When it comes to combating headaches with tea, Hultin recommends two different approaches. To stop headaches before they occur, she suggests drinking tea early in the day (perhaps to replace that second, or even first, cup of coffee). If the headache has already set in, but you find tea relieving, she suggests making it the first line of treatment. In other words, start boiling that water ASAP when pain sets in.
For some, the pain-reducing effects might take place right away and others might not notice the effects at all. Either way, registered dietitian Abby Cannon, R.D., says “the act of drinking tea can be very calming in and of itself and this calming practice can help to release tension in the body.”