Multimodal Ayurvedic Management of Ardhavabhedaka (Migraine without Aura) - A Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70066/jahm.v14i9.2743Keywords:
Agni karma, Ardhavabhedaka, Case report, Gudadi nasya, Headache, MIDAS, Migraine, Viddha karma.Abstract
Background: Ardhavabhedaka is a Shiroroga (disorder of head), characterized by severe Sambheda (piercing), Toda (pricking), Shula (pain), Bhrama (giddiness) on one side of the head. It can be correlated with Migraine. Migraine accounts for 16% of all the primary headaches, it is three times more common in women than in men. WHO ranks Migraine among the World's most disabling medical illnesses. Clinical findings: A 40-year-old female working as a teacher presented to the ENT OPD with unilateral headache, heaviness and nausea. Based on clinical features she was diagnosed with Ardhavabhedaka (Migraine without aura). VAS and MIDAS scale were 8 and 15 (Grade III) respectively. Intervention: Patient was subjected to Sadyovirechana with Trivruth avaleha followed by Gudadi nasya for 7 days and Viddha Agni Karma (therapeutic needle piercing and local cauterization) (on 1st and 4th day of Nasya Karma) and Shirashoola Vajra rasa (1/BD/AF with water for 7 days) was administered orally, along with dietary and lifestyle modifications. Outcome: VAS score reduced from 8 at baseline to 0 post treatment. Similarly the MIDAS improved from 15 (Grade III) before treatment to 0 (Grade I) at first follow-up and second follow-up. The patient remained symptom free with no recurrence of migraine attacks during six months of follow-up. Conclusion: This case report highlights the potential role of multimodal approach in the management of Ardhavabhedaka after Kaya Shodhana (body purification), Viddha karma and Agni karma helped in pain management, nose is considered as gateway of Shiras, So the drugs having Teekshna, Ushna in nature and having Srotoshodaka (channel cleansing) property were used in Nasya karma. Shirashoola Vajra rasa is indicated in all types of Shiroroga. Patient experienced relief from symptoms and marked improvement was seen on all parameters. This suggest potential benefit of given treatment and requires validation through further studies.
References
Yadavji Trikamji(editor). Sushruta Samhita of Sushruta, Uttaratantra, chapter 25, Verse no. 15. Reprint Edition. Varanasi; Chaukhambha Surbharti Sansthan; 2014;655.
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018 Jan;38(1):1-211. doi: 10.1177/0333102417738202. PMID: 29368949. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29368949/
Yadavji Trikamji (editor). Charaka Samhita of Agnivesha, Siddhi Sthana, chapter 9 verse no. 75. Reprint edition, Varanasi; Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan;2014;721.
Tripathi B editor. Astanga hridaya of Vagbhata, Uttara sthana, chapter 23 verse no. 7. Reprint edition, Varanasi; Chaukhamba sanskrith pratisthan;2011;1051.
Yadavji Trikamji (editor). Charaka Samhita of Agnivesha, Siddhi Sthana, Chapter 9 verse no. 88. Reprint edition, Varanasi; Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan;2014;722.
Rispoli MG, De Angelis MV, Melchionda D, Manente G. High-risk area for migraine attacks - a new concept in migraine pathophysiology. Front Neurol. 2025 Apr 7; 16:1569361. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1569361. PMID: 40260134; PMCID: PMC12010771.Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40260134/
Togha M, Seyed-Ahadi M, Jafari E, Vahabi Z, Naderi-Behdani F, Nasergivehchi S, Haghighi S, Ghorbani Z, Farham F, Paknejad SMH, Rafiee P. Estimating quality of life in a headache referral population based on Migraine disability assessment scale and headache impact test. Curr J Neurol. 2020 Apr 3;19(2):76-84. doi: 10.18502/cjn. v19i2.4944. PMID: 38011406; PMCID: PMC7874894. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38011406/
Campbell WI, Lewis S. Visual analogue measurement of pain. Ulster Med J. 1990 Oct;59(2):149-54. PMID: 2278111; PMCID: PMC2448309.Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2448309/
Binji H, Vishnu U, PB K, Raj V, Namboothiri KP. Understanding Neuro-modulatory mechanism of Nasya karma with Dashamoola Ghrita in Migraine with CGRP biomarker- A case series. JAHM [Internet]. 2025Nov.17 [cited 2026Oct.15];13(10):79-87. Available from: https://jahm.co.in/index.php/jahm/article/view/2328
Koti S, Chavan S. Effectiveness of Gudadi Nasya and Rooksha Sweda in Manyastambha (Cervical Spondylosis). Journal of Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine. 2023 May;11(4). Available from: https://jahm.co.in/index.php/jahm/article/view/761
Daga AG, Angadi S, Roshani D. Holistic management of Ardhavabhedaka (migraine with aura): A case report . JAHM [Internet]. 2026Jun.22 [cited 2026Oct.6];14(5):118-25. Available from: https://jahm.co.in/index.php/jahm/article/view/2809 .
