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

Prophet’s Guidance on treating headaches and Migraines

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي عِلَاجِ الصُّدَاعِ وَالشَّقِيقَةِ

Guidance of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم in Treating Headaches and Migraines

رَوَى ابْنُ مَاجَهْ فِي «سُنَنِهِ» حَدِيثًا فِي صِحَّتِهِ نَظَرٌ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا صُدِعَ، غَلَّفَ رَأْسَهُ بِالْحِنَّاءِ، وَيَقُولُ: «إِنَّهُ نَافِعٌ بإذن مِنَ الصُّدَاعِ

Ibn al-Qayyam wrote : Ibn Majah narrated in his "Sunan" a Hadith, that when Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم had a headache, would cover his head with Henna and say, “It is beneficial by Allah’s permission for headache.”

الحديث الذي في سنن ابن ماجه «كان لا يصيبه قُرْحَةٌ وَلَا شَوْكَةٌ إِلَّا وَضَعَ عَلَيْهَا الْحِنَّاءَ» وأخرج ابن السني في الطب وأبو نعيم في الطب أيضا عن أبي هريرة «كان إذا نزل عليه الوحي صدع فيلف رأسه بالحناء

The Hadith mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah states: “Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم would not be afflicted with a wound (lession) or a thorn (small puncture or cut caused by a thorn) without putting Henna on it.” Ibn al-Sunni and Abu Nu'aym also recorded from Abu Hurairah Radi Allao Anh that “when WAHEE (revelation) descended upon him, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم would experience a headache and would wrap his head with Henna.”

A headache (صداع) is pain in some parts of the head or in the whole head. If it is persistent in one side of the head, it is called a migraine (شقِيقة). If it encompasses the entire head persistently, it is called a بيضة or خوذة in Arabic; compared to a war helmet that covers the entire head. The pain might sometimes occur in the back of the head or the front.

There are many types of headaches, with different causes. The essence of the headache (صداع) is an increase in heat within the head, causing it to become congested with vapor that seeks to escape but finds no outlet. This trapped pressure causes the head to ache, similar to how a closed container bursts when its contents heat up and try to escape. Everything moist, when heated, seeks a space larger than where it originally was.

If this vapor spreads throughout the head in such a way that it cannot dissipate or be released and instead circulates within the head, this condition is called Sadr (سدر), referring to a feeling of intense, overwhelming headache across the head.

Headaches can result from :

1. An imbalance of one of the four bodily humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile).

2. Ulcers in the stomach that cause head pain due to the nerve connection between the stomach and head.

 3. Thick vapors in the stomach that rise to the head, causing it to ache.

4. Swelling in the stomach’s veins that causes stomach pain, which then extends to the head due to their connection.

5. Overeating that fills the stomach with food, some of which remains undigested, resulting in a heavy feeling and head pain.

6. Physical weakness after intercourse, making the body more susceptible to heat from the surrounding air.

7. Headaches after vomiting or purging, either due to increased dryness or vapors rising from the stomach to the head.

8. Headaches caused by intense heat or warm weather.

9. Headaches due to extreme cold, as vapors condense in the head and are unable to dissipate.

10. Headaches from lack of sleep and staying up too late.

11. Headaches from pressure on the head, such as carrying heavy objects.

12. Headaches due to excessive talking, which weakens the brain.

13. Headaches from excessive physical movement or intense exercise.

14. Headaches caused by psychological conditions, such as worry, sadness, grief, obsessive thoughts, or negative thinking.

15. Headaches resulting from severe hunger, as the vapors in the body have nothing to act upon, causing them to increase and rise to the brain, leading to pain.

16. Headaches caused by swelling in the membranes of the brain, which makes the person feel as though their head is being struck with hammers.

17. Headaches resulting from fever, due to the intense heat it generates in the head, causing pain.

The Cause of Migraine:

The cause of migraine (صداع الشقيقة) is a substance that accumulates in the arteries on one side of the head or ascends there, affecting the weaker side. This substance may be in the form of vapors or hot or cold humors. A characteristic symptom of migraine is the throbbing of the arteries, particularly noticeable in individuals with a blood-related (sanguine) temperament. When the arteries are tightly bandaged, preventing the throbbing, the pain subsides.

Abu Nu’aym mentioned in his book *Prophetic Medicine* that this type of headache used to affect Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, sometimes lasting for a day or two, during which he would not leave his home.

