Make a Tonic for Stress and Migraine Headaches
NOTE: This article is my recipe for a great-tasting, safe, and effective herbal tea blend for headaches, especially those brought on by stress or that are considered a migraine headache. Used as a daily tonic, there’s evidence that it can be beneficial for those who suffer migraines, reducing the pain and duration. It contains feverfew, lemon balm, and spearmint.
Ever just had "one of those days?" It seems they happen pretty frequently during this increasingly busy time of year. Here is an easy and effective tincture you can make to soothe your nerves and help with headache, including migraines.
There are only three herbs in it, and it tastes great too (even for a tincture! lol). This is a mild nerve-soothing preparation that won’t make you tired. It simply helps calm your body and soul.
These herbs are also SO easy to grow in your own yard. You may be interested in my article on 20 Best Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Your Herb Garden.
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Herbal tea or tincture blend remedy for soothing migraines and other stress-related headaches.
Herbs to Soothe & Protect Your Nerves
This combination of herbs is very helpful to use as a daily tonic in small amounts or more often throughout the day for stressful times. These herbs are very gentle too. They’re exceptionally supportive of the nervous system, and can help relieve tension.
About Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lemon Balm is a lemony tasting and scented member of the mint family. It is a commonly used remedy for nervous disorders, anxiety, depression, and infections too.
It is thought to be an excellent plant medicine for the brain and memory, calming the nervous system as well as helping with digestion. In the past, Lemon Balm was often used to calm overactive children. If you suffer from grief, try a bit of Lemon Balm...it helps ease emotional pain.
Since lemon balm is so soothing to the nerves, you might also enjoy using it in this Cold Sore Salve recipe. It’s a great choice when you feel that tingly feeling coming on.
Safety Factor: If you have issues with an under active thyroid, you should only use Lemon Balm under the guidance of a doctor.
Source: Rosemary Gladstar, from her book, Medicinal Herbs, a Beginner’s Guide (I highly recommend)
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a member of the mint family with antiviral and nervine properties.
About Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Feverfew is just a beautiful flowering plant. The little white flowers with sunny centers never fail to cheer me up and bring lots of butterflies and bees! But better yet, Feverfew has some pretty amazing medicinal qualities!
Feverfew is a nervine herb, helping to soothe and calm the nerves. In addition to this effect, Feverfew is thought to have "specific application against migraine and low spirits. Part of its anti-migraine effect is due to anti-inflammatory activity and part due to the positive bitter digestive effects."
If you are interested in this tincture specifically for migraine help, it is best to take a small amount on a daily basis instead of trying to treat a terrible migraine at its onset.
You can find out more about feverfew in my Cold & Flu Care series too!
Safety Factor: Do not take while pregnant without the advice of a physician.
Source: Richo Cech, Making Plant Medicine (I love this book as well)
Feverfew (Tanecetum spp) is really an amazing herb and can be very helpful with headache, including some types of migraines. It’s also great for helping with fevers naturally.
About Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Doesn't everyone just love Spearmint? It's cool, refreshing, and sweet. Spearmint is sweeter than peppermint, and much milder too. It's actually a better choice for children as well. Because it is both calming to the nervous system while having mild stimulating properties, it is a wonderful herb for toning the nervous system.
Safety Factor: Spearmint is a safe herb. It's edible too and is often used for culinary reasons. I love using it in my handmade soaps as a colorant too!
Source: Rosemary Gladstar
NOTE: This recipe blend is from Rosemary Gladstar’s book, Medicinal Herbs, a Beginner’s Guide.
A Quick Note About Where I Get My Herbs
Take a look at the Healing Harvest Homestead Shopping Guide for lists of vetted herbal and essential oil resources….places where I personally purchase my quality herbs and oils for clients, friends, family, my pets, and myself. **Be sure to bookmark it for later, too!
How to Make a Nerve Soothing Tincture
Making a tincture is really quite quick and easy. The time intensive part is the waiting for it to completely infuse, which takes a few weeks. You can find out more in the link right there. This herbal preparation is great for soothing tension headaches, and the herbs have an affinity for helping those who suffer from migraine headaches.
Ingredients for Nerve-Soothing Tincture
1. Equal parts Lemon Balm, Feverfew, and Spearmint
2. Vodka or other alcohol greater than 80 proof
NOTE: For more information about tinctures, here is a great article!
Directions for the Tincture
1. Fill a quart Mason jar about half full of equal parts dried herbs.
2. Pour vodka over the herbs to within an inch of the top.
3. Shake it well, and let the herbs absorb the vodka. As the herbs soak up the liquid, you may need to add a bit more vodka to within an inch of the top.
4. Keeping the lid on, I like to place my tinctures in a sunny window because of the benefit of the sun and its healing rays. Some herbalists like to put their tinctures in a dark cupboard. This is completely up to you.
5. Shake daily or every few days when you happen to think about it.
6. Let infuse for about four weeks, then strain out the herbs. Bottle up the tincture and enjoy!
7. Here is where I get my bottles!
The bottles in step 7 are the 2 ounce amber glass bottles with a dropper. I like these because the amber glass helps keep the tincture from degrading due to UV light.
For dosing: As a daily tonic, take one to three full droppers full (3 droppers full is about 1/2 tsp). For a very stressful day or other more acute issue, take up to three full droppers one to three times a day.
How to Blend and Make a Nerve Soothing Tea Instead
AND, if tincturing is not something you have patience for, you can create a loose leaf tea from these three herbs too.
Just place a couple teaspoons of the blend in your cup, pour just boiled water over, and let steep for about 20-30 minutes. It will become more bitter the longer it steeps, so you may want to go for the shorter time if that makes a difference.
As far as strength goes, the tincture will be more powerful. But the tea is also warm and soothing.
Final Thoughts on Nerve-Soothing Tincture & Tea
These three simple herbs are just incredible when used together. I love them separately. And I love them even more when they are combined!
Plus, what beats a warm cup of tea after a hard day? I can’t think of much else, myself.
What do you do to soothe and calm your nerves? Leave comments in the comments section, and if you get a chance to try this tincture (or tea if you choose) out, let me know what you think!
Here are some other related articles you might find interesting and useful:
Two Incredibly Delicious Chai Tea Recipes (Green Tea Chai and Rosy Chocolate Chai)
Liver-Loving Herbal Tea for Helping Your Natural Detoxification Processes
Lung Supporting Respiratory Blend Tea
Stress Relieving Massage Oil (Clinically shown to improve blood pressure) **This is a video I made for YouTube
Sensuous Skin and Healthy Hair Tea
There’s LOTS more information and recipes over on the blog, so go on over and do some searching around! You may not want to leave!
Also, if you’ve been thinking about taking an herbal course, check out The Herbal Academy of New England. They back their education up with science, and I’ve learned a TON from them!
If you want a great beginning school for herbalism that’s affordable, you have unlimited access to courses you purchase, and where the teacher (me) is there in person (online) to support you and answer your questions, check out Healing Harvest Homestead School of Herbalism and Traditional Skills!
Hugs, Health, & Self-Reliance!
Heidi
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Disclaimer: The information in this article, elsewhere on my blog, in my shop sites, in conversations, and on labels is for informational purposes only and not meant to cure, treat, diagnose, or prevent any medical condition. I am not a medical doctor, so please see a medical professional for concerns. I simply provide my own personal advice based on experience and study for ways to live a healthy and natural way of life. I disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of any of the information contained in this article or elsewhere on this website. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.