Got a Headache? These 6 Herbal Teas Will Help Kick It to the Curb

Registered dietitian and neuronutritionist Melanie Murphy Richter, MS, RDN, says a heat cup of tea is usually a nice at-home treatment for serving to a pesky headache go away. “Sure teas can have anti-inflammatory and muscle-relaxing advantages that may assist alleviate complications,” Richter says. However not all brews are created equal in terms of relieving complications; there are some blends which are much more efficient than others as a consequence of their distinctive natural properties.

Forward, Richter reveals the very best tea for complications and what makes these brews so efficient in serving to cut back your signs so you will get again to feeling tea-rrific very quickly.

One of the best drink for a headache

Except for plain old style water, tea is likely one of the greatest drinks for complications. Richter says teas will help relieve complications in quite a lot of methods. For starters, she says that teas with a small quantity of caffeine—we’re talkin’ lower than 100 milligrams—will help improve blood circulate within the mind, in any other case often known as a vasodilating impact. This response will help improve the effectiveness of pain-relieving medicines. “Actually, most migraine-specific headache medicine has a certain quantity of caffeine included for these very causes,” Richter says.

Take into accout, nonetheless, that having an excessive amount of caffeine can have the alternative impact and doubtlessly set off complications. (Do not stop caffeine chilly turkey for those who’re a heavy caffeine drinker, which might trigger caffeine withdrawals and migraines. Sluggish and regular wins the race, fam.)

Natural teas (which usually haven’t got caffeine) may also assist eliminate complications by concentrating on numerous different causes of complications and migraines. The specifics simply rely on what elements are within the teas. For instance, Richter says teas with sure anti-inflammatory herbs and antioxidants like polyphenols (a compound discovered in lots of vegetation) will help cut back the severity and recurrence of complications (since extra irritation is usually a headache set off). If stress and anxiousness are taking part in a task within the onset of stress complications and migraines, Richter recommends choosing teas with relaxation-boosting advantages (assume chamomile or lemon balm) to quell these signs. Then again, sure kinds of natural teas (like peppermint) may also assist loosen up the pinnacle and neck muscle tissue that could be contributing to stress or sinus-related complications.

Dehydration can be an enormous headache set off—and one thing that tea will help alleviate. “Tea can depend in direction of our general water consumption; natural teas can contribute to general hydration standing and subsequently are an awesome adjunct remedy for headache administration,” Richter says. Tea will help increase electrolytes, which works hand in hand with hydration. “Electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium are important for correctly using hydration within the physique. The common consumption of tea cannot solely assist to maintain us hydrated, however it can also contribute sure electrolytes to make sure our cells can soak up the water higher,” she says.

Is tea good or dangerous for migraine?

Tea is sweet for migraines for most of the identical causes that it is good for complications: a number of the compounds in tea (like caffeine and antioxidants) will help cut back migraine signs.

Older analysis used to counsel that the caffeine in tea was a possible migraine set off. However a research revealed in 2023 within the journal Scientific Stories discovered that there was no causality between consuming tea and migraines¹. (Translation: There is not any proof that consuming tea causes migraines.) Actually, the caffeine in tea will help your migraines.

That stated, do not count on tea to be a miracle treatment for migraines, which might be extremely debilitating. There is not any disgrace in taking meds, attempting sure yoga poses, dunking your face in ice water, or some other helpful instruments you discover useful to deal with or handle migraines.

6 greatest teas for complications and migraines

1. Peppermint

Richter says peppermint tea must be your best choice for assuaging a headache, particularly for those who’re coping with stress, sinus, or migraine-related signs. “One of many final teas for any sort of headache is peppermint,” she says.

In accordance with Richter, peppermint will help regulate the circulatory system by growing blood circulate to assist relieve headache signs. “Peppermint can have a vasodilating impact on the circulatory system², which implies that it may well assist widen blood circulate to the mind. This makes it particularly useful for any sort of headache the place blood circulate is restricted,” she says. Plus, peppermint additionally accommodates menthol, which Richter says will help loosen up the muscle tissue³ of the pinnacle to assist alleviate complications.

