Herbs That Help Relieve Headaches

Headaches are not only painful; they disrupt your ability to carry out daily tasks. When a headache strikes, it may be mild or severe and debilitating, lasting from a few minutes to a few days. While doctors prescribe a battery of medications to ease the pain, some patients prefer to use natural methods. The use of herbs to treat headaches may offer relief to some sufferers. However, if you experience more than three headaches per week or you have other symptoms, including weakness, vision loss, numbness or speech impairment, seek medical help.

Feverfew

Perhaps the most popular herb for headache relief, feverfew has a long medicinal history. Producers dry the leaves and package them in capsules, tea or tablets. Although research is scanty, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCAM) reports that feverfew may reduce or prevent some types of headaches, including migraines. No standard dosage is available.
Side effects are few but may include mouth and lip sores, infrequent nausea and digestive problems. Pregnant women should consult their doctor before taking feverfew, and those with allergies to plants in the daisy family should not take feverfew.

Valerian

A bushy herb with clusters of orchid-colored blooms, the valerian plant is another frequent choice of headache sufferers. Like most herbs, further studies are in order, but valerian may promote relaxation and sleep, which may relieve headaches caused by tension or anxiety.
Considered safe for most people, valerian may result in drowsiness in the morning if taken the previous night, dizziness and stomach upset, and it may cause a mild headache in some.

Additional Herbs

Other, less popular herbs may offer some relief to headache sufferers, reports the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. These include goldenseal, passionflower, butterbur root and skullcap. NCAM reports that additional herbs, including lavender, St. John's wort, cayenne, ginkgo biloba, peppermint and mistletoe, may offer relief for some patients. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the use of herbs as supplements for sale in the United States, so little corroborative evidence is available.