Anyone who regularly suffers from migraines or headaches knows all too well that the excruciating pain can be unbearable. A headache can easily ruin your day, and a migraine can make it difficult to even function or focus. Millions of people experience chronic daily migraine, and many others deal with headaches regularly. Unfortunately, finding an effective treatment option for headaches can be extremely difficult.
The effective
treatment plan you’ve been searching for may just have been missing a single component:
herbal tea. It might sound far-fetched, but it’s true. When paired with other
migraine treatments, certain herbal teas can help ease the discomfort of
headaches and migraines.
Health Benefits of Herbal Teas
Herbal teas
are beverages that are made from the infusion of herbs, spices, and other plant
materials in hot water. Packed with antioxidants and nutrients, they are known
for much more than just their good taste. Herbal teas also provide a number of
great health benefits. Studies have found that certain herbal teas can:
§ Reduce inflammation
§ Boost immune system
function
§ Lower anxiety
§ Help with sleep
§ Improve blood
circulation
And
the list doesn’t stop there. Some
studies have shown that certain teas even have a beneficial
impact on cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Herbal Teas for Migraine and Headache Relief
There are so
many different types of herbal teas, all offering a range of health benefits.
If you’re considering using tea in conjunction with another pain treatment
method, you’ll want to know which work the best. Here are eight of the best
teas to help with migraine and headache relief.
Chamomile tea
There’s a
reason characters in 19th-century novels always sip a cup of chamomile tea
before bed. Before Ambien came along, it was one of the best sleep aids around.
It’s also great for simply allowing the body to relax, which has clear benefits
for those suffering from stress headaches. Chamomile tamps down the nervous
system, which explains its calming powers. If you’re prone to anxiety or
regular headaches, keep chamomile tea in your cupboard.
Ginger tea
Fresh ginger on its own is a powerful superfood. When made into tea, it also
becomes a powerful home remedy for headaches. Studies show that ginger root tea
can reduce swelling because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It can
likewise alleviate nausea and vomiting, which are common side effects of migraines.
Ginger tea can also boost the immune system, increase energy, and aid in
digestion. With so many great benefits — and a spicily awesome taste — there’s
really no harm in trying it out.
Green tea
If you’re
someone who needs caffeine, green tea is a great option. By narrowing the blood
vessels, and thus reducing flow of blood to the brain, caffeine helps reduce
headache pain. It can also give you an energy boost while providing several
immunity-enhancing benefits. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that can
improve brain function, aid in fat loss, and even protect against cancer. In
terms of fighting headaches and migraines, green teas are used for the comfort
and caffeine they provide.
Lavender tea
Lavender is
made from the buds of the fragrant, flowering plant and is regarded as a
soothing medicinal herb. It can help mitigate migraines while reducing stress
and anxiety. Drinking lavender tea during times of high stress is a great way
to relax the mind and body. You can buy lavender tea or make it at home by
steeping fresh or dried buds in boiling water.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint
tea is packed with flavor, and it provides a full range of health benefits.
Peppermint relaxes nerves and muscle spasms in the gut that transmit signals to
the brain that cause a headache. The gut has a huge impact on brain health and
overall body health. A soothing cup of peppermint tea every night can be
extremely beneficial not just for headaches. It can also increase alertness,
calm upset stomach, and reduce stress.
Black tea
If green tea
can mitigate a headache thanks to the vasoconstrictive powers of caffeine, it’s
got nothing on black tea. Where an 8-ounce cup of green tea contains 35 mg of
caffeine, the same cup of black tea can pack triple the punch (39-109 mg).
Black tea’s high caffeine content can increase mental alertness while relieving
symptoms of a headache. And just ask the British: there’s nothing so
intrinsically soothing as a cup of hot tea.
Turmeric tea
The
ingredient that gives turmeric its health-boosting potency is curcumin, which
has been found to have nerve-protecting properties. Drinking a cup of turmeric
tea can help alleviate the pain of migraines and other headaches. Research from
2017 concluded that turmeric’s benefits can be traced to its antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory traits. Inflammation is believed to be a key cause of
migraines.
Feverfew tea
Feverfew is
an herb that has long been used for medicinal purposes. The tea has a slightly
bitter flavor with a robust herbaceous note. According to The Migraine Trust,
feverfew is a common herbal remedy for preventing the onset of migraine
headaches. If you’re already in the throes of one, you can make a cup to
relieve symptoms. Simply steep the leaves in hot water; if you like, add almond
milk and honey for a less bitter taste.
If you’re
looking for a headache remedy now and don’t have any of these teas on hand,
fear not. Other heated beverages, such as warm water with lemon or cayenne
pepper, can soothe your migraine or headache as well. Lemon water can reduce
the intensity of a headache caused by gastrointestinal issues. The substance
that makes cayenne spicy, capsaicin, can short-circuit a neurotransmitter that
sends pain signals to the brain, lessening headache discomfort. There are
plenty of home remedies for headache, so next time you’re in pain, try one out.
If you’re a
regular migraine or headache sufferer, you should consider drinking herbal
teas. Adding honey, sugar, or lemon juice can make the beverage even more
enjoyable to sip. Using this holistic approach may even prove to have
additional health benefits, both physical and mental. When it comes to drinking
herbal tea, take it from Katherine Tallmadge of the American Dietetic
Association. In her words, “there doesn’t seem to be a downside to tea.”