Shastri A (editor). Govinda dasji Bhishagratna of Bhaishajya Ratnavali. Chapter 26, verse no.343-354. Varanasi; Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan;2009;158.
Akhtar B, Mahto RR, Dave AR, Shukla VD. Clinical study on Sandhigata Vata w.s.r. to Osteoarthritis and its management by Panchatikta Ghrita Guggulu. Ayu. 2010 Jan;31(1):53-7. doi: 10.4103/0974-8520.68210. PMID: 22131685; PMCID: PMC3215322. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22131685/
Gogate RB. Viddha and Agni Karma Chikitsa, 6th Edition. Pune; Vaidhya Gogate Memorial Foundation; 2023;37.
Karakurum Göksel B. The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Patients with Migraine. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2013 Aug;50(Suppl 1): S41-S46. doi: 10.4274/npa. y6809. Epub 2013 Aug 1. PMID: 28360583; PMCID: PMC5353077. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28360583/
Tripathi B (editor). Sharangdhara Samhita of Acharya Sharangdhar, Uttara Khanda. Chapter 18, Ver. 3. Reprint Edition. Varanasi; Chaukhambha Surbharti Prakashana; 2011;133.
Kanakhara B, Chaudhari V. A pilot study on clinical efficacy of Agnikarma and Pathyadi decoction (an Ayurvedic formulation) in the management of Ardhavabhedaka (migraine). Ayu. 2018 Jan Mar;39(1): 5661.doi: 10.4103/ayu.AYU_84_17. PMID: 30595636; PMCID: PMC6287398.Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30595636/
Balakrishnan P, Surendran ES, Raj LS. An immediate pain relief with Agnikarma therapy for acute episode of migraine headache-a case report. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2024 May-Jun;15(3):100953. doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2024.100953. Epub 2024 Jun 13. PMID: 38871596; PMCID: PMC11282372.Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38871596/
Tripathi ID (editor). Rasaratna Samucchaya, Chapter 5 Verse no.27. Reprint edition. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrith Sansthan;2005;55.
Smith DR, Fickett FR. Low-Temperature Properties of Silver. J Res Natl Inst Stand Technol. 1995 Mar-Apr;100(2):119-171. doi: 10.6028/jres.100.012. PMID: 29151733; PMCID: PMC4887198.Accessed from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4887198/
Sharangacharya. Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttarakhanda, chapter 8 verse no.18. Reprint edition.Varanasi; Chaukhambha publication; 2013;341.
Sinha G, Patni K. Comparative Evaluation of Dashamula saindhavaa Sarpi as Nasya (nasal administration) versus Oral administration in the Management of Ardhavabhedaka (Migraine): A Randomized Parallel Group Clinical Study. IJAM 2023;14(3):673-682. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47552/ijam.v14i3.3391
Lucas DSK. Dravyaguna Vijnana Vol 2 chapter 4. Reprint edition. Varanasi; Chaukhambha Visvabharati; 2013;474.
Lucas DSK. Dravyaguna Vijnana Vol 2 chapter 1. Reprint edition. Varanasi; Chaukhambha Visvabharati; 2013;414/416.
Shastri A (editor). Shree Govinda dasji bhisagratna of Bhaishajya Ratnavali. Chapter 65, verse no. 55-59. Varanasi; Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan;2009;319.
Additional Files
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Pratima Patil, Gururaj N, Veerayya Hiremath, Shashikala K, Anita K

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors retain the copyright of their work and grant the Journal of Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine (JAHM) the right of first publication. All published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license, which permits non-commercial sharing, use, distribution, and adaptation with proper attribution and the same license terms.
JAHM ensures free, irrevocable, worldwide access to its content. Users may copy, distribute, display, and share published works for non-commercial purposes with appropriate credit to the author(s) and the journal. Limited printed copies for personal, non-commercial use are allowed under the same license.
If a submission is not accepted for publication, the author(s) will be notified.
By submitting, authors confirm that the work is original, that all listed authors have contributed and approved it, and that it does not infringe any third-party rights or duplicate work submitted elsewhere.