Healing Headaches & Migraines

Healing Through Prophetic Medicine in Islam

Tibb-e-Nabawi

Healing Diseases

Headaches & Migraines

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لاَّ رَيْبَ فِيهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ

Prophet’s Guidance on treating headaches and Migraines

روى ابن ماجه فى "سننه" حديثاً فى صحته نظر: أنَّ النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا صُدِع، غَلَّفَ رأسَه بالحنَّاءِ، ويقول: "إنَّهُ نافعٌ بإذنِ الله من الصُّداعِ".

Narrated by Ibn Majah that whenever Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam suffered from a headache, he used to cover his head with Henna (Khazaab) and said, "Henna helps to relieve headache by the permission of Allah".


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 accumulates 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 unable to escape from it. It is a fact that when moisture heats up, it seeks more space to expand. Similarly, the vapor accumulates near the head and then causes a headache in the entire head because it is unable to expand or escape from the body as it heart up. This condition causes a type of dizziness.


There are various specific causes for headaches. 

• First, when one of the four essential conditions (coldness, hotness, dryness and wetness) becomes predominant. 
• Second, ulcers of the stomach cause headaches, because the cephalic (relating to the head) nerves and the stomach are connected. 
• Third, thick flatulence might accumulate in the stomach and then later ascend to the head and cause headaches. 
• Fourth, headaches are sometimes caused by a tumor in the gastric veins that cause pain in the head, because the stomach and 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 due to accumulating gaseous materials (flatulence) that ascend to the head from the stomach. 
• Eighth, the hot weather and air provoke 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 & rest cause headaches. 
• Headaches are sometimes caused due to the pressure exerted on the head, such as when one carries a heavy object on his head. 
• Twelve, excessive talking sometimes weakens the mind in a way that causes headaches. 
• Thirteenth, excessive movements and sports activity can provoke headache. 
• Fourteenth, sadness, depression, obsession and evil thoughts provoke headaches. 
• Fifteenth, excessive hunger results in headache, as in this case; the excess gaseous materials (flatulence) that accumulate in the stomach ascend to the brain and cause headache. 
• Sixteenth, those who suffer from a tumor in the cerebral lining sometimes feel as if hammers are constantly pounding on their heads. 
• Seventeenth, fever provokes headache 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 then the pain is lessened.


Abu Naeem said in his book on Prophetic medicine that the migraine type of headache used to attack Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam and that it would prevent him from going out of his house for one or two days at a time. In addition, Abu Naeem related from Ibn Abbas radi Allaho Anh that he said,

عن ابن عباس قال: خطبنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقد عَصَبَ رأسه بعِصَابةٍ. وفى ((الصحيح)): أنه قال فى مرض موته: ((وَارَأْسَاهُ)). وكان يُعصِّبُ رأسه فى مرضه، وعَصْبُ الرأس ينفع فى وجع الشقيقة وغيرها من أوجاع الرأس.

"Once, Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam delivered a speech while a cloth was tied around his head.


In addition, Sahih Hadith states that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said during the illness that preceded his death: "Ohh my head". He used to tie a piece of cloth around his head. Tying a piece of cloth around the head helps soothe the pain of headaches and migraines.

Treating headaches varies according to their type and causes



Hence, headaches could be relieved by vomiting, eating, being calm 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 by a spoiled substance that requires extraction. Crushed Henna blended with vinegar and applied to the forehead will relieve the headache. Henna soothes the nerves when used as a bandage. Finally, Henna is not only favorable to relieve headaches, but in addition for the various organs of the body and for the hot tumors and inflammations when used as a bandage.

عليّ بن أبي رافع، عن جدته سلمى خادم رسول اللّه  صلى اللّه عليه وسلم قالت (ما كان أحد يشتكي إلى رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وسلم  وَجعاً في رأسه إلا قال: "احتجم" ولا وجعاً في رجليه إلا قال: "اخضبهما") رواه  داود(3).  وعنها أيضاً قالت: (كان لا يصيب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قرحة ولا شوكة  إلا وضع عليها الحناء) رواه الترمذي بإسناد حسن

Ali Bin Abi Rafe'e reported on behalf of his grandfather Salma Radi Allaho Anh (servant of Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam): "If someone complained to Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam for headache, the Prophet asked him for Hijamah & if some one complained for pain in his legs, Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam asked him to anoint with HENNA". (Abu Dawood) He also reports "Whenever the Prophet suffered with injury or thorn piercing, the wound was only treated with Henna". (Tirmizi)



Henna is cold in the first degree and dry in the second degree



The Henna tree has two special qualities:


1. Decomposing due to its warm watery essence

2. Constipating due to the cold earthly essence it contains.



Henna in useful in treating burns and soothes the nerves when used as a bandage, as we have stated. When chewed; Henna helps treat the cankers and thrush that appear in the mouth. Henna heals Stomatitis (inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth) that appears in child's mouth. Using Henna to bandage hot tumors helps, as it has a similar effect on open sores (similar to Dragon's blood tree). When Henna is blended with pure wax and rose oil, it will help against the aches of the side (That ul Janb ~ Pleurisy).


When the symptoms of smallpox start to break out on children and Henna is then applied on the bottom of their feet, the eyes will be immune from the sores that accompany smallpox. When the flower of Henna is placed between wool clothes, it will perfume it and will prevent mold or mite. Furthermore, when the leaves of Henna are submerged in fresh water, then squeezed and drunk for forty days, 20 measures each day with 10 measures of sugar or honey while eating the meat of a young eve (goat), it prevents LEPROSY with its amazing qualities..


We were told that a man once complained from fissuring in his fingers and that he offered monetary rewards to whoever could cure him, but to no avail. Later on, a woman prescribed for him a drink of Henna for ten days but he could not understand the idea. Later on, he soaked Henna leaves in water and drank the water and his fingers were healed and regained their beauty.


Henna when used as an ointment for the fingers, polishes and strengthens them. Henna is useful when blended with butter and then used as a bandage for the hot tumors that drain yellow residue. Henna also benefits against chronic mange, helps the hair grow, makes it stronger and strengthens the head & brain. Finally, Henna helps against the blisters and the pustules that appear on the legs and feet and the rest of the body in general.

Source

to be continued .....