TREATMENT FOR HEADACHES

ln his collection of prophetic sayings, Imam Ibn Mâja cited a tradition in which God’s Messenger (saw) had applied henna to his scalp for his headache, and said: “God willing, it will help.” Although there are some questions about the authority of the chain ofnarrators ofthe above tradition, nevertheless, God willing, we shall later on in this section discuss some of the benefits of henna in relationship to headache.
Common headache is caused by an imbalance oftemperaments, and it is a disorder of humors that accompanies almost every illness. Typical headache (Arb. sudâ’) can be either massive or partial. When it is periodical and limited to one side of the head, it is called migraine headache or hemicrania (Arb. shaqïqa), and when it spreads throughout the entire head, it is ealled inArabie baidha; khawtha or helmet. When pain affects the back of the head it is called cephalalgia, and there are many varieties of headache with as many causes.
Kamala: A powder obtained from the coating of the seed pods of the Kamala tree trnalotus philippinensis ); or from a similar genus family as the Ceylon cornel tree.
Generally speaking, headache is due to heat and fever in the head because of accumulation of vapors seeking a way out, andin the absence ofsuch exit, they cause intense splittingheadache. The same thing may happen to a pot, for example, when its contents are heated and need to expand. When such vapors spread throughout the head and expand uncontrollably, they cause increase in the amount offluid in the cranium, swelling of the membrane of the head, and when they do not break up, they cause a type ofheadache that is called delirium (Arb. sidr). Hence, head fever, even without swelling, sometimes produces uncontrollable emotions, restlessness, narrow-mindedness, and confused speech, otherwise known as false delirium.

1. TYPES OF HEADACHE
There are several types of headaches. Four of them are due to imbalance of the four humors; the fifth type of headache is due to ulcers of the stomach that cause headache via the vagus nerve connecting the brain and the stomach; the sixth is due to putrefied gastric gases that rise to the head; the seventh is due to swelling in the gastric artery; the eight is due overeating, and when part of the food is digested and travels to the intestines, the balance of food that does not digest causes headache and heaviness; the ninth type of headache occurs following sexual intercourse due to excess heat; the tenth type ofheadache is caused by vomiting or purgation due to either excess dryness or moisture in the stomach; the eleventh type ofheadache is due to extended exposure to the sun orhigh temperature; the twelfth type of headache is caused by cold temperature and condensation of vapors in the head; the thirteenth type of headache is caused by absence of sleep (insomnia), or staying up prolonged hours at night; the fourteenth type of headache is due to putting pressure on one’s head, carrying a heavy object on it, or injuring it; the fifteenth type ofheadache is due to excessive talking, thus weakening the strength of one’s brain; the sixteenth type of headache is due to attenuating physical exercises and exhaustion; the seventeenth type ofheadache is due to depression, emotional stress, and prurient thoughts; the eighteenth type ofheadache is due to hunger, whereby vapors rise to the head and cause pain; the nineteenth type of headache is caused by swelling in the brain membrane, whereby one may feel as though his head is cracking or being hit by a hammer; the twentieth type of headache is due to high fever or to a serious underlying disease -God knows best

 

2. CAUSE OF MIGRAINE HEADACHE
Migraine headache or hemicrania is caused by obstruction of the blood vessels in the brain that either develops therein or rises to it. Such obstruction is due to foreign matters which are carried in the bloodstream and can be either corrupt air bubbles or vapors, or caused by dominating humors or excess cold or heat in the humors (akh..ldt). The particular symptoms of a migraine headache are an abnormally fast beating ofthe blood vessels, or an arterial pressure. Placing a bandage around the head will quell the pain. In his book “Medicine of the Prophet”,Abu Na’ïm narrated that God’sMessenger# sometimes suffered from migraine headache that kept him home for a day or two. Ibn ‘Abbâss said that God’s Messenger (saw) once gave a sermon wearing a headband. Ingeneral, tying a headband around one’s head reduces the intensity ofa migraine headache (shaqïqa) as well as other types ofheadache.

