🚑 Seek urgent care if:
- A sudden 'worst-ever' thunderclap headache, headache with fever and a stiff neck, weakness, slurred speech, vision loss, confusion, or headache after a head injury.→ Do not self-treat — seek emergency care now.
Classical understanding
- Described as Ardhāvabhedaka — a vāta or vāta-pitta disorder giving severe, splitting pain in half of the head, coming in bouts.
General self-care (safe for most)
- Keep regular sleep and meals, stay hydrated, reduce known triggers (skipped meals, excess screen glare, strong smells), and manage stress with slow breathing and rest in a quiet, dark room during an attack.
Recurrent or severe headaches need a doctor's assessment to rule out other causes; Ayurvedic measures here are supportive and educational only.
View sources — 3 classical & official references ›
- Classical text Charaka Saṁhitā
- Classical text Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya
- Classical text Mādhava Nidāna