Using tea for headache is a very common treatment around the world, so knowing the best tea for your particular symptoms is important!
A headache is a general term to describe any pain in the head, temples, sinuses, and neck, which can be caused by a wide variety of things, ranging from the common cold and muscle strain to dehydration and as a reaction to recreational drugs. Almost everyone has experienced a headache at one time or another, but the severity and frequency vary greatly between individuals. The first reaction when experiencing a headache is often to reach for pain medication, but there are also natural remedies, such as tea, that can often relieve the inflammation and discomfort. While persistent and severe headaches or migraines should warrant medical attention, many common headaches can be easily relieved with tea.
Best Tea for Headache
There are many different types of tea for headache that can be consumed. These include the following:
- Green Tea
- Cinnamon Tea
- Chamomile Tea
- Ginger Tea
- Basil Tea
- Lemon Tea
- Lavender Tea
- Feverfew Tea
Let us discuss them in detail below.
A persistent headache should not be ignored. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Cinnamon Tea
With its active ingredient cinnamaldehyde and a range of other antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, this herbal tea is very effective in reducing blood pressure and rapidly relieving the tension of a bad headache. The manganese and iron found in this tea have also been linked to a reduction in a headache. You can make this by steeping cinnamon sticks or adding ground cinnamon to hot water. [1]
Chamomile Tea
There are many compounds in chamomile tea that help it reduce the discomfort of headaches, including anti-spasmodic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory compounds. It is also a sedative tea, so it can help to relieve stress hormones or tension that may be causing the headache. Chamomile tea is widely available in bag form, although the flowers can also be steeped.
Basil Tea
Adding 4-5 basil leaves to a pot of boiling water for a few minutes will result in a potent and aromatic basil tea. This is known to treat headaches due to basil’s anti-inflammatory capacities, which can relieve pressure in the small blood vessels in the temples, where certain tension headaches originate. The flavor is unpleasant to some, so honey is recommended. [2]
Green Tea
Packed with healing elements like catechins and other phenolic compounds, green tea can regulate hormone levels, lower stress, soothe inflammation, and induce sleep, thus mitigating some of the worst symptoms of headaches. Green tea powder is widely available for making this tea, as are green tea bags. [3]
Lavender Tea
Lavender is one of the most versatile and powerful natural herbs around the world, and when you steep a few dried lavender flowers in hot water, it makes for an excellent headache remedy that will also help you sleep and wake up feeling rested. [4]
Feverfew Tea
Inflammation is one of the major causes of headaches, so eliminating that immune response with the help of feverfew tea is a quick and simple way to cure a headache. Simply steep 2-3 feverfew flowers in hot water for 8-10 minutes and then drink it with a teaspoon of honey. [5]
Lemon Tea
The antioxidants found in lemon tea, as well as citric acid, are known to quickly soothe tension in the body and mind, including in the neck, shoulders, and temples, thus easing the discomfort of a headache. Steep a slice of lemon in a mug of warm water for 3-4 minutes before consuming. [6]
Ginger Tea
The powerful active ingredient in this tea, gingerol, has wide-reaching effects in the body, but when it comes to headaches, it is able to invigorate the sinuses and promote healthy circulation, along with lower blood pressure and a more optimized immune response. [7]
