Headache

Arabica coffee

Coffea arabica

A Cochrane review of 20 studies found that adding 100 mg or more of caffeine to paracetamol or ibuprofen gave about 5–10% more people good pain relief (number needed to treat about 14), including for headache.

Peppermint

Mentha x piperita

EMA well-established use: a 10% solution of the oil in ethanol rubbed on the forehead and temples for mild tension-type headache. NCCIH describes the supporting evidence as limited.

Asian water plantain

Alisma orientale

Only as part of Goreisan (Wuling San), a five-herb Kampo formula that includes Alisma: a meta-analysis of 11 studies (5 randomised) in 9,443 patients found fewer symptomatic recurrences of chronic subdural haematoma after surgery (5.7% vs 7.4%). The effect of Alisma alone cannot be separated.

Butterbur

Petasites hybridus

In an open, uncontrolled study, 108 children and adolescents with migraine given 50–150 mg of the root extract for 4 months reported 63% fewer attacks; without a placebo group, pediatric reviewers rate the evidence as poor.

Dahurian angelica

Angelica dahurica

A core herb of Chuan xiong cha tiao san and related formulas for headache in Traditional Chinese Medicine; a 2024 analysis of emergency-department records in China found bai zhi among the eight herbs most often prescribed in decoctions for headache. No trials of the single herb; analgesic effects are shown in animal pain models.

Evodia

Tetradium ruticarpum

In a Japanese trial, 53 chronic-headache patients who had responded to the evodia formula goshuyuto in an open 4-week phase were randomised to goshuyuto or placebo for 12 weeks; headache days fell by 2.6 versus 0.3 days a month (p = 0.034), with no difference in use of rescue painkillers. The responder-only design limits how far the result can be generalised.

Mexican liberty cap

Psilocybe mexicana

Preliminary studies suggest benefit in cluster headache and migraine.

Morning glory

Ipomoea tricolor

A 2025 systematic review found anecdotal and observational reports that LSA (ergine) relieved cluster headache in some people (9 of 12 in one series), mostly using Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds rather than morning glory. There are no controlled trials, and the review concludes LSA poses significant health risks.

Ololiuhqui

Turbina corymbosa

Observational online surveys of people with cluster headache reported that LSA (mostly from other morning glory seeds) prevented attacks in some, e.g. 20% of 108 respondents; there are no controlled trials.

Tasmanian blue gum

Eucalyptus globulus

In a small crossover study of 32 people, ethanol preparations of eucalyptus and peppermint oil rubbed on the forehead improved relaxation and cognitive measures but did not reduce sensitivity to headache pain.

African moringa

Moringa stenopetala

Healers press juice from fresh leaves and massage it into the forehead for headache and migraine, or drink leaf powder in tea.

Agati

Sesbania grandiflora

Leaf and flower juice is used for headache in Myanmar folk medicine.

Ajo sacha

Mansoa alliacea

Recorded for headache in the Ecuadorian pharmacopoeia proposal.

American ginseng

Panax quinquefolius

The Cherokee used the root for headache, and a root decoction was drunk for headaches and cramps (Mooney). Not clinically tested.

Asian mint

Mentha canadensis

Shennong's Materia Medica lists headache, and Chinese medicine says Bo he 'clears the head'; Cree, Gros Ventre and Keres used leaf infusions for headache.

Balloon vine

Cardiospermum halicacabum

Traditional healers in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, boil the root in oil and apply it to the head before bathing for headache and throat infection.

Beach silvertop

Glehnia littoralis

In Korea it is used mainly for migraine and headache.

Big sagebrush

Artemisia tridentata

Paiute, Northern Paiute, Shoshoni and Kawaiisu used decoctions, washes, poultices or inhaled smoke for headache.

Breadfruit

Artocarpus altilis

On many Pacific islands the bark is used for headaches. Untested.

Bushman's poison

Acokanthera oppositifolia

In Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, the leaves are used as powder, infusion or snuff for memory loss, headache and epilepsy, including in children. No clinical testing; given its toxicity this use carries real danger.

Camphor tree

Cinnamomum camphora

Unani texts use Kafoor in hot conditions for headache and for 'strengthening the senses and brain'; not clinically tested.

Cat's claw (Gou teng)

Uncaria rhynchophylla

In Chinese medicine, gou teng's role in Tianma Gouteng Yin is to pacify the liver and extinguish wind, treating headache, dizziness and insomnia attributed to rising liver yang.

Chinaberry

Melia azedarach

In western India the flowers and leaves were applied locally for nervous headache.

Chinese peony

Paeonia lactiflora

WHO records traditional use for headache and vertigo; untested in trials.

Cocklebur

Xanthium strumarium

Listed among the traditional Chinese uses of Xanthii Fructus, alongside rhinitis and sinusitis; no clinical trials of the herb for headache were found.

