Have you ever experienced a splitting intense headache on one side of the head accompanied sometimes with other symptoms like nausea, extreme blind spots, not able to stand light and sound, etc.? Well, this is nothing but a migraine! There are some remedies to tackle this serious health problem like medication, occipital nerve stimulation, anti-depressants, or even muscle and arterial surgery as the case may be. However, these have some side effects which may range from mild to serious.
Thankfully, there is a natural remedy available. Yes, we are talking about Yoga. Various studies have shown that its poses and breathing techniques yield terrific results in fighting the migraine attack. Let’s browse through some of the best postures of yoga for migraine prevention.
1. Hastapadasana (Standing Forward Bend)
Being an inversion pose, this is an excellent yoga for a migraine headache. It increases the blood supply to the head and all parts of the body which calms the mind. It also invigorates the nervous system. Regular practice of this keeps the migraine attacks at bay.
To perform it, once you are standing with legs shoulder-width apart, stretch your hands upwards and forwards and slowly bend forward so that your palms touch the floor and your head touches the knee. Hold the position for a couple of seconds while breathing normally. Slowly come back to the original position. Repeat it daily 5 to 10 times.
2. Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)
This is an excellent yoga for headache relief. Like the previous yoga pose, this pose also increases the blood and oxygen supply to the brain thus relaxing and calming it. It also aids in reducing anxiety and stress which are the most common migraine triggers. Apart from it, this pose regulates blood pressure and helps in alleviating body and joints aches and pain.
To perform it, lie on your back on the yoga mat and keep your feet flat as near to the hip as you can. Exhaling, push off the floor with your feet such that the rest of the body rises while the head and neck remain flat on the mat. Hold it for about a few seconds before returning to the rest position. Repeat 5-7 times. Please be aware that if you have a neck injury or pain, you should not try this.
3. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)
Look no further than the downward-facing dog poses for how to cure a migraine naturally! It not only supplies abundant blood and oxygen to the brain and face but is especially noted for its de-stressing benefit. It also eliminates fatigue, insomnia, restlessness, and even back pain, all of which induce a migraine attack!
To perform it, one needs to get in the table position, and then lift the hips as high as possible to the sky with knees also leaving the ground. The spine should be straight with the toes pointing inwards. The head and the neck can hang freely or you can point them to look towards your belly. After a few seconds to a few minutes, you can come back to the normal position. Repeat 5-7 times.
4. Viparita Karani( Inverted Lake Pose)
This is an excellent yoga pose to get into if you are suffering from severe headaches and wondering what to do for migraine relief! This is a terrific restorative pose of yoga for migraines and helps increase the blood and oxygen supply to the brain and all other parts where there is normally a poor supply. This brings a state of relaxation and thus the pain starts receding.
To perform it, you place your legs parallel to the wall while your hip is resting on a little high pillow and your neck is on a flat pillow. Here your body will form a 90-degree angle with the wall. Stay in this position for about 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Savasana (Corpse Pose)
This pose is again regarded quite effective as yoga for headaches and has shown phenomenal results in reducing headaches, stress, and anxiety. Being a restorative pose, it brings about a total relaxation of the mind and body, rejuvenates it, and effectively heals all cells and tissues. Consequently, this proves highly effective in curing migraines.
To perform it, lie flat on the back with arms at your side and palms facing the sky. With eyes closed, take deep breaths and start concentrating on your body parts from your toes to your head one by one and consciously relax them. You might go off to sleep but once you wake up, you will find the migraine gone!
Have you ever tried yoga for a migraine cure? What do you think about it? Do you know of any other yoga poses for curing migraines? Share your thoughts with our readers by commenting below.
[Also Read: Facts And Tips On Yoga For Diabetes]