Ayurveda’s Take on Migraines: Holistic Relief at the Root

If you’ve ever dealt with migraines, you know they’re more than just “bad headaches.” I feel for you! Locking yourself in a dark room, totally changing the trajectory of your day, it's the worst!  While modern medicine often focuses on managing symptoms with medication, Ayurveda—the ancient science of life—invites us to look deeper- why did this migraine happen in the first place? How can we prevent it instead of just treating the symptoms? Let’s holistically address migraines without just more medications. 

What Are Migraines According to Ayurveda?

In Ayurveda, medicine is individualized, it’s not a one size fits all approach. When we seek to uncover the root cause of migraines, we look to an imbalance in any one of the 3 dosha (dominate energy types according to Ayurveda). If any one of the doshas gets too big for its britches and your bucket overflows, you can see migraine headaches. 

• Pitta imbalance (most common) → intense, throbbing pain, heat or burning sensations, light sensitivity, irritability

• Vata imbalance → shifting/inconsistent pain, dryness, sensitivity to sound, anxiety alongside headaches

• Kapha imbalance (less common) → dull, heavy headaches, foggy mind, congestion
  

Want to know more about the doshas? Take my free dosha quiz! 

Ayurveda- the Natural, Holistic Approach to Migraines

Ayurveda focuses on root cause relief, not just quick fixes. The aim is to balance doshas, strengthen digestion, and calm the nervous system.

General Holistic Recommendations for Migraines:  ✅ Eat warm, freshly cooked meals at regular times (the routine and consistency will do you more good than you think!)  ✅ Stay hydrated with cool or room-temperature water (especially for Pitta types). This helps prevent dehydration, but also supports digestion by avoiding ice water.   ✅ Favor grounding, calming practices (like abhyanga—oil massage) especially if you suspect Vata imbalance  ✅ Avoid common triggers: excessive screen time, heat exposure, skipping meals

Specific Ayurvedic Recommendations for Migraines:

• Avipattikar- an ayurvedic herbal formula best for pitta types that helps keep your fire in your digestion, instead of rising up into your head or throat causing migraines or acid reflux

• Ashwagandha- Ayurveda’s all star stress management adaptogen herb, which can help prevent imbalance- helpful for vata types

• CCF tea- for boosting digestive capacity and helping regulate your body’s fire- best for pitta types

• Nasya- herbal infused oil that’s applied to the sinuses can work wonders for managing symptoms above the collarbones. Once you get over it being kind of weird to put oil up your nose, you’ll love this practice

• Put your feet in ice water- for pittas- draw the heat down from the head, a practice like this also could be accompanied by herbal support to move pitta down and out of the digestive tract. Talk to your Ayurvedic practitioner!
  

Putting it all together: Ayurveda’s Alternative Approach to Migraines

Migraines are your body’s way of saying: something is out of balance. Ayurveda encourages you to listen to these signals and address the whole picture—not just the pain. By understanding your unique dosha and triggers, you can build habits that bring relief, resilience, and rhythm back to your life.

 Curious where to start? Take my free Dosha Quiz to learn more about your natural constitution—and how Ayurveda can help you finally decode your migraine patterns.