A bad headache can easily ruin your day, draining you of your energy and preventing you from focusing on anything but your pain. Although tea may not cure all your headache symptoms, it can provide comfort and relief when combined with other pain relief methods.
How Tea Can Help Relieve Headaches
The use of tea for various ailments, including headaches, has a long history. Some types of tea contain soothing warmth and natural ingredients that alleviate tension, stress, and headache symptoms. Caffeine and herbal teas offer pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and calming properties that make them ideal for people trying to relieve discomfort naturally.
Best Teas For Headaches
Here are our top recommendations of Teas for Headache
- Peppermint Tea
It has been shown that peppermint helps treat tension-type headaches. If you have a headache, a soothing cup of tea can help ease the pain. For additional therapeutic benefits, peppermint is often blended with lavender and ginger. Peppermint tea also increases alertness, calms upset stomachs, and reduces stress.
- Ginger Tea
A powerful herbal medicine component for centuries, ginger has a variety of health benefits. Studies have shown that ginger reduces headache pain. Boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation are also benefits of ginger tea.
- Chamomile Tea
The soothing properties of chamomile make it an ideal tea for stress headaches. Taking chamomile reduces the inflammation that can lead to headaches. Furthermore, chamomile tea can reduce stress and anxiety as well as headaches.
- Green Tea
Green tea is another good tea for headaches thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite having some caffeine, green tea is a light, balanced alternative to coffee. Migraine headache sufferers may benefit from the constricting effect of caffeine in green tea. Caffeine content may make it more suitable for daytime use.
- Lavender Tea
Lavender is a soothing medicinal herb used to treat headaches, anxiety, and depression in herbal medicine. In studies, lavender aromatherapy reduced migraine headache severity and treated migraine headaches.
- Feverfew Tea
Tea made from feverfew is a lesser-known but highly effective remedy for headaches. It contains compounds that reduce inflammation, relax blood vessels, and prevent migraines by preventing constriction. Over time, feverfew tea can reduce migraine severity and prevent them.
When To Use Caffeinated vs. Herbal Teas
It is crucial to know when to use caffeinated or herbal teas when treating headaches.
- Caffeinated Teas (like green tea): These teas constrict blood vessels and reduce headache intensity, making them useful for migraine relief. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, you should consume these in moderation, as overconsumption can cause rebound headaches.
- Herbal Teas (like chamomile, peppermint, or lavender): Good for stress-related headaches or unwinding. Without overstimulating caffeine, these teas promote relaxation and ease tension.
Other Benefits of Drinking Tea for Headaches
Besides headache relief, teas offer additional health benefits:
- Stress Reduction: Many herbal teas, like lavender and chamomile, promote relaxation and reduce stress, which triggers headaches.
- Hydration: Dehydration is a common cause of headaches, and drinking tea keeps you hydrated while soothing.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties: Teas such as ginger and feverfew contain anti-inflammatory compounds that prevent and reduce headaches.
How to Brew and Enjoy These Teas
It’s important to brew tea properly to get the most out of it:
- The best flavor comes from fresh, filtered water.
- Steep the tea for 5-10 minutes, depending on the type, to release all its beneficial compounds.
- Add honey or lemon if desired, but avoid excessive sugar, which can aggravate headaches.
- Take advantage of its calming properties by drinking slowly and mindfully.
Conclusion
Whether you suffer from stress headaches, tension headaches, or migraines, there’s a tea that can help. From the cooling relief of peppermint tea to the soothing calm of chamomile, these teas offer natural remedies that ease the pain but also improve your overall well-being. By incorporating good tea for headaches daily, you can relieve headaches and prevent further headaches.