When a headache comes on, a warm cup of tea is a comforting thing to reach for. Calming herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, and ginger are popular choices, and a cup of green or black tea gives a little caffeine. Here are the teas I like, plus what to watch for.
Tea isn’t a cure for headaches, and I’m a tea lover, not a doctor. But slowing down with a warm cup, drinking enough fluids, and getting the right amount of caffeine can all help you feel better. These are the teas people reach for most, grouped by type so you can find what suits you.
Quick Look
- 🌼 Calming and caffeine free: chamomile, lavender, peppermint
- 🧂 Warming spice teas: ginger, turmeric ginger, cinnamon clove
- ☕ With caffeine: green, jasmine green, and black tea
- ⚠️ Use with care: feverfew and white willow bark
- 💧 Don’t forget: fluids and steady caffeine habits matter
- 🩺 See a doctor for severe, sudden, or frequent headaches
Quick Answer
Calming, caffeine free herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, and ginger are popular choices when you have a headache, and a cup of green or black tea adds a small amount of caffeine, which some people find helpful. Tea is not a medical treatment, so see a doctor for headaches that are severe, sudden, or frequent.
Jump to:
Can Tea Help With a Headache?
Tea can be part of feeling better in a few simple ways:
- Fluids. Not drinking enough can contribute to headaches, and every cup of tea counts toward your fluids.
- A moment to slow down. Sitting quietly with a warm cup is relaxing, especially for headaches that come with stress or a long day.
- A little caffeine. Caffeine is an ingredient in some over the counter headache medicines, and some people find a cup of caffeinated tea helps. Too much can backfire, though (more on that below).
Herbal teas are made from flowers, leaves, roots, and spices rather than the tea plant, so most are caffeine free. Learn more in my beginner’s guide to herbal tea.
Calming Herbal Teas
Allegro Organic Relaxing Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is a gentle, caffeine free tea made from dried chamomile flowers. Its mild, apple like flavor makes it a favorite for winding down in the evening. Skip it if you are allergic to ragweed or daisies.
Bigelow Lavender Chamomile Plus Probiotics
This caffeine free blend adds floral lavender to chamomile. It is a soothing cup for the end of a long day. Read more in my guide to lavender tea.
Allegro Organic Northwest Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is cool, refreshing, and caffeine free, thanks to the menthol in the leaves. It is lovely hot or iced. If you have heartburn or reflux, peppermint can make it worse, so choose another tea.
Warming Spice Teas
Organic Ginger Tea Bags
Ginger tea is spicy and warming. Ginger has a long history of use for queasy stomachs, which sometimes come along with a headache. Add a little honey and lemon if you like.
Organic Turmeric Ginger Tea Bags
Turmeric gives this blend an earthy flavor and golden color, with a kick from ginger. You can also make your own with my turmeric tea recipe.
Dogadan Cinnamon Clove Herbal Tea
Cinnamon and cloves make a warm, spiced, caffeine free cup that tastes like the holidays. Add a pinch of nutmeg for extra warmth.
Teas With Caffeine
A cup of tea has less caffeine than coffee. An 8 ounce cup of green tea has roughly 30 to 50 mg, black tea about 40 to 70 mg, and brewed coffee about 95 mg.
Bigelow Green Tea
Green tea comes from the same plant as black tea but is not oxidized, so it tastes fresh and grassy. Learn more in my beginner’s guide to green tea.
Allegro Organic Jasmine Green Tea
Jasmine tea is green tea scented with jasmine blossoms. It is fragrant, light, and one of my favorite afternoon cups.
365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Black Tea
Black tea is fully oxidized, which gives it a bold, rich flavor and a little more caffeine than green tea. See my beginner’s guide to black tea.
Tetley Classic Decaffeinated Black Tea
If caffeine bothers you, decaf black tea gives you the same comforting cup with only a trace of caffeine.
Traditional Herbal Teas to Use With Care
These two herbs have a long history in traditional remedies for headaches. Because they act more like medicine than an everyday tea, talk with your doctor before trying them.
Palm Beach Feverfew Tea
Feverfew is a daisy like herb traditionally used for headaches. Don’t use it if you are pregnant or nursing, allergic to ragweed or daisies, or taking blood thinners.
White Willow Bark Tea
Willow bark contains salicin, a natural compound related to aspirin. Avoid it if you are allergic to aspirin, take blood thinners, or are pregnant, and never give it to children or teens.
Caffeine and Headaches
- A little can help. That is why caffeine is in some headache medicines.
- Too much can hurt. The FDA suggests most healthy adults stay under about 400 mg a day from all sources.
- Skipping your usual cup can cause a headache. If you drink tea or coffee every day, cutting back suddenly can bring on a withdrawal headache. Cut back slowly instead.
- Late caffeine can disrupt sleep, and poor sleep is a common headache trigger. Switch to herbal tea in the afternoon.
Tips for a Soothing Cup of Tea
- Brew it well. Here is how to make a pot of tea, and whether hot or cold tea suits you better.
- Sit down and sip slowly somewhere quiet, away from screens.
- Drink water too. Tea counts, but plain water is still important.
- Keep it light. Honey or lemon add flavor without many calories. See does tea have calories.
- Keep your tea fresh with these loose leaf tea storage tips.
- Pregnant? Check with your doctor about herbal teas and caffeine, and see my post on matcha during pregnancy.
More tea guides: what is herbal tea, herbal teas for colds, teas for an upset stomach, teas for allergies, and how to grow an herbal tea garden. Browse all my Tea Guides.
Tea for Headaches FAQs
Both. A small amount of caffeine helps some people, which is why it is in some headache medicines. Too much caffeine, or skipping your usual amount, can cause headaches.
Herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, ginger, lavender, and cinnamon clove are naturally caffeine free. Decaf black and green teas still contain a trace.
Many people find a cup of peppermint tea refreshing and calming. It is caffeine free, but it can make heartburn or reflux worse.
Willow bark contains salicin, which is related to aspirin. Don’t use it if you are allergic to aspirin, take blood thinners, are pregnant, or for children and teens. Ask your doctor first.
For caffeinated tea, keep your total caffeine from all sources under about 400 mg a day, which the FDA suggests for most healthy adults. That is roughly 6 to 8 cups of black tea.
See a doctor for headaches that are severe, sudden, frequent, or getting worse, or that come with fever, a stiff neck, confusion, vision changes, or weakness.
The Bottom Line
A warm cup of chamomile, peppermint, or ginger tea is a comforting way to slow down when your head hurts, and a cup of green or black tea gives a gentle dose of caffeine. Drink enough fluids, keep your caffeine steady, and see your doctor for headaches that are severe or keep coming back.
What is your favorite tea to sip when you need to slow down? Tell me in the comments, and come say hello on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