Diviner's sage

Salvia divinorum

Recorded in Mazatec folk medicine for headache; untested in people.

Du huo

Angelica pubescens

Used in Chinese medicine for headache attributed to wind-cold-damp, alone and in formulas such as Zhengtian Wan; no controlled trials of the herb were found.

European mistletoe

Viscum album

NCCIH and NCI record traditional use for seizures, headache, menopausal symptoms, nervous tension and asthma, without clinical support.

Feverfew

Tanacetum parthenium

Long European use for headache in general; John Hill wrote in 1772 that 'in the worst headache this herb exceeds whatever else is known'. Only migraine prevention has been tested.

Five-leaved chaste tree

Vitex negundo

In Chinese medicine the stir-fried fruit is used to 'dispel wind-heat' and relieve headache and dizziness.

Florist's chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum x morifolium

Used for headache and dizziness since the Shennong Bencao Jing, which recorded it for 'dizziness and pain caused by wind'. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia still lists these uses. There are no trials.

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida

The Cherokee chewed the bark for headache. King's American Dispensatory lists it for 'headaches from quinine'.

Mountain knotgrass

Aerva lanata

The roots are used for headache in India and in Ayurveda, and the plant for headache in Nigeria. No clinical testing.

Muña

Minthostachys mollis

Listed as a pain-reliever for headache in Peruvian traditional use. Untested.

Puncture vine

Tribulus terrestris

The Chinese Pharmacopoeia, as cited by WHO, lists oral use for headache (and for mastitis); no clinical trials.

Qian hu

Peucedanum praeruptorum

Headache accompanying colds is among the uses recorded in classical materia medica; untested in trials.

Qiang huo

Notopterygium incisum

Long used in Chinese medicine to relieve headache, especially with colds; its analgesic effect in animal studies targets pain from inflammation and ischaemia. Untested alone in people.

Red sanders

Pterocarpus santalinus

In Ayurveda a paste of the wood is applied externally as a cooling application for inflammations and headache.

Sheng ma

Actaea cimicifuga

Used for 'wind-heat' headache, and in the Qing-dynasty Shengma Decoction for severe 'thunder headache'; untested.

Siler

Saposhnikovia divaricata

Listed with the common cold among its main traditional Chinese uses.

Simpleleaf chaste tree

Vitex trifolia

In Chinese medicine the fruit disperses wind-heat and is used chiefly for headache, migraine and pain around the eyes; in New Caledonia, Rotuma and the Solomon Islands heated leaves are rubbed on the forehead or taken as an infusion for severe headaches. A 2023 review found the clinical evidence poor in method and unclear.

Small-leaved lime

Tilia cordata

Older European herbals record lime flower as a tranquilliser and for headache, migraine and nervous palpitations. EMA did not accept these as indications.

St Ignatius bean

Strychnos ignatii

In Manila the nut was rubbed down with vinegar into a paste and plastered on the temples for violent headache (1832 account).

Stone root

Collinsonia canadensis

The Iroquois applied a poultice of powdered leaves to the forehead for headache.

Sweet violet

Viola odorata

Persian physicians rubbed violet oil on the head, soles and navel for headaches they judged 'hot' or caused by 'dryness'.

Syrian rue

Peganum harmala

Smoke of the burning seeds inhaled for headache in traditional practice.

Szechuan lovage

Conioselinum anthriscoides

Chuanxiong Cha Tiao San (with notopterygium and dahurian angelica) is the classical Chinese prescription to 'remove wind and relieve pain' in headache due to external wind; Da Chuanxiong Wan, chuan xiong with tian ma, is used for 'head wind' and vertigo.

Thumbai

Leucas aspera

Crushed flowers are sniffed through the opposite nostril for migraine, and hot-water extracts are taken for headache.

Tian ma

Gastrodia elata

The Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020) lists headache and dizziness among tian ma's indications; classical formulas such as Tianma Gouteng Decoction and Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction are used for them.

Tropical girdlepod

Mitracarpus hirtus

Listed among its West African leaf uses together with toothache, amenorrhoea, dyspepsia, liver disease, venereal disease and leprosy.

Uzara

Xysmalobium undulatum

Used for headache in traditional African medicine; untested.

White willow

Salix alba

EMA traditional use for headache; see a doctor if it lasts more than a day.

Wild dagga

Leonotis leonurus

Decoctions are used for headache.

Wild ginger

Asarum sieboldii

One of the standard indications of Asari Radix et Rhizoma in Chinese patent medicines.

Wintergreen

Gaultheria procumbens

Algonquin of Quebec used an infusion of the plant for headaches and general discomfort.

Xin yi

Magnolia biondii

Has a long history of clinical use for headache alongside rhinitis and sinusitis.

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Algonquin people used crushed leaves as a snuff, or a leaf and flower decoction, for headaches.