عن ابن عباس قال: خطبنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقد عَصَبَ رأسه بعِصَابةٍ (زاد المعاد)

It is also narrated from Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم once gave a sermon while his head was wrapped with a bandage.

وفي (الصحيح): أنه قال فى مرض موته: (وَارَأْسَاهُ). وكان يُعصِّبُ رأسه فى مرضه، وعَصْبُ الرأس ينفع فى وجع الشقيقة وغيرها من أوجاع الرأس

In *Sahih al-Bukhari*, it is mentioned that during his final illness, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Oh, my head!" He would wrap his head in bandages during his illness, as bandaging the head alleviates pain from migraines and other types of headaches.

Treating Migraine:

The treatment for migraines varies based on their types and causes. Some types are treated by purging, others by consuming food, some by rest and relaxation, some by applying compresses, some by cooling, some by warming, and some by avoiding sounds and movement.

With this understanding, treating headaches with Henna, as mentioned in the Hadith, is a specific remedy, not a general one, and is effective for certain types of headaches. When a headache is caused by intense heat and is not due to any harmful substance that needs to be expelled, Henna provides significant relief. If Henna is crushed and applied as a compress on the forehead with vinegar, it can relieve the headache. Henna has a calming effect on the nerves when used as a compress, easing their pain. This benefit is not limited to head pain but extends to other body parts as well. Henna also has a contracting quality that strengthens tissues, and when applied as a compress to areas with hot, inflamed swelling, it reduces the inflammation.

وَقَدْ رَوَى الْبُخَارِيُّ وأبو داود فِي السُّنَنِ أَنَّ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ما شَكَى إِلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ وَجَعًا فِي رَأْسِهِ إِلَّا قَالَ لَهُ:  احْتَجِمْ ، وَلَا شَكَى إِلَيْهِ وَجَعًا فِي رِجْلَيْهِ إِلَّا قَالَ لَهُ:  اخْتَضِبْ بِالْحِنَّاءِ

Al-Bukhari, and Abu Dawud in reported that whenever anyone complained of head pain to the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم he would say to them, “Perform Hijamah.” And if someone complained of pain in their legs, he would say, “Apply Henna Khazaab.”

وَفِي الترمذي: عَنْ سلمى أم رافع خَادِمَةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ: كَانَ لَا يُصِيبُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قُرْحَةٌ وَلَا شَوْكَةٌ إِلَّا وَضَعَ عَلَيْهَا الْحِنَّاءَ 

In *Tirmidhi*, it is narrated from Salma, the servant of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, that she said, "Whenever Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم suffered from a sore or was pricked by a thorn, he would apply Henna to it."

**Chapter on Henna**

Henna is cool in the first degree and dry in the second. The strength of the Henna plant and its branches is derived from a combination of a dispersing quality (due to its mildly warm, watery essence) and a contracting quality (from its cool, earthy essence).

Some of the benefits of Henna include its ability to relieve burns. When applied as a compress, it has a calming effect on the nerves. Chewing Henna can help heal mouth sores and ulcers, and it can cure oral thrush that appears in children’s mouths. A Henna compress also soothes hot, inflamed swellings and acts similarly to a coagulant on wounds. When mixed with purified wax and rose oil, it is beneficial for alleviating pain in the sides of the body.

One of its unique properties is that if a child is beginning to develop smallpox and the soles of his feet are covered with Henna, it can protect his eyes from being affected by the smallpox infection. This is a well-known, tried, and true remedy. Additionally, if the flowers of Henna are placed among woolen clothing, they impart a pleasant fragrance and protect the garments from moths.

When Henna leaves are soaked in fresh water until they are fully covered, then pressed, and the clear liquid is consumed daily for forty days (taking twenty dirhams of the extract with ten dirhams of sugar each day), and accompanied by a diet of young lamb meat, it is remarkably effective in preventing the onset of leprosy due to its unique properties.

It is also reported that a man whose fingernails were cracked and split tried various costly treatments without success. Then, a woman advised him to drink Henna for ten days. Initially hesitant, he soaked Henna in water and drank it, which healed him, and his nails returned to their natural appearance.

When Henna paste is applied to the nails, it beautifies and strengthens them. If mixed with clarified butter (ghee) and applied as a compress to hot, inflamed swellings that discharge yellow fluid, it helps significantly and is also beneficial for chronic, ulcerative scabies. Henna promotes hair growth, strengthens it, enhances its appearance, strengthens the scalp, and helps heal blisters and boils on the legs, feet, and other parts of the body.

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