2. Ginger

In case you are likely to expertise nausea or an upset abdomen as a consequence of headache ache, Richter says sipping on ginger tea will help. “Ginger is an anti-inflammatory herb and may also relieve nausea, which is a symptom of migraines,” she says. Ginger accommodates an lively compound referred to as gingerol that analysis exhibits can doubtlessly modulate serotonin receptors within the GI tract⁴, thus decreasing the indicators that set off nausea and vomiting.

3. Chamomile

In case you’re coping with stress or sinus complications, Richter says chamomile could also be your cup of tea as it may well act as a gentle muscle relaxant. In the meantime, for those who’re experiencing complications related to indigestion, chamomile can be utilized as a digestif to assist increase digestion. And if complications are preserving you awake at night time, Richter says the “delicate sedative-like high quality” of chamomile tea can doubtlessly aid you loosen up right into a slumber.

4. Lemon Balm

If anxiousness is triggering your complications, Richter recommends lemon balm tea. “Lemon balm is particularly useful for decreasing anxiousness⁵ that may contribute to stress complications or migraines,” she says. “Lemon balm can cut back muscle spasm linked to complications,” she says.

5. Lavender

Much like lemon balm tea, Richter says lavender tea is good if anxiousness or stress are contributing to your complications. “Lavender has been used for hundreds of years as a rest herb. It may be particularly useful for decreasing stress and decreasing cortisol,” she says. This may be significantly useful for treating migraines or stress complications that may improve cortisol ranges.“Due to its calming qualities, lavender may also aid you go to sleep and keep asleep, which will help you recuperate from complications extra rapidly,” she provides.

6. Feverfew

In accordance with Richter, consuming feverfew tea—which comes from a flowering plant within the daisy household—frequently will help stave away complications. “When used extra frequently, feverfew will help cut back the frequency, severity and recurrence of migraines⁶ by inhibiting the discharge of prostaglandins and serotonin, each of which might exacerbate migraines,” she says. The tea additionally accommodates antioxidants that assist cut back oxidative stress within the physique, which might be useful in decreasing irritation associated to migraines, Richter says.

How a lot tea must you drink to alleviate complications?

In accordance with Richter, one to 2 cups of tea a day is an efficient start line, however this may range from individual to individual. Tea (significantly the caffeine-free sort) might be consumed just about anytime, with or with out meals. But when sleeping off a headache is the objective, Richter recommends sipping your tea nearer to bedtime. “Drink sure teas like chamomile or lavender teas nearer to bedtime as a result of they’re more likely to make you sleepy,” she says. Then again, teas with increased ranges of caffeine—like inexperienced tea or matcha—must be consumed earlier within the day.

When getting ready your cup of tea, Richter says it’s greatest to make it plain and easy—no added sugar or cream, fam. “Ideally, it’s best to drink your tea with out sugar. Sugar might be an impartial set off for complications. And for some—even these with out an intolerance—dairy may also set off irritation. For the very best outcomes, drink tea with out both sugar or dairy,” she says.

When to get skilled assist for complications

Though tea is usually a nice at-home treatment for assuaging delicate headache signs, Richter factors out that for those who get complications extra steadily than regular, or in case your complications get extra painful, it’s greatest to speak to a health-care skilled, as it might be an indication of a extra vital problem. Richter additionally recommends seeing a health-care practitioner about your complications if:

• Over-the-counter of other treatments aren’t serving to
• You’re steadily sick (dizziness or vomiting) on account of your complications
• Complications are considerably impacting your skill to carry out regular, each day actions
• You’re experiencing aura complications, which impression imaginative and prescient and eyesight
• You’ve gotten an underlying well being situation and sure medicines may intervene with managing different well being situations

Unwind for the night time with this dreamy lavender latte drink: