If there’s one area I’ve always struggled to get results in when using herbs, it’s been headaches.
Yes, I’ve tried a lot of different things over the years, but my results were always hit or miss when it came to easing occasional headaches, that is until I learned about energetics.
You see, everything has energy – us, nature (the plants), and even the conditions that plague us.
Once I learned that there were two different energetic patterns of headaches – those that are “hot” and those that are “cold” – and that the most effective way to use herbs to support my body so that the headaches eased was to create a formula that is energetically formulated to counter the energetics of the headache, that’s when the results started taking place.
So here I am, sharing what I’ve come to know with you.
In this article, I’m going to share the energetic patterns of both “hot” and “cold” headaches, explain what your goal should be to ease each type of headache, cover the energetics of the headache formula you’re going to want to create, share my go-to recipe for each headache formula, and also share some warnings or safety precautions to know about when managing headaches as well.
There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s start by diving into “hot” headaches first.
“Hot” Headaches
“Hot” headaches are associated with a hot/excess type tissue state, which results in sharp, piercing pain that is usually localized in one area. This type of headache may present itself along with other heat signs, such as flushed or warm skin, dry mucous membranes, irritable mood, tension in the body, etc.
The goal when working with a “hot” headache is to clear the trapped heat by relaxing tension and cooling the body, which means you’re going to base your herbal formula around cooling, relaxing, and moistening herbs, as these are all opposite energetics from the presenting headache.
When it comes to botanical allies for this type of headache, the following herbs come to mind because they are either cooling, moistening, or relaxing to the body, often have an affinity for the liver which is helpful in reducing heat, or are dilating to the blood vessels in the periphery of the body, thus, shunting blood flow from the core of the body.
- Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) aerial parts
- Blue vervain (Verbena hastata) aerial parts
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) flower
- *Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) leaf
- *Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) aerial parts
- *Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) aerial parts
- Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) aerial parts
- *White sage (Salvia apiana) aerial parts (cultivated sources only)
- White willow (Salix alba) bark
- Wood betony (Betonica officinalis) aerial parts
* Use caution with circulatory stimulating herbs as larger doses can exacerbate “hot” headaches. Begin with a small amount of peripheral vasodilators, such as ginkgo or lobelia, and use low dosage only.
While there are more herbal allies along these same lines that can be added to this list, this is a good starting point. However, let me encourage you to look through the herbs you have on hand, and those included in your herbal materia medica, and add them to this list.
Preparations that are helpful for “hot” headaches include essential oils, teas, and tinctures. While essential oils are used externally, teas and tinctures are used internally. If your formula contains lovely tasting relaxing nervines, tea is an excellent choice to drink regularly throughout the day. However, if your formula includes strong nervines or bitter herbs or even herbs that benefit from alcohol as a solvent, then, a tincture will be more appropriate.
Below is a formula I have created and keep on hand to help ease “hot” headaches in my home. Feel free to try this exact recipe or adapt it using other herbs you have on hand that are fitting to the goals of this formula. The great thing about any herbal formula is that there are always herbs that can be substituted one for another, so if you don’t have access to one of the following herbs (or one isn’t a fit for you for whatever reason), you can always swap it for another similar plant ally.
You will find measurements using both grams or approximate “parts” depending on what your preference is. If you’d like an exact recipe, grab your digital kitchen scale and weigh out all your herbs. If you prefer the folk method of making plant medicine, choose your part (a tablespoon, scoop, handful, etc.) instead.
“Hot” Headache Tincture
Ratio: 1:4; 40% ABV
Yield: ~4 fl oz
Ingredients:
- 6 grams (~2 parts) blue vervain (Verbena hastata) aerial parts
- 6 grams (~2 parts) wood betony (Betonica officinalis) aerial parts
- 5 grams (~2 parts) white willow (Salix alba) bark
- 4 grams (~1 ½ parts) lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) flower
- 4 grams (~1 ½ parts) skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) aerial parts
- 3 grams (~1 part) rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) aerial parts
“Cold” Headaches
“Cold” headaches are associated with a cold/deficient type tissue state, which results in dull, achy pain that is usually hard to pinpoint, all over the head, or in more than one location. This type of headache may present itself along with other cold signs, such as pale or cool skin, excess moisture (runny nose, watery eyes, congestion), slow or foggy thinking, etc.
The goal when working with a “cold” headache is to clear the cold by stimulating circulation and warming the body, which means you’re going to base your herbal formula around warming, drying, and toning herbs, as these are all opposite energetics from the presenting headache.
When it comes to botanical allies for this type of headache, the following herbs come to mind because they are either warming, drying, or toning to the body, often have an affinity for the circulatory system which is helpful in increasing heat, or are relaxing to the musculoskeletal system so that heat and energy can better flow through the periphery of the body.
- California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) aboveground parts
- Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) bark
- Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) aerial parts
- Kava (Piper methysticum) root
- Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) aerial parts
- White sage (Salvia apiana) leaf
- Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root
Again, there are more herbal allies along these same lines that can be added to this list, but this is a good place to start. Be sure to look through the herbs you have on hand, and those included in your herbal materia medica, and add them to this list.
Preparations that are helpful for “cold” headaches include essential oils, teas, and tinctures. While essential oils are used externally (using caution to properly dilute and apply warming essential oils, which are quite strong on the skin), teas and tinctures are used internally. If your formula contains tasty volatile oil-rich spices or lovely musculoskeletal relaxants, tea is an excellent choice to drink regularly throughout the day. However, if your formula includes bitter relaxants or pungent herbs, or even herbs that benefit from alcohol as a solvent, then, a tincture will be more appropriate.
Below is a formula I have created and keep on hand to help ease “cold” headaches in my home. Feel free to try this or adapt it using other herbs you have on hand that are fitting to the goals of this formula. As I mentioned earlier, feel free to substitute one for another where needed.
As with the previous recipe, you will find measurements using both grams or approximate “parts” depending on what your preference is.
“Cold” Headache Tincture
Ratio: 1:4; 40%
Yield: ~4 fl oz
Ingredients:
- 8 grams (~3 parts) valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root
- 6 grams (~3 parts) prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) bark
- 6 grams (~2 parts) California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) aboveground parts
- 4 grams (~1 ½ parts) lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) flower
- 3 grams (~1 part) rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) aerial parts
- 1 gram (~½ part) cayenne (Capsicum annuum) fruit
How To Make These Headache Tincture Recipes
The directions, usage, dosage, and safety information are the same for both types of headache tinctures.
Directions:
To begin, weigh 1 oz of herb blend and measure 4 fl oz of brandy (or a 40% abv alcohol of choice) and combine these in a clean glass canning jar. Place a piece of parchment paper between the jar and the lid, cap, and label. Shake well and set aside for 12-24 hours. When time is up, check to see if the alcohol level is still covering the herbs. If needed, blend the mixture in a small blender to further break up the herbs, or add an additional 1 fl oz of alcohol to the jar to increase the liquid level. Re-cap the jar and set it aside for 4-6 weeks. When maceration time is up, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with layered cheesecloth to remove herbs, reserving liquid in a clean glass jar. Compost herbs and transfer the finished tincture to a labeled glass dropper bottle for use. Store in a dark, cool location.
Dosage:
10 drops under the tongue every 20 minutes until relief is felt.
Safety:
Not for use for pregnant/nursing individuals.
Alright, friends! I hope you’ve found this explanation of the different energetic patterns of headaches helpful, and I hope you can put these recipes to good use in your home.
Love and light,
Meagan