8 best teas for headaches
1. Chamomile tea
Our pick: Egyptian Chamomile Organic Herbal Tea
2. Peppermint tea
Our pick: Peppermint Organic Herbal Tea
3. Ginger tea
Our pick: Atomic Gold Organic Herbal Tea
4. Clove tea
Our pick: Rooibos Chai Organic Herbal Tea
5. Turmeric tea
Our pick: Atomic Gold Organic Herbal Tea
6. Lavender tea
Our pick: Lavender Lullaby Organic Herbal Tea
7. Other herbal teas
Our pick: Blueberry Pomegranate Herbal Tea
8. Caffeinated teas
Our pick: Dragon Well Superior Organic Green Tea
1. Chamomile tea
Chamomile is a soothing herbal tea that’s great to drink when you have a headache. Chamomile works to reduce inflammation, which can cause headache pain. Chamomile tea has also been shown to help lessen stress and anxiety, which can often be contributing factors to headaches.
Our pick: Organic Egyptian Chamomile Herbal Tea
Other chamomile teas
2. Peppermint tea
Peppermint has been shown to help treat tension-type headaches, which are the most common type of headaches. A soothing cup of tea can reduce pain and help you to relax when you’re suffering from a headache. Peppermint is often blended with other herbs and spices like lavender and ginger for additional healing and therapeutic effects. Other benefits of peppermint tea include increasing alertness, calming upset stomachs, and reducing stress.
Our pick: Organic Peppermint Herbal Tea
Other peppermint teas
- Lemon Mint Menage Black Tea
- Alice’s Peppermint Party Herbal Tea
- Sing Your Song Herbal Tea
- Lavender Mint Herbal Tea
- Chocolate Mint Rooibos Herbal Tea
3. Ginger tea
Ginger is a potent herb that is full of health benefits and has been used as a component of herbal medicine for centuries. Studies have shown that ginger can help to reduce headache pain. Other benefits of ginger tea include boosting the immune system, increasing energy, and reducing inflammation.
Our pick: Organic Atomic Gold Herbal Tea
Other ginger teas
- Masala Chai Black Tea
- Solstice Spice Black Tea
- Linda’s Lemon Ginger Green Tea
- Sing Your Song Herbal Tea
- Rooibos Chai Herbal Tea
4. Clove tea
Cloves are a pungent spice that are often featured in spiced tea blends like herbal and caffeinated versions of chai. Cloves have been shown to reduce headache pain and have an analgesic effect. Cloves also have antiviral and antimicrobial properties that can help to protect you against illness.
Our pick: Organic Rooibos Chai Herbal Tea
Other clove teas
5. Turmeric tea
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to have neuroprotective effects, and can help to mitigate migraine and headache pain. Turmeric adds a bright golden hue to any tea it's added to, and has a woody, earthy taste that is complemented by other spices.
Our pick: Organic Atomic Gold Herbal Tea
Other turmeric teas
6. Lavender tea
Lavender is a soothing medicinal herb that has been used in herbal medicine to treat a wide variety of illnesses, from headaches to anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that lavender aromatherapy can help to treat migraine headaches and reduce headache severity.
Our pick: Organic Lavender Lullaby Herbal Tea
Other lavender teas
- Earl Grey Lavender Black Tea
- Miss Violet Purple Leaf Tea
- Lavender Mint Herbal Tea
- Tuscan Sun Herbal Tea
7. Other herbal teas
Even if a tea doesn’t contain a beneficial herbal ingredient like those listed above, a nice cup of herbal tea can still have a soothing effect that helps to reduce pain. Herbal tea is also a great way to stay hydrated, and dehydration can contribute to headaches.
8. Caffeinated teas
Caffeinated teas like black, green, white, and oolong teas may also help relieve symptoms if you’re suffering from a headache. All teas made from the camellia sinensis plant contain caffeine, which can help increase the effectiveness of over the counter pain medication and soothe headache symptoms. However, you should proceed with caution when using caffeine to treat a headache - sometimes, too much caffeine can make a headache even worse, and regular caffeine consumption is sometimes linked with an increased occurrence of headaches and migraines.
Caffeine and headaches
People often wonder whether or not they should consume caffeine when they have a headache. The answer? It depends. Caffeine can have some helpful and some harmful effects on pain depending on your personal circumstances.
In some cases, caffeine can help your headache by reducing inflammation and improving the efficacy of pain medication. In fact, over the counter pain medication often contains a mix of caffeine and painkillers like acetaminophen and aspirin.
However, consuming caffeine can often trigger a migraine or headache in people who are sensitive to caffeine. Because of this, you should be careful consuming caffeine when you’re feeling under the weather. If you know that you’re sensitive to caffeine, you should steer clear of caffeinated teas until you’re feeling better.
On the other hand, if you know you have a high caffeine tolerance, you might want to try a cup of mildly caffeinated tea in combination with other pain medication. As always, you should consult a medical professional if you ever have any concerns about your pain level and caffeine intake while experiencing a headache or migraine.
FAQS
Should you drink caffeine when you have a headache?
It depends. While caffeine can help to reduce inflammation and increase the effectiveness of certain pain relievers, it can also make headache symptoms worse.
Is green tea good for headaches?
Green tea can help to soothe headache pain, but it can also exacerbate headache symptoms or even cause a headache if you drink too much. You should drink green tea with caution if you’re suffering from a headache.
Does ginger help with headaches?
Ginger is a good herbal remedy for headaches. A cup of ginger tea can help to reduce headache pain, along with reducing inflammation and boosting the immune system.
Does peppermint tea help with headaches?
Peppermint tea can help to soothe pain caused by headaches and migraines. They are especially effective in treating tension-type headaches.
