Symposium on Headaches - Geeta Iyengar

An except from an article:
'Symposium on Headaches'


Geeta Iyengar's response when asked, What would you do to a patient who comes to you with a migraine? What do you normally recommend?

I cannot give a set of asanas as a general rule because migrainous pain is situated in different areas of the head. Though we may just say frontal head or back head or top of the head, but a patient does not know exactly where it is paining and I think some skill is required and one has to touch the head to find out. 

For headaches one also has to start in a different way.

For example for some we start with forward bends, then halasana, then setubandha sarvangasana and viparita karani.
When the person stands in front of you, you will know in which forward bend the forehead can rest first.

How the migraine is controlled

Since the forehead is resting in these positions, such as janushirasana, paschimottanasana etc., it is just inverted now in halasana - that means half halasana (with support), in which the tension of the frontal head is taken off and the chin-lock brings a controlled circulation towards the head. 
It does not suddenly flow to the head and that is how the migraine is controlled.

Hormone Released

And then forward bending and halasana check the hormone release of the pituitary and adrenal glands. The excitation of nerves is checked. Then go for setubandha, sarvangasana and viparita karani which is again opposite to halasana posture. 
These asanas correct the respiratory defects. Halasana opens the sinus passages and setubandha, sarvangasana and halasana help to distribute the energy properly.
The expansion of the chest muscles in a passive manner helps to increase the intake of oxygen. So sometimes a starting is made in that way. In some cases it may be the reverse - straightaway the person is treated with viparita karani.

Right Sequence

Here a study has to be done.
Halasana is good, janu shirasana is good, paschimottanasana is good, viparita karani is good, setubandha sarvangasana is good etc.
But how to put them into the right sequence is a big problem. Because if the sequence is different, the effect differs.