Alleviating Sinus Headaches Naturally: Ayurvedic Solutions

In our previous post, we discussed how to relieve tension headaches. This time we will touch on sinus headaches and how they can be treated through Ayurveda.

Before we get there, we must be able to identify what type of headache you have. Sinus headaches are usually felt in the cheekbones, forehead, or the bridge of the nose. If you experience pain in one of those areas, here are the methods to lessen your pain.

• Massage the face, neck, forehead, and temples with sesame oil or coconut oil. Put eucalyptus oil or lemongrass oil to hot water and expose these areas to the hot steam for 10 minutes. It is advisable to cover the eyes with a wet cotton pad. Do this twice daily.
• Avoid cold and frozen food, aerated drinks, banana, yogurt, and other dairy products for a week.
• Avoid being exposed to direct wind, breeze, or air conditioners. Please also refrain from swimming and frequent head showers.
• Cover the ears and head with a warm scarf before sleeping.
• Minimize sweet, sour, and salty tastes in your food.
• Put 2 grams of ginger, 1 gram of black pepper, and 1 gram of long pepper into your tea. Alternatively, put cumin, turmeric, ginger, and black pepper into your tea. Consume this tea twice daily.
• Make a small poultice with black cumin seeds. Heat it over a pan and press the heated poultice over the sinuses and inhale.
• Do saline lukewarm water rinse or Neti only under supervision.
• Consult with an Ayurveda doctor and learn the proper method of Pratimarsha Nasya with Anu Taila before commencing doing it.

Aparna K. BAMS, MD, PhD

Aparna is one of the few specialists worldwide with a PhD in Ayurveda. Born into an Ayurvedic family that operates a traditional Ayurvedic Panchakarma hospital in Kerala, India, she grew up observing her father, the renowned Dr Padmanabhan.