Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMigraine PainBest Teas for MigrainesCaffeine and MigrainesDosageRecipesFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Migraine Pain
Best Teas for Migraines
Caffeine and Migraines
Dosage
Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
Migraine attackscan be painful and even debilitating. Many people with migraines have become interested in tea as a possible relief frommigraine symptoms. Though research is limited, drinking certain teas has been shown to help with migraine pain.This article will discuss the best teas for migraine attacks and soothing recipes to try.
Verywell / Laura Porter
What Does Headache Pain Feel Like?
Migraines are recurring headaches causing intense pain that can feel like throbbing or pulsing. They can also cause other symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue, changes in mood, sensitivity to light and sounds, and neck pain.
There are two main types of headaches:
Complementary and Alternative MedicineThe pain from tension headaches and migraines can be debilitating and can lower the quality of life for people experiencing them. As a result, many sufferers turn tocomplementary and alternative medicine (CAM)that are not standard medical care practices, such as drinking tea.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The pain from tension headaches and migraines can be debilitating and can lower the quality of life for people experiencing them. As a result, many sufferers turn tocomplementary and alternative medicine (CAM)that are not standard medical care practices, such as drinking tea.
There is limited research on the effectiveness of tea for treating migraines. However, there is some evidence that tea may help with migraine pain.
Predicting a Migraine Attack
Most herbal teas used as a supplemental treatment for migraines are decaffeinated, though for infrequent migraines, caffeine can help relieve the pain. Caffeine shouldn’t be used to treat frequent migraines, however.
Most science is unclear about how ingredients in teas affect migraines and the exact mechanism for why tea helps people with migraines. However, the following teas have been shown to help relieve pain.
Decaffeinated Tea
Caffeinated Tea
Green tea is famous for its antioxidant properties and has numerous health benefits that can help treat and reduce the risk of disease.Green tea has historically been used in traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times.
Although there have been many studies about green tea, it is not completely clear if it helps migraine pain because it boosts overall health and is an anti-inflammatory, or because it contains caffeine.
Does Caffeine Help Migraines?
Caffeine is an ingredient in many over-the-counter (OTC) headache medications because it helps reduce inflammation. Caffeine is also a vasoconstrictor, which means that it narrows blood vessels to restrict blood flow.
If you suffer from migraine pain, consider keeping a journal tracking what you ate, drank, and did around the onset of your migraines to note any triggers. You may find a certain amount of caffeine can help relieve migraine pain.
Caffeine SensitivityPeople who are sensitive to caffeine may want to consider avoiding this ingredient altogether.Caffeine sensitivitymay feel like a rush of adrenaline, give you the jitters, and cause difficulty focusing for several hours. Those with caffeine sensitivity may metabolize caffeine more slowly.
Caffeine Sensitivity
People who are sensitive to caffeine may want to consider avoiding this ingredient altogether.Caffeine sensitivitymay feel like a rush of adrenaline, give you the jitters, and cause difficulty focusing for several hours. Those with caffeine sensitivity may metabolize caffeine more slowly.
There is no recommended or standardized dosage for tea intake. However, when consumed in moderation, it is generally considered to be safe. Talk with your physician about your health history and if drinking tea is right for you, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Possible Side Effects
Although there are several health benefits of tea, there are potential side effects as well, particularly for teas that include caffeine. Always research the ingredients in your tea and speak with your physician about drinking it if you are pregnant.
Some side effects of caffeinated tea may include:
Migraine Tea Recipes
The easiest way to make tea is to purchase pre-made tea bags from the store. However, you can buy loose leaf tea as well.
The following two recipes can help provide migraine relief.
Honey Green Tea Recipe
This cozy green tea recipe may offer some relief from migraine symptoms. This recipe makes a single serving.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Heat water in a teapot.
When water is hot but not boiling, carefully pour into a heatproof mug containing one teabag. Let steep for one to three minutes before removing the teabag.
Stir in one teaspoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon.
Let cool, if needed, before drinking.
Although this recipe calls for a green tea bag, you can substitute it for any kind of tea such as chamomile, citron, black, or another favorite tea flavor.
Turmeric (Curcumin) Tea Recipe
Curcumin is an ingredient inturmericand has anti-inflammatory benefits. It is also responsible for turmeric’s orange color and unique flavor. Curcumin may help relieve migraine symptoms and has many other anti-inflammatory benefits as well.
Absorption from curcumin is higher when consumed with black pepper (Piper nigrum), which is why black pepper is an ingredient in this tea.
To omit caffeine from this recipe, you can replace the green tea bag with an herbal tea of choice.
Place all ingredients in a heatproof mug.
Carefully fill the mug with warm-to-hot (not boiling) water.
Let the tea bag steep for three minutes, then discard.
The curcumin may begin to settle, so stir between sips to mix it up.
A Word From Verywell
Migraines are painful and debilitating. If you or someone in your family suffers from migraines, speak with your physician about symptom management and prevention options. The cause, treatment, and prevention of migraines and their symptoms can be a complex topic. There is often no simple solution, and sometimes people must try different types of therapies to find relief.
Drinking certain teas has been shown to help with migraine pain. It can also provide a soothing reprieve from busy schedules. Taking a quiet moment to sip a cup of tea may be what you need to relax and help keep migraine symptoms at bay.
Studies show that teas made with butterbur, citron, curcumin, and coriander have been more effective in managing and treating headache symptoms than placebos, which are substances with no therapeutic effects.Talk to your physician about trying different tea recipes to support your current medications and enhance migraine relief.
Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means that it narrows blood vessels. When blood vessels in the head become enlarged, caffeine can constrict the vessels to reduce the pain.Caffeine helps reduce inflammation and is an ingredient in many OTC headache medications.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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