What tea should you drink and avoid when you have a headache

Hoang Nam – According to Health

When experiencing pain or stress, many people often drink their favorite cup of tea to soothe. So, can drinking tea help relieve symptoms, or can it make the condition worse?

Some teas can reduce headaches because they can help people relax or increase hydration. However, tea can also cause headaches for some people, including those sensitive to caffeine or histamine.

How well each type works depends on the individual, and it may seem paradoxical – tea can be both a cure and a cause of headaches, depending on the type you choose and the person drinking it.

Some properties of tea can cause headaches.

Some teas can cause headaches for one person but are pleasant for another.

There are many ingredients in tea that, depending on each person’s sensitivity, can cause headaches.

Mascha Davis, a registered dietitian based in Los Angeles, says some teas, like matcha, black tea, oolong, etc., contain caffeine, and evidence shows that excessive caffeine can cause headaches.

Davis adds that drinking too much caffeine, whether from tea or other beverages, can lead to dependence. When someone does not maintain normal levels of caffeine consumption, they may experience withdrawal symptoms such as low energy or headaches.

Additionally, drinking a lot of caffeine can lead to poor sleep, leading to headaches.

For this reason, people may choose to drink caffeine-free teas when they are trying to relieve headaches. Herbal teas containing just single herbs, such as peppermint tea or a mixture of multiple herbs, are popular and usually do not affect headaches.

However, problems can arise if someone drinks herbal tea while taking certain medications. Some herbal teas can cause adverse drug interactions that can lead to headaches with ashwagandha, an ingredient found in some herbal tea blends, for example.

Licorice, another herbal tea ingredient, has been linked to increased aldosterone levels in the blood, which can lead to headaches.

In addition to herbal teas, other tea ingredients can also cause headaches.

Tannins are natural chemicals in tree bark, fruits, seeds, and tea leaves. These give a bitter, astringent flavor.

However, for some people, the tannins in tea can cause headaches. Although more evidence is needed, these compounds may affect the release of serotonin, causing headaches.

Additionally, there is some limited evidence that tannins may interfere with the absorption of iron, which helps the body transport oxygen in the blood. This iron deficiency can contribute to headaches.

Finally, histamines are another compound that tea drinkers may want to avoid. Histamine occurs naturally in many different foods, especially those that undergo fermentation, such as aged cheeses, pickled vegetables, and wine.

Davis explains certain teas, especially fermented teas like black tea, can contain histamine, which some people may not tolerate, leading to symptoms such as headaches, hives, or nasal congestion.

Some people can reduce headache symptoms when drinking tea.

Although certain types of tea may cause headaches for some people, it is also possible that tea may reduce headache symptoms.

At its most basic, drinking tea is a great way to increase your water intake and maintain healthy hydration. Even mild dehydration can cause headaches, so the clear idea that drinking tea helps you meet your daily fluid goals can be a way to relieve headaches.

Caffeine may be a headache trigger for some people but provides pain relief for others.

Green tea or coffee: Which is better for health?

Drinking caffeinated tea can narrow dilated blood vessels, relieving symptoms in moderate amounts.

It’s also possible that tea helps reduce some headache symptoms simply because it’s relaxing. One small study found that people who drank four cups of tea per day over six weeks were better able to recover from stress.

Choose the type of tea that’s right for you.

Choosing tea that makes you feel comfortable is the way to eliminate headaches caused by drinking tea.

Because of this conflicting evidence, researchers are still trying to understand the relationship between headaches and tea. However, data published last year in Scientific Reports showed that there did not appear to be any link between tea consumption and migraine risk in European populations.

So, if someone is sensitive to caffeine, histamines, tannins, or other tea components, they can avoid drinking it.

However, if you want to try it, Davis says some teas may help relieve headaches more than others:

Peppermint tea: It contains essential oil, which can have a soothing effect on muscles and may help alleviate tension headaches.

Ginger tea: Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can soothe nausea and help relieve headaches caused by stomach upset.

Lavender tea: Lavender is said to have calming and soothing properties, which can reduce stress and thus reduce headaches.

Other teas that may help relieve headaches include those containing the active compound curcumin in turmeric or chamomile, but more data is needed to confirm this relationship.

Because factors such as the type of tea and individual sensitivity can play such a significant role, it’s not easy to say whether a particular tea will help or worsen a headache of someone. It is important to note that each individual’s response to tea may vary, and what works for one person may not work for another.