CLINICAL AUDIT OF THE ROLE OF NASYA PROCEDURE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE
- By CGH EARTH
- Case Studies
- 22 April 2026
CLINICAL AUDIT
A quality improvement process that seeks to improve patient care and outcomes
through systematic review of care against explicit criteria and the implementation of
change. A peer review for the evaluation of medical care through retrospective analysis
of medical records.
AUDIT TEAM
| NAME | DESIGNATION |
|---|---|
| Dr. Firoz Varun | CHIEF PHYSICIAN |
| Dr. Ivy Aravind | DOCTOR |
| Dr. Rohini V K | DOCTOR/RMO |
| Dr. Sethudath D Das | NABH COORDINATOR |
ABSTRACT
A headache is one of the most common health complaints experienced by
people of all ages. It is defined as pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck
and can vary greatly in intensity, frequency, and duration. Headaches may
occur as a primary condition (such as migraines or tension-type headaches) or
as a symptom of an underlying issue (like sinusitis, hypertension, or infections).
Nasya is a classical Ayurvedic therapy involving the administration of herbal
medicated oils, powders, or juices through the nasal passages. This is a single
group clinical study on 10 patients of Objective criteria, assessed before and
after treatment.
INTRODUCTION
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than half of the
adult population worldwide suffers from occasional or chronic headaches.
While most headaches are not life-threatening, they can significantly affect a
person’s quality of life, work performance, and emotional well-being. Nasya
cleanses and nourishes the organs above the neck. It helps remove vitiated
doshas, especially Kapha and Vata, which are considered the main causes of
head-related disorders.
NEED OF THE STUDY
Headaches, particularly chronic forms like migraines and sinus-related
headaches, have become increasingly prevalent due to modern lifestyle factors
such as stress, irregular sleep, screen exposure, and poor dietary habits. While
conventional (allopathic) treatments offer symptomatic relief, they often come
with side effects, recurrence of symptoms, and limited long-term efficacy.
In contrast, Ayurvedic therapies, especially Nasya, one among the
Panchakarmas, provide a holistic approach aimed at addressing the root cause
of the condition by balancing the doshas and clearing toxins from the head
region. Despite its historical usage and anecdotal success, there is a lack of
sufficient clinical documentation and scientific validation of Nasya’s efficacy in
headache management.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES
1. To evaluate the efficacy of Nasya therapy in the management of headaches,
with special reference to its impact on frequency, intensity, and associated
symptoms.
2. To observe the improvement in associated symptoms such as nausea, nasal
congestion, photophobia, and fatigue.
3. To promote safe and effective use of traditional Ayurvedic therapy in the
modern clinical management of headaches.
MATERIALS & METHODS
A retrospective study of random medical records of patients who have
undergone Nasya treatment for headache-related issues at Kalari Rasayana
Ayurveda Hospital from January 2025 to June 2025. Data collection was done
by a special checklist and evaluated.
DURATION OF THE STUDY
6 months
SAMPLING SIZE
10 medical records
INCLUSION CRITERIA
Patients with headache-related issues who have undergone Nasya treatment.
EXLUSION CRITERIA
- Patients who don’t have headache-related issues.
- Individuals with known allergies to any ingredient in the Nasya formulation.
- Patients with secondary headaches due to brain tumours, meningitis or encephalitis, head injury or trauma.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR HEADACHE
| SL. NO. | SYMPTOMS | PARAMETERS | GRADATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Headache | Frequency | 0 = No attacks |
| 1 = 1–2 attacks/month | |||
| 2 = 1–2 attacks/week | |||
| 3 = 3–5 attacks/week | |||
| 4 = Daily or almost daily attacks | |||
| ASSOCIATED PARAMETERS | |||
| 2. | Intensity of Pain | No Pain | 0 |
| Mild | 1 - 3 | ||
| Moderate | 4 - 6 | ||
| Severe | 7 - 10 | ||
| 3. | Duration of Headache | No Headache | 0 |
| < 1 hour | 1 | ||
| 1–4 hours | 2 | ||
| 4–12 hours | 3 | ||
| > 12 hours | 4 | ||
| 4. | Associated Symptoms (each scored individually) | Nausea, Congestion, Photophobia, Phonophobia, etc. | 0 = Absent |
| 1 = Mild | |||
| 2 = Moderate | |||
| 3 = Severe | |||
OBSERVATION OF PARAMETERS BEFORE TREATMENT
| SL. NO. | MRD NO. | FREQUENCY OF HEADACHE | PAIN INTENSITY | DURATION | ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS | TOTAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KR-2501-0162 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| 2 | KR-2501-0167 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | KR-2501-0170 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| 4 | KR-2501-0172 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 12 |
| 5 | KR-2502-0201 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 6 | KR-2503-0244 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 7 | KR-2503-0256 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| 8 | KR-2504-0284 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| 9 | KR-2504-0287 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 10 | KR-2504-0297 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
NASYA PROCEDURE WAS DONE IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER;
- The choice of Nasya medicine depends on the type of headache and the dosha imbalance involved (mainly Vata and Kapha).
- No. of Days: According to the patient’s condition.
OBSERVATION OF PARAMETERS AFTER TREATMENT
| SL. NO. | MRD NO. | FREQUENCY OF HEADACHE | PAIN INTENSITY | DURATION | ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS | TOTAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KR-2501-0162 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | KR-2501-0167 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | KR-2501-0170 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | KR-2501-0172 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | KR-2502-0201 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | KR-2503-0244 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | KR-2503-0256 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 8 | KR-2504-0284 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | KR-2504-0287 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 10 | KR-2504-0297 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
OBSERVATION & RESULTS
The study on the efficacy of Nasya therapy in headache management showed
promising results. Patients experienced a significant reduction in the frequency
and intensity of headache episodes, with many reporting milder pain and
shorter duration after treatment. Associated symptoms like nasal congestion
and nausea also improved noticeably. Overall, the quality of life of patients
was enhanced, with decreased reliance on analgesic medications. Nasya was
well tolerated by all patients, demonstrating its safety and effectiveness as a
holistic, non-invasive treatment for headaches.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study indicate that Nasya therapy is an effective and safe
treatment for headaches. It significantly reduces headache frequency,
intensity, and associated symptoms while improving patients’ overall quality of
life. Nasya offers a promising Ayurvedic approach for managing headaches,
providing a natural and holistic alternative to conventional treatments with
minimal side effects. Further larger-scale studies are recommended to validate
and expand upon these encouraging results.
