6 Best Teas for Headaches and Migraines

Registered dietitian and neuronutritionist Melanie Murphy Richter, MS, RDN, says a heat cup of tea could be a nice at-home remedy for helping 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 resulting from their distinctive natural properties.

Forward, Richter reveals the most effective 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.

The very best drink for a headache

Apart from plain old style water, tea is without doubt one of the greatest drinks for complications. Richter says teas can assist 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—can assist enhance blood circulation within the mind, in any other case generally known as a vasodilating impact. This response can assist improve the effectiveness of pain-relieving medicines. “In reality, most migraine-specific headache treatment has a certain quantity of caffeine included for these very causes,” Richter says.

Have in mind, nonetheless, that having too much caffeine can have the other impact and doubtlessly set off complications. (Do not quit caffeine chilly turkey when you’re a heavy caffeine drinker, which might trigger caffeine withdrawals and migraines. Gradual and regular wins the race, fam.)

Natural teas (which usually haven’t got caffeine) also can assist eliminate complications by concentrating on numerous different causes of complications and migraines. The specifics simply rely upon what components 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) can assist cut back the severity and recurrence of complications (since extra irritation could be a headache set off). If stress and anxiousness are taking part in a job within the onset of stress complications and migraines, Richter recommends choosing teas with relaxation-boosting advantages (suppose chamomile or lemon balm) to quell these signs. However, sure sorts of natural teas (like peppermint) also can assist calm down the top and neck muscle tissues which may be contributing to stress or sinus-related complications.

Dehydration can also be a giant headache set off—and one thing that tea can assist alleviate. “Tea can rely in direction of our total water consumption; natural teas can contribute to total hydration standing and due to this fact are an awesome adjunct remedy for headache administration,” Richter says. Tea can assist enhance electrolytes, which matches 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, nevertheless it can also contribute sure electrolytes to make sure our cells can take up the water higher,” she says.

Is tea good or unhealthy for migraine?

Tea is nice for migraines for most of the similar causes that it is good for complications: quite a lot of the compounds in tea (like caffeine and antioxidants) can assist cut back migraine signs.

Older analysis used to recommend that the caffeine in tea was a possible migraine set off. However a research printed in 2023 within the journal Scientific Studies discovered that there was no causality between drinking tea and migraines¹. (Translation: There is not any proof that consuming tea causes migraines.) In reality, the caffeine in tea can help your migraines.

That stated, do not anticipate tea to be a miracle remedy for migraines, which could be extremely debilitating. There is not any disgrace in taking meds, trying certain 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 when you’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 can assist regulate the circulatory system by rising blood circulation to assist relieve headache signs. “Peppermint can have a vasodilating effect on the circulatory system², which signifies that it will probably assist widen blood circulation to the mind. This makes it particularly useful for any sort of headache the place blood circulation is restricted,” she says. Plus, peppermint additionally comprises menthol, which Richter says can assist relax the muscles³ of the top to assist alleviate complications.

2. Ginger

If you happen to are likely to expertise nausea or an upset abdomen resulting from headache ache, Richter says sipping on ginger tea can help. “Ginger is an anti-inflammatory herb and also can relieve nausea, which is a symptom of migraines,” she says. Ginger comprises an lively compound referred to as gingerol that analysis reveals can doubtlessly modulate serotonin receptors in the GI tract⁴, thus decreasing the indicators that set off nausea and vomiting.

3. Chamomile

If you happen to’re coping with stress or sinus complications, Richter says chamomile could also be your cup of tea as it will probably act as a light muscle relaxant. In the meantime, when you’re experiencing complications related to indigestion, chamomile can be utilized as a digestif to assist enhance digestion. And if complications are protecting you awake at night time, Richter says the “delicate sedative-like high quality” of chamomile tea can doubtlessly make it easier to calm down right into a slumber.

4. Lemon Balm

If anxiousness is triggering your complications, Richter recommends lemon balm tea. “Lemon balm is particularly useful for reducing anxiety⁵ that may contribute to stress complications or migraines,” she says. “Lemon balm can reduce muscle spasm linked to complications,” she says.

5. Lavender

Just like lemon balm tea, Richter says lavender tea is right 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 enhance cortisol ranges.“Due to its calming qualities, lavender also can make it easier to go to sleep and keep asleep, which can assist you get well 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—often can assist stave away complications. “When used extra often, feverfew can assist reduce 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 comprises antioxidants that assist cut back oxidative stress within the physique, which could be helpful in decreasing irritation associated to migraines, Richter says.

How a lot tea do you have to drink to alleviate complications?

In accordance with Richter, one to 2 cups of tea a day is an efficient start line, however this could range from individual to individual. Tea (significantly the caffeine-free form) could be consumed nearly anytime, with or with out meals. But when sleeping off a headache is the purpose, 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. However, teas with larger ranges of caffeine—like inexperienced tea or matcha—must be consumed earlier within the day.

When making ready your cup of tea, Richter says it’s greatest to make it plain and easy—no added sugar or cream, fam. “Ideally, you need to drink your tea with out sugar. Sugar could be an unbiased set off for complications. And for some—even these with out an intolerance—dairy also can set off irritation. For the most effective outcomes, drink tea with out both sugar or dairy,” she says.

When to get skilled assist for complications

Though tea could be a nice at-home treatment for assuaging delicate headache signs, Richter factors out that when you get complications extra incessantly 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 important difficulty. Richter additionally recommends seeing a health-care practitioner about your complications if:

• Over-the-counter of different treatments aren’t serving to
• You might be incessantly sick (dizziness or vomiting) because of your complications
• Complications are considerably impacting your potential to carry out regular, each day actions
• You might be experiencing aura complications, which affect imaginative and prescient and eyesight
• You’ve gotten an underlying well being situation and sure medicines may intervene with managing different well being circumstances

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