Saturday, March 10, 2012 Tori asks

Q: Green Tea & Migraines? Studies say stay away, others it's a cure all.

Recently I purchased at Costco, Kirkland Signature, Green Tea, Matcha Blend, The vert, ITO EN, tea bags, not loose. Been getting allot of headaches. Is there a definitive study? What is your experience.

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Answers (4)

Teri Robert, Health Guide

3/14/12 12:05pm

Hi, Tori,

These days, it seems you can find all kinds of web sites and articles touting green tea as the miracle "cure" for everything under the sun.

I did a search of the medical literature, looking for studies of green tea for Migraine, but found nothing saying that green tea itself has any properties to help with Migraines.

Although generally less than black tea, green tea DOES contain caffeine. Depending on how long it's infused, a cup of green tea could contain more caffeine than a cup of coffee. Caffeine is one of those things that, in the world of Migraine and headaches, is a paradox because it can trigger a Migraine or cause headaches, but when you get a Migraine or headache, it can be helpful. See Top 6 Migraine and Headache Contradictions.

One thing to keep in mind is that "cure-alls" are, in general, too good to be true.

Hope this helps,

Teri

Missy Morgan

3/14/12 12:29pm

My opinion is that green tea has caffeine in it and my headache specialist told me to not drink ANY caffeine. And green tea was on the list of those drinks to NOT drink for me. Now, this is my opinion based on my own personal experience. The only caffeine I get is in chocolate. The doctor told me he wouldn't ask me to give up chocolate. Of course, I don't eat chocolate every day so that isn't a big deal. I drank decaf tea / coffee for a long time thinking that was good enough, but my doctor said no to decaf b/c it does still have some caffeine. So if I am going to drink something it must say caffeine free. And yes, there is a difference between decaf and caffeine free. Just my two cents. My best to you in your journey. I am at least 6 months in to be caffeine free and it has gotten A LOT easier.

PCPerson

3/14/12 2:28pm

You didn't say if it made a difference in your headaches or not?

Missy Morgan

3/14/12 2:33pm

You are right. I didn't. I feel much better not living with the addiction / sensitivity to caffeine. I don't have to have caffeine to function. I am feeling much better, but I'm not sure I can credit going caffeine free for the improvement. In the past six months, I have had Botox injections, gone caffeine free, and am seeing a Medical Hypnotist regularly. I am not 100% what has been the reason for my improvements. But I can say I am a lot better!! Time will tell if it is the Botox because I am not going for more injections at this time. I will continue to see the Hypnotist. And I will remain caffeine free. I hope this information helps.

PCPerson

3/16/12 7:04pm

Thanks. I am down to one caffeine tea a day, and the rest decaf. And thanks to the person who said you can buy DECAF GREEN TEA. And thanks to the other person who said decaf isn't exactly the same as caffeine-free, interesting! I may have to make a trip to the health food store.

rosie

3/15/12 8:57am

There are decaffeinated versions of green tea, I drink it regularly and have not had any issues.

Tired of Head Pain

3/14/12 2:32pm

Green Tea is a wonderful antioxidant. Unfortunately, the tea that is bagged and sold in most grocery stores is quite old, and very far from it's source, be it China or India (main producers - China being the best one).

Green Tea, like other teas contain caffeine, and for people with migraines, caffeine is ultimately going to give you a rebound headache or MOH. It is one of those funny drugs that can both cure and give you a migraine. For people who do not have migraines, they can have a cup in the am and it will be the refreshing pick me up just like coffee, and it will be the stimulant at 4:00 pm to keep them going through the day. But it is a drug, and when you go without it, you will get a "headach withdrawal". Keep drinking it and you will be fine. For migrainers it is a bit different. It can stop a migraine from coming, but it can also keep a migraine cycle going by "medication overuse headache" syndrome or MOH. It is a double edged sword, and each person has to decide how much is OK and how much is not OK.

Personally I don't drink anything with caffeine. Caffeine = Migraine. But I have suffered from Migraines for a long time, and for much of my life I felt I could have one cup of coffee every day and that would keep a migraine away. I don't feel that way anymore, so it is up to you to make that decision. I will say, better green tea that coffee.

If you want good green tea, go to Chinatown if you live on the West Coast near LA or San Francisco. Otherwise try to find a good Mail Order place on the Web that ships directly from China for loose green tea. There are many kinds of green tea, and all of it will be fresher and better tasting that anything you can get here.

phred

3/17/12 11:05pm

I have tried many varieties of green tea and have

experienced nausea with each of them. Black tea,

however, has been helpful in managing my

headaches.