internal *Rasaushadhis* like *Shirah-shooladi Vajra Rasa*, *Laghu Sutashekhara Rasa,* and *Navjivan Rasa* etc. have been mentioned in *Bhaisajya Ratnavali, Rasa Tarangini*, etc.

Majority of the drugs employed as modern medicine for anxiety type disorders are limited almost to suppress the symptoms. Therefore, search for a safer management from other systems of medicine is of greater interest. Thus a successful clinical trial using an *Ayurvedic* medicine would certainly be of greater value handling *Vatika Shirahshoola.*

Ayurveda is such a system of medicine where the importance of both prevention and cure has been highlighted. As per Ayurvedic texts, diseases are deep seated at different dhatu levels. Hence, the procedure *Nasya karma* is indicated to uproot the deep-seated disease.

In *Vataja Shirahshoola*, *Dashamula Taila Nasya* has been indicated in *Bhaisajyaratnawali. Dashamula* is having *Tridoshahara, Shothahara* and *Shirahshulahara* properties. It is capable of curing severe cases of *sotha* and all types of *Shirahshoola.*

Further, *Acharya Charaka* has indicated *Rasnadi Taila Nasya* in *Vataja Shirahshoola.* Hence *Rasnadi Taila Nasya* has been selected from *Charaka Samhita*.

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Not Yet Recruiting

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

Patients having the signs and symptoms of Vatika Shirahshoola as given in Ayurvedic classics will be selected.
Patients should be willing to participate in the trial.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients not having vatika shirahshoola.
Age less than 15 and greater than 50 years.
Pregnant and lactating women.
4.Patients suffering from major systemic diseases viz.
T.B., cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, hypertension.
Headache due to refractive error and increased intra-ocular pressure.
Secondary headache due to other pathological conditions e.g. tumors, cerebral haemorrhagic conditions.
Traumatic injury.
Nasya ayogya patients as per classical texts will be excluded.

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Relief in the signs and symptoms of Vataja Shirahshoola	30 days for oral treatment, two sittings of nasya (7 days in each sitting)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Improvement in quality of life	30 days for oral treatment, two sittings of nasya (7 days in each sitting)

Trial Locations

Locations (1): All India Institute of Ayurveda
🇮🇳
West, DELHI, India
All India Institute of Ayurveda
🇮🇳West, DELHI, India
Dr Anjali Dabas
Principal investigator
9911166668
dranjali23@gmail.com