*!* The Prophet’s Guidance on treating headaches and migraines! *!*

The Prophet's Guidance on treating headaches and migraines

Taken from: "Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet," by Ibn ul-Qayyim

Headaches resemble a pain that appears in some part of the head or all of it, but when the headache attacks one side of the head, it is called migraine. The type that attacks the entire head is sometimes called a helmet, for it resembles the helmet that covers the head. Furthermore, headaches sometimes attack only the back or the front side of the head.

There are many types of headaches that result from various conditions. Headaches usually start when the head becomes hot due to the pressure of a septic vapor that accumulated near the head and which seeks a way out of the body but fails. Then, the pressure of the vapor intensifies, just as a pot when it is heated but the steam is not able to escape from it. It is a fact that when moisture heats up, it seeks more than causes a headache in the entire head because it is unable to expand or escape from the body as it heats up. This condition causes a type of dizziness.



There are various specific causes for headaches.

Tension Headache: Areas of Pain

• First, when one of the four essential conditions (coldness, hotness, dryness and wetness) becomes predominant.
  
• Second, ulcers of the stomach cause headaches, becomes the cephalic (relating to the head) nerves and the stomach are connected.
  
• Third, thick flatulence might accumulate in the stomach then later ascend to the head and cause headaches.
  
• Fourth, headaches are sometimes cause by a tumor in the gastric veins that cause pain in the head, because the stomach and the head are connected.
  
• Fifth, when the stomach is full of food it sometimes provokes headaches, as some of the food remains undigested.
  
• Sixth, headaches sometimes occur after sexual intercourse because the body will then be weakened and thus exposed to the heat of the air.
  
• Seventh, headaches sometimes occur after vomiting due to excessive dryness, or to accumulating gaseous materials (flatulence) that ascend to the head from the stomach.
  
• Eighth, sometimes the hot weather and air provokes headaches.
  
• Ninth, headaches are sometimes caused by the cold weather and from the vapor that accumulates in the head and which is unable to decompose.
  
• Tenth, not having enough sleep also causes headaches.
  
• Headaches are sometimes caused due to the pressure exerted on the head, such as when one carries a heavy object on his head.
  
• Thirtieth, excessive movements and sports activity can also provoke headaches.
  
• Fourteenth, sadness, depression, obsession, and evil thoughts also provoke headaches.
  
• Fifteenth, excessive hunger provokes headaches, as in this case; the excess gaseous materials (flatulence) that accumulate in the stomach ascend to the brain and provoke headaches.
  
• Sixteenth, those who suffer from a tumor in the cerebral lining sometimes feel as if hammers are constantly pounding on their heads.
  
• Seventeenth, fever also provokes headaches because of the intense heat that the body suffers from them. Allah knows best.

Headaches result from changes in the system that affects the cerebral arteries

The weaker side of the brain will accept septic material and the migraine headache will be accompanied by pulsation in the arteries. The pain could be relieved in this case when one ties a bandage so that the pulsing of the arteries is stopped and thus the pain is lessened.

Abu Na'im said in his book on Prophetic medicine that the migraine type of headache used to attack the Prophet, sallalahu aleyhi wa sallam, and that it would prevent him going out of his house for one or two days at a time. Also, Abu Na'im related from Ibn 'Abbas, radiallahu anhu, that he said, "Once, the Messenger of Allah, sallalahu aleyhi wa sallam, delivered a speech while a cloth was tied around his head."

Also the Sahih states the at the Prophet, sallalahu aleyhi wa sallam, said during the illness that preceded his death: "O my head!" He used to tie a piece of cloth around his.



Tying a piece of cloth around the head helps soothe the pain of headaches and migraines.


Treating headaches varies according to their type and cause. Hence, headaches could be relieved by vomiting, eating, being clam and idle, using cold rags, cooling the body, elevating the temperature, avoiding noise, etc.

Knowing these facts, we should mention that treating headaches with Henna is partial and that it treats some types of headache. If the headache is caused by high fever and not a spoiled substance that requires extraction, Henna blended with vinegar and applied to the forehead will relive the headache. Henna also soothes the nerves when used as a bandage. Finally, Henna is not only favorable to relive headaches, but also for various organs of the body and for the hot tumor and inflammations when used as a bandage.

Taken from: "Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet," by Ibn ul-Qayyim
Source.