Best Tea for Headaches and Migraines

The pressure of a headache or migraine can stop you in your tracks. Lying down hurts. Pressing your temples doesn't offer any relief. You're just plain tired of hurting and taking pain relievers every time you experience a headache. 

Many things can cause them, but can tea relieve headaches? Whether it is due to stress, heat, or allergies you just want to get back to feeling good. If you suffer from migraine attacks, you probably feel it isn't "if" but "when" your next one will hit. 

When it does, you need to know the best tea for headaches.

Loose leaf tea is a natural aid that may help provide some relief for headaches and migraines. Specific teas have natural pain-easing health benefits, so we have compiled a list:

The Best Tea for Headaches

Ginger tea

Headaches are often caused by inflammation. For centuries, ginger tea has been used as a natural health remedy  due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger tea helps reduce toxins by opening up the blood vessels and improving circulation. Research has also shown that ginger can help ease an upset stomach, which may have resulted from taking pain relievers.

Turmeric tea

Turmeric is another spice known for easing headaches and relieving migraines due to the active ingredient, curcumin. We have blended these two powerhouses together in our Ginger Turmeric tea. The woody, earthy taste of the turmeric is that is complemented by the spicy kick of the ginger. It may be just the cup of tea to ease your headache pain. 

Chamomile tea

Chamomile tea is known as a sleepy tea because of its ability to relax your mind and body to help you fall asleep. The calming effects of chamomile may also ease stress and anxiety which may be contributing factors to a headache. Chamomile is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and often headaches are caused by inflammation.

Peppermint tea

Stress or poor diet can also result in headaches. Peppermint tea contains phenol and flavonoids that help reduce inflammation and treat pain without any side effects. Headaches often occur when blood vessels become restricted, peppermint tea can help open them up and bring relief to someone suffering from a headache or migraine. Peppermint also acts as a muscle relaxant and may help diminish headaches caused by muscle spasms in shoulder and neck muscles.

Peppermint also has antibacterial, and antiviral properties that may help reduce clogged sinuses due to infections. The steam from the menthol compound in peppermint tea may also help open your nasal passages and ease a headache caused by sinus pressure. 

Clove tea

Clove tea has been used for centuries to treat pain, such as headaches. Cloves may not eliminate pain, but they contain antinociceptive properties that may help reduce the perception of pain. Clove tea helps improve blood circulation but may react with blood-thinning medications, so be sure to check with your doctor first.

Lavender tea

Headaches have been associated with anxiety. When you're feeling anxious, your muscles start to spasm, and when muscles remain in this tightened state, it can result in a headache. Lavender has been used as a medicinal herb to treat headaches resulting from anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that lavender tea may provide relief from anxiety-related symptoms such as fatigue, restlessness, and headache pain.

Herbal teas

Headaches can often be caused by dehydration. Herbal tea is a delicious way to stay hydrated and can give you that soothing moment of calm you need to avoid a stress-related headache.

Caffeinated teas

That headache you're experiencing could be a result of a caffeine crash! So why would you want to have more caffeine?

When you're experiencing a headache, blood vessels in the brain swell, increasing blood flow around the brain. This puts pressure on surrounding nerves, sending pain messages to the brain. Voila, headache.

The same thing happens when you consume caffeine regularly. You become dependent on the caffeine effects, so when you stop consuming the caffeine, the blood vessels enlarge. Caffeine has vasoconstrictive properties, which means it can help your blood vessels to narrow, restrict blood flow, and aid in pain relief. Sounds like an addiction in action, right?

But before you go feeding that caffeine addiction with another cup of joe, consider your source of caffeine. Caffeine in coffee passes right into the bloodstream, giving you a powerful jolt of energy. Sometimes this jolt turns into jitters, which is a sign of too much caffeine.

Tea that comes from the Camellia sinensis plant such as black tea or green tea contains caffeine. The caffeine in tea however binds with the amino acid, L-theanine which has been associated with better cerebral blood flow, reducing caffeine intake headaches. The caffeine in tea is released slowly, giving a more controlled, prolonged form of energy and headache relief.

If you suffer from chronic headaches or migraines, please continue to take treatment advice from your doctor. But try a cup of tea as well - it may help provide you with some relief.