The aggravated vata, alone or in association with kapha, affecting either half of the head produces severe pain in neck, eyebrow, temple, ear, eye and forehead of one side. The pain is acutely severe like a sharp weapon or arani (churning wooden rod used for producing a fire). It is called Ardhavabhedaka. (Charaka Samhita, Siddhi Sthana, Chapter 9, Verse 74(1/2)- 76(1/2))

Hyperexcitability or imbalance of kinetic energy (vata) together with imbalance of stabilizing energy (kapha) creates severe pain in either side of the head affecting the neck, temples, ears, eyes or the forehead. This acutely severe sharp, piercing pain is called Ardhavabhedaka (migraine).

Migraine pathophysiology involves inherited alteration of brain excitability, intracranial arterial dilatation, recurrent activation and sensitization of the trigeminovascular pathway affecting the eye, eyebrow, temple and neck through the trigeminocervical complex, and finally structural and functional brain changes in genetically susceptible individuals.