23/07/2026
If you live with migraines, you'll know your brain notices everything.
Light. Movement. Screens. Notifications. Noise. Touch. People. Well, everything...
From an Ayurvedic perspective, migraine isn't just a headache - it's often an overwhelmed nervous system along with inflammation, congestion and accumulation.
Why I include Trataka (steady gazing) in my migraine support practices.
Every day our eyes process hundreds of visual stimuli. Trataka is the opposite.
🕯️ One point.
👁️ One steady gaze.
🧠 One chance for the mind to settle.
Traditionally, Trataka is said to: ✨ Calm Prana Vata ✨ Support Sadhaka Pitta (clarity and emotional processing) ✨ Ease eye strain from screen use ✨ Improve focus and mental steadiness
Ayurveda also recognises that migraines can involve all three doshas, with one usually leading the charge:
🌬️ Vata – throbbing pain, overwhelm, shivering, confusion, needing silence and stillness.
🔥 Pitta – burning pain, light sensitivity, anger, nausea and heat or hot flushes.
🌧️ Kapha – heavy, dull headaches, congestion and brain fog.
🌀 Sometimes Ama (poor digestive capacity leading to 'backlog') is involved too, leaving you feeling toxic, tired, weak and worse after trying to eat or receiving an oil massage.
For support for those who struggle with migraines in number and intensity, I like this simple evening rhythm:
🌿 Foot massage
🌿 Gentle alternate nostril breathing
🌿 2-5 minutes of Trataka
🌿 Rest with cool ghee-soaked eye pads
🌿 Bed before 10pm
One gentle reminder... Trataka is a practice for migraine-free days, building resilience over time. During an active migraine, when the brain is already hypersensitive to light, you'll naturally not be able to do treatments or prevention due to intense pain and disability having to choose darkness, quiet and rest instead.
Not every migraine is under our control. Opt for a reduction in the number of your migraines and a lessening in intensity rather than feeling like a failure if you get them.
How do you do migraine support?
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