Effect of a Classical Ayurvedic Regimen on Migraine (Ardhavabhedaka): A Short-term Case Report

Migraine is a common and disabling neurological disorder affecting nearly 41 million adults. Episodic migraine (EM) is defined as having fewer than 15 headache days per month, whereas chronic migraine (CM) involves 15 or more headache days per month. It is a benign and recurrent syndrome characterized by headache, nausea, vomiting, and other neurological symptoms. In Ayurvedic texts, the condition is correlated with Ardhavabhedaka , one of the 11 types of Shiro-Roga described by Acharya Sushruta in Uttar Tantra . According to Ayurveda, Ardhavabhedaka is a Tridoshaja disorder, with predominance of Vata or Vata-Kapha dosha in its pathogenesis. In the present case, a 35-year-old male visited the Shalakya Tantra outdoor patient department at AIIA, New Delhi, with complaints of left-sided throbbing and pulsating headache associated with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound for the past 2 years. The condition had been unresponsive to conventional medicine. After Ayurvedic management, the patient experienced marked improvement in headache frequency and associated symptoms. Considering the relapsing–remitting nature of migraine, the outcome can be regarded as short-term remission. This case demonstrates that Ayurvedic management of Ardhavabhedaka can provide significant clinical benefits when planned systematically based on the disease pathology, causative factors, and clinical presentation. However, as this is a single-case observation, the results cannot be generalized, and further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these findings and develop standardized treatment protocols.