Best Tea for Headaches & Migraines

We’ve previously explored the best Tea for immune system health, anxiety, bloating, allergies and water retention - now, we shall determine the best Tea for headaches & migraines. Almost everyone, after all, has had to deal with an incessant throbbing or dull pain associated with these ailments. There are occasions when symptoms go away by themselves. Other instances require extra assistance.

The following article will show you how to get rid of a headache or migraine with your beloved cup of Tea. Each infusion mentioned you could buy and try here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Since our establishment in 1982, our family-run business has taken enormous pride in packing its products fresh to order. Doing so ensures quality and consistency from the first to the last brew.

What is a Headache?

A headache is a common condition often characterised as pain in the head and face. There are several different types of headaches, from those caused by tension to stress, hangovers and cluster headaches. Depending on the severity, it can be throbbing, constant, sharp or dull, lasting anywhere between thirty minutes to a fortnight. But what, exactly, causes it to happen in the first place?

The reality is that the specifics remain relatively unknown. What we do know is that it results from signals interacting among the brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. However, the precise mechanism that activates specific nerves that affect muscles and blood vessels hasn’t yet been determined. One question hasn’t been answered: “What is a migraine, and is it the same thing?”

Difference Between a Headache and Migraine

A migraine, contrary to popular belief, is a condition distinct from headaches. Indeed, those who have experienced one, when asked to pitch migraines vs headaches, almost always say that the former is much worse than the latter. While headaches mainly lead to aching pain, migraine symptoms can cause sickness, sensitivity to light and sound, digestive issues, sweating and more.

Some people experience migraines on a frequent basis, perhaps even several times a week. Other people suffer from the so-called primary headache disorder during rare episodes. Nevertheless, for the most part, the treatment is the same. Doctors advise that migraine sufferers take painkillers and lie in a dark room until it passes. Another option appears to be the best Tea for headaches and migraines.

Best Tea for Headaches and Migraines

Anyone keen to know how to get rid of a migraine need only put on the kettle. Well, it should at least work when you choose the right type, which is what we’ll dedicate the rest of the article to. First, though, we need to tell you which ones could make matters worse. Research indicates that Green Tea for headaches, say, or even Black Tea for migraines might cause rather than alleviate the conditions.

The reason is that both varieties, alongside Oolong and White Tea, contain caffeine. Though famous for getting us out of bed in the morning, caffeine can come with side effects. Headaches or migraines are, unfortunately, two examples. Therefore, we will be showcasing the best Herbal Tea for headaches and migraines. These are Peppermint, Ginger, Camomile and Lavender Tea.

Does Peppermint Tea Help with Migraines & Headaches?

Peppermint Tea is an infusion that requires little introduction. It is, unquestionably, the most easily recognisable and, potentially, most popular Herbal Tea in the world. Scientific research has concluded that it aids digestion, boosts immunity, promotes weight loss and eases mild insomnia. But, of course, we’re here to discover what Tea is good for headaches. Does it make the cut?

Preliminary evidence indicates that Peppermint Tea functions in much of the same way as pharmaceutical painkillers, albeit less so, by combating tension headaches at the source. This is achieved by opening up blood vessels, thus offering relief to many sufferers. A topical application might also be a Peppermint Benefit. Just bear in mind the word “preliminary”, meaning that the science to back the claim is in its early stages.

Can Ginger Tea Help with Headaches?

We continue looking into the best Herbal Tea for headaches and migraines with Ginger Root Tea. Like Peppermint Tea, it is a caffeine-free cuppa. This means it is already better than Black, Green, White or Oolong Tea when experiencing characteristic throbbing pains around the temples. What’s more, and perhaps more importantly, its anti-inflammatory properties have pain-relieving effects.

One 2014 study established that 250-mg of Ginger Root extract decreased migraine symptoms as efficiently as the prescription drug sumatriptan. Meanwhile, a 2018 study found that a 400-mg dose of the spice alongside ketoprofen (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) decreased the severity of migraines better than taking ketoprofen alone. It’ll likely function in a similar way with headaches as well.

Does Camomile Tea Help Headaches?

That’s Ginger Tea for migraines covered well. Next is Camomile Tea for headaches. Camomile Flower Tea typically come from two species: Roman Camomile (Chamaemelum nobile) and German Camomile (Chamomilla recutita). Both varieties boast a delectably sweet and floral flavour unlike any other. Both varieties, according to anecdotal evidence, combat headaches and migraines.

While little in the way of scientifically-grounded research exists surrounding its use for such a purpose, Camomile Tea’s relaxing effects may ease tension. What remains irrefutable is that it contains a wealth of vitamins, minerals and other antioxidants capable of improving life in small yet significant ways. Most impressive is its ability to improve sleeping patterns and reduce mild anxiety.

Lavender Tea for Headaches & Migraine Relief

The final Herbal Tea for migraine relief we’ll be delving deep into is Lavender Tea. Despite its status as a little-known infusion, it has much to offer first-time drinkers and connoisseurs alike. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a plant belonging to the mint (Lamiaceae) family. When brewed regularly, it treats insomnia, lowers blood pressure and reduces anxiety levels in certain individuals.

It’s that latter Lavender Tea Benefit we’ll be elaborating on here. According to research from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, headaches and anxiety can sometimes be interlinked. The answer, then, is straightforward: brew up a cup of Lavender Tea, thereby offsetting certain stress hormones and ultimately reducing headache or migraine risks. What could be better than that?

Summary to the Best Tea for Headaches and Migraines

We’d recommend that anyone prone to headaches or migraines avoid highly caffeinated beverages. The alternative is caffeine-free Herbal Tea, some varieties of which not only prevent symptoms but alleviate those that have already manifested. Among the best choices are Peppermint, Ginger Root, Camomile and Lavender. Start your journey with The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company today.

Author: Richard Smith

Partner at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company

Richard Smith is a Tea expert, entrepreneur, and owner of The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Part of a family of renowned Tea planters dating back four generations, he was born in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, where he spent his childhood between Tea Estates in Assam and Darjeeling.

In the late 1970s, having accumulated years of knowledge in the industry, Mr Smith and his mother, Janet Smith, moved to Kent, South East England, to establish a Tea business in the village of Pluckley. Their early days of packing Tea Bags by hand from chests of 10,000 prompted the creation of the company’s flagship infusion known as Pluckley Tea. It remains our most popular product today.

Mr Smith, who studied economics at London Polytechnic, has since specialised in over 1,000 types of Loose Leaf Tea - in addition to around 70 varieties of Roast Coffee - from around the world. These are now available at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, where everything is still packed by hand and fresh to order, not only to honour tradition but to ensure the utmost quality and consistency.