How I Cured my Migraines

Yes, I know this isn’t my most flattering photo. Of course I’ve used several filters to make it remotely presentable. Not to mention the 100s of options clicked before I finally selected this image. But, I digress. This isn’t about how beautiful I look (although eventually it may be). It is about how I feel.

Let me begin by telling you that I had the worst migraines – ones that would begin with a vein throbbing in my temple, move to my brow, and down the side of my neck. If I didn’t take a 650mg Paracetamol (Disprin doesn’t help), the headache is capable of lasting for days. It also made so nauseous that I would throw up.

Like anyone suffering with migraines I had resigned myself to this condition. Until, I learnt jal neti at Ananda in the Himalayas. After a particularly extreme bout at the wellness retreat, Sandeep Agarwala, Head of Yoga at Ananda, suggested jal neti. It is part of the shat kriyas of Hatha yoga and is said to clear the sinuses and tear ducts. Basically, you run warm, salty water from one nostril to the other, while breathing softly through your mouth. It isn’t painful or uncomfortable in the least.

I won’t explain how to do it, because it is crucial that you learn this simple technique from a yoga teacher. A friend learnt this off a YouTube tutorial and she had water stuck in her ear for weeks. Eventually, she had to take steroids to dry it up. So find a traditional Hatha teacher who will guide you correctly. Just ensure that you learn both the neti and the drying process, which is equally important.

Now, back to my results: After a month of doing this kriya, my headaches have almost disappeared. If I do get one, I just wait till I get home and do the neti. Within 10 minutes, my headache disappears. Its magic! I haven’t taken a pill ever since I started the neti. Experts also suggest that it clears the vision and adds a sparkle to the eyes…waiting for that to happen!

Lead image: Shutterstock