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    Home » HEALTH » General Health

    Peppermint Tea and Toothpaste for a Headache

    Published: Jul 12, 2018 / Modified: May 6, 2021 by: Dr. Karen Lee / This post may contain affiliate links. As Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. /

    I've suffered from migraines since I was a young teenager and when it hits, I become paralyzed. I have to basically sleep most of the day with the curtains drawn. I've tried every home remedy known to man and so far, these home remedy help me the best. You probably have these products already so if you are a migraine sufferer, check out these home remedies.

    woman touching both sides of her head. headache

    I was planning to write a big blog post on a health topic and all of a sudden, pre-migraine headache hit me. Ugh.

    But this pre-migraine headache was a weird one as my vision was fine but I had an excruciating pain in my sinus and behind the eyes. It wasn't a full-blown migraine yet so I knew if I could prevent it from coming on, I wouldn't have to stay in bed.

    Sometimes, headaches come and go as they please without warning. But, an impending stressful event can definitely cause it. And what's worse? Typing and staring at the bright computer screen for a long time. And if I have to stay on the computer while I have a headache, it will just worsen a headache. I've suffered enough with headaches in my life to know that this could be a start of something nasty that might last all day. Blech.

    Not wanting to go back to bed (although, that's what I really wanted to do as soon as I woke up), I decided to reach out to my social media peeps and tweet out my problem, after I had a tall mug of coffee because sometimes that helps. And an ice pack on my eyes and on the nape of my neck. I didn't take any meds as I try to stay away from any meds for headaches unless my head is about to explode. I know some people resort to Botox for migraines but I'm not 'there' yet. YET.... I will get to my Chiropractor as soon as I can get up to see her.

    But until then, this is what my online community of natural remedy experts suggested.

    Natural Headache Remedy: Peppermint

    Many of my online bloggers and natural health practitioners came to my rescue and gave me some tips to stop my headache on its tracks and the common ingredient they recommend was peppermint.

    Then, I asked on my Facebook Page's community. There were suggestions everything from water, nap, Excedrin, Tylenol, Aleve, more Excedrin, caffeine, Fever Few, Peppermint oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Rosemary Oil, Geranium Oil, and even spicy food for headaches.

    Toothpaste for a Headache?

    Peppermint essential oil was No. 1 recommended remedy. And even brushing my teeth with peppermint toothpaste! headache tweet

    But I don't have any of the meds nor essential oils. But I have water, spicy foods and a tube of peppermint toothpaste!

    So I thought, why just brush my teeth with toothpaste when I can actually put it on my face, like a face mask! Crazy, right? I tell ya, some things just have a way of evolving from such simple ideas.

    I figured I have nothing to lose so I made myself a nice hot cup of mint tea (Finally, I can use up some of the mint leaves I harvested last summer!) to drink and to inhale the steam from, intuitively thinking that they may also be helpful. I sat down on the couch and "strategically" dabbed peppermint toothpaste on my face on all the sinuses. And as I was doing this, all I can think of was Anna from Green Talk ... because I can totally imagine her doing something as goofy as this...because that's what she does - have fun while being natural and green. Yes, us greenies don't take ourselves too seriously, despite what some people say.

    toothpaste on forehead, under eyes and both sides of head

    Don't I look relaxed already? Pffft.....uh huh...Ok, I was trying not to burst out a laugh as I took this self-portrait.

    Even my pup noticed the weird get up on my face. Little does she know....

    holding coffee cup and maltese dog looking at camera

    The steam from the mint tea was really soothing as it cleared up my sinus and the cooling sensation permeated through the tissues in my nasal passage.

    Twenty minutes later, I was headache-free. No headache! Seriously!

    I. couldn't. not. believe. it!

    The fog lifted and I was able to see! I didn't cringe as I opened my eyes! It really worked!

    I assume Peppermint Essential Oil would be more effective than a dab of toothpaste when a headache is worse. Besides, you won't have to walk around with white toothpaste on your face if you are out and about.

    Thanks to my online friends, I learned a new cure for my headache! Now, I know exactly what to do!

    What headache remedy did you try that worked for you?

    More General Health

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    • Can Prolonged Sitting Really Kill You?
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    • Top 5 Eczema Healing Tips

    About Dr. Karen Lee

    I am a food writer, recipe developer, and a cookbook author sharing my family’s favorite simple & easy, allergy-friendly recipes with you! Let's connect on Instagram || Facebook || Pinterest || YouTube Learn more about me on the ABOUT page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. darcy hubbert says

      February 14, 2013 at 7:17 am

      This is indeed one informative article! Thanks so much for all these helpful informations about peppermint tea. Awesome!

    2. Suzanne Adams says

      February 13, 2013 at 11:22 am

      I am an acupuncturist in Kansas City! I will hold some pressure points, massage my temporalis muscles and get my neck adjusted! Will have to add mint tea and EO to the mix! Thanks for sharing and glad your HA is gone!! Have a great day!

      • Karen Lee says

        February 13, 2013 at 11:28 am

        Hey Suzanne,

        I'm a chiropractor who also does acupuncture too! Too bad I can't adjust myself although I use acu points on myself. 🙂 Recommending EO to your patients to take home would be great for your practice. Check out Jenn's brand. I know they are high in quality. Many of my chiropractic friends carry them in their offices. Thanks for stopping by!

    3. Good Girl Gone Green says

      February 13, 2013 at 10:40 am

      You look so pretty! 🙂 I will have to tell J.P to try this when he gets a headache. Not sure if he will believe me! 🙂

      • Karen Lee says

        February 13, 2013 at 11:30 am

        Put it on him while he's taking a nap for his headache! 🙂

    4. Lori Buff says

      February 13, 2013 at 10:17 am

      Great idea, glad you're feeling better. Who made your tea mug?

      • Karen Lee says

        February 13, 2013 at 10:20 am

        I have no idea! It's just an old mug my hubby bought long time ago. 🙂

    5. Dee says

      February 13, 2013 at 10:09 am

      Karen, what about absorbing the fluoride?
      (Assuming you were using a 'normal' brand of toothpaste)..

      • Karen Lee says

        February 13, 2013 at 10:19 am

        Great point Dee!

        I didn't want to post the brand I use .... didn't want people to think I was selling toothpaste (LOL) but I use Nature's Gate Fluoride Free toothpaste. We love it!

    6. Leigh says

      February 13, 2013 at 9:29 am

      So happy that you felt better quickly. I read the toothpaste tip a long time ago and I always brush my teeth the minute I feel a headache coming on and it really helps me.

      I like the picture with the toothpaste on your face and I agree with Anna... you do make it look very zen!

      • Karen Lee says

        February 13, 2013 at 10:16 am

        I'll try brushing my teeth if it happens during the day. But I figured, I brushed my teeth as soon as I got up but still had the headache so I figured, I'll put it right on the source this time. Thanks for the tip Leigh!

        P.S. I really was trying to 'relax'....which was hard to do with silly toothpaste all over my face....while trying to take a self portrait & trying not to laugh...:)

    7. [email protected] Talk says

      February 13, 2013 at 2:32 am

      I am goofy. I expected you to smear it all over your face. But no. You had to look like a zen princess. But this amazes me. Great idea when you have a sinus headache too.

      By the way, your dog has the same eyes that you give me all the time. That WTF look. Now, I know where you get it from...

      • Karen Lee says

        February 13, 2013 at 9:29 am

        LOL....you described her "look" perfectly! "What the hell are you up to now????"

        Funny thing is, she's been giving me that look more frequently lately, since I've been chatting with you more. 😉

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