Headache is commonest problem experienced by humans in day to day life. Migraine is presented with symptoms like paroxysmal unilateral headache with throbbing and pulsating type of pain. Some patients may experience nausea (with or without vomiting), photophobia, phonophobia, with or without aura.

According to international headache society migraine is commonest neurovascular headache which constitutes 16% of primary headache and affects 10%-20% of general population^. WHO ranks migraine among the world’s most disabling medical illness.During adolescence migraine becomes more common among females and it will persist for lifetime.

The word “MIGRAINE” is derived from Greek word “Hemi crania” which means “half of head” because the pain of migraine often occurs on one side of head. Sometime it spreads to entire head. The term migraine mainly refers to a syndrome of vascular spasm of cranial blood vessels and it is usually an episodic headache.

In Ayurvedic Samhitas, migraine is found to be similar to one of the Shirorogas named as Ardhavbhedak. Which is characterized by Ardhshir vedana means unilateral headache. There are some other symptoms of Ardhavbhedak can also correlate with migraine, such as Toda, Bheda, Bhrama means pulsatind and throbbing type of pain, vertigo. Ardhavbhedak is one of the Shirorogas explained in classical ayurvedic texts.According to acharya Charaka, vata dosha either alone or along with Kapha seizes the one half of head and causes Ativedana in sides of Manya(neck), Bhru(eyebrow), Shankha(temporal region), Karna(ear), Akshi(eyes), lalatardh(one side of forehead) and if the symptoms becomes aggravated it may affects the function of Netra and Shrotra.

The proper history taking of patient plays important role in diagnosis of migraine. The line of treatment of modern science includes acute rescue, life style changes, alternative remedies and prophylactic drugs. The Triptans have improved acute treatment but overuse of acute rescue medication can causes chronic daily headache.

Need of study

Modern medications gives instant relief from pain and other symptom of migraine but underlying pathology goes on and progressively worsen the condition. There are some drawbacks of these medicines like sedation, weight gain, drug dependency and recurrence. Therefore there is need of alternative therapy for migraine pain management.

According to Ayurveda pain is present due to Vata dushti.So there is need of such therapy which can reduces the Vata dushti. Acharya said that nasal route is the nearest route for treatment of Shirorogas and Nasya Karma is significant for all Urdhwajatrugat rogas. According to Kaiyadeva Nighantu Kumkum has Tridoshhar properties and also effective on shirorogas. Ayurveda considered Basti is one of the best treatment for vatadushti and it is main upakrama for vata.Acharya Charaka has given specific treatmen on Shirorogas which includes Nasya and Basti. Drugs included in Dashmul are specifically used in Vata dushtigat rogas.

Hence I have taken this subject for study:

“A randomized clinical comparative study to evaluate the effect of Dashmul Yog Basti followed by Kumkum Siddha Ghrita Nasya And Kumkum Siddha Ghrita Nasya in the management of Ardhavbhedak with special reference to Migraine,”