3. TREATMENT OF HEADACHE
Each headache is treated in accordance with its particular type and cause. Sometimes headache can be treated by purgation or inducing vomiting, and sometimes it can be treated by simple rest, quietness, and calm. Other types are treated by compression with a headband, or by applying cold pads or sometimes even hot pads, or by avoiding noxious noises or strenuous exercise.
Once the medical cause of headache is properly diagnosed, one may understand that the treatment used by God’s Messenger (saw), as cited in the above prophetie tradition of applying henna to the scalp, was a partial or limited remedy for headache. This treatment is particularly functional in an extremely hot climate, such as that of the Arabian peninsula, for example. Hence, when headache is not caused by a harmful matterthat requires purgation, then applying a decoction of henna to the surface of the scalp may be beneficial. In treating headache, henna also can be applied as poultice by grinding it and mixing its powder with vinegaz This will quell the pain and calm the nerves. The benefits of such application are not limited to the treatment of headache and is helpful for almost any pain of the limbs and will effect muscle tautness. Using henna poultices as a bandage around an area swollen from heat or from inflamed body tissue will soothe the inflamed area. It is reported in Bukhâri and in the traditions of Abu-Dâwoud that whenever someone complained to God’s Messenger (saw) ~ about headache, he prescribed cupping, and whenever someone complained to him about foot pain, he prescribed tinging his feet in henna. Imam al-Tirmithi narrated in his ~aI1J!:lthat Salma Dm Râfi’said: ”Whenever God’s Messenger (saw)~ complained of a sore or headache, he applied henna to it.”

 

4. NATURE OF HENNA
Henna is cold in the first degree and dry in the second. The medicinal properties and potency orthe henna tree and its branches comprise: (1) a dissolving factor ofthe flaccidity ofan organ, which characteristic comes from a balancing moisture it contains; and
(2) it contains a costive characteristic of a cold earth substance. Some of the benefits of Henna (Arb. hinnà,)l include treatment of burns, congruity with the nerves when used in poultices, and is used for the treatment ofulcers ofthe mouth, stomatitis, burns and hot swellings. Applying a decoction of henna to cuts has the same medicinal effects as those ofthe dragon’s-blood tree2• Imam al-Tirmithi and Imam al-Baihaqi reported in their ~allil1 that Dm Salma said: “God’s Messenger (saw); never suffered from a wound or a thorn without applying henna to it,” Applying a decoction made ofhenna and rose balm mixed with melted candlelight wax also helps in the treatment of pleurisy. Henna also helps in the treatment ofsmallpox in its early stages. This is done by tinging the bottom of the child’s feet with henna, and this will prevent its progression to his eyes. This treatment is well known fact and a most common treatment in the case of smaIlpox. When blossoms ofhenna are placed in a woolen garment, they perfume it and prevent moths. When henna leaves are soaked in fresh water then squeezed and the infusion is drunk, 20 drachms mixed with 10 drachms of sugar, taken daily for forty days, or cooking a lamb’s meat with it and using it in one’s diet for such period, it helps in the treatment of leprosy in its early stages. Henna balm also benefits in the treatment ofthe cracking ofnails. This is done by drinking the water of soaked henna leaves for ten days. Henna paste also helps in the upkeep ofhealthy nails and beautifies them. Mixing henna powder with purified ghee also helps hot swellings that produce yellow puss when used as poultice, and is a treatment for scabies, itch and mange. Henna also helps hair growth, increases youthfulness, benefits one’s vision, augment sexual drive, and is useful for the treatment ofblisters, pimples, and skin pustules between the legs. On this subject, it is related
1 Arb. Al-Hinnâ’: Lawsonia. Also used ta treat mortification of the flesh; Alcana, Camphire.
2 1. Dragon’s-blood tree tDracaena draco) a native ofthe Canary Islands; any of the genus (Dracaena) of the agave family. 2. Arb. dam al-akhawain; Dark-reà, resinous substance derived from the dragon tree.

in sah..ïh.. Bukhâri that a man complained to God’s Messenger (saw) about pain in the legs, and he said: “Dye them with henna.”Abu Dàwoud narrated that God’s Messenger :said: “There is no plant dearer to Allah than the henna plant.”