An organic herbal infusion from Tatasse, blending mint, lemon peel, marjoram, lavender, peppermint and ginger. Caffeine-free.
A necessary clarification about the name. “Stop Migraine” is the blend's brand name. It is not a description of what the tea does, and we want to be completely straight about that: this is a herbal infusion, not a medicine, and it does not treat or prevent migraine. No health claims are authorised in the European Union for herbal infusions of this kind, and we make none. If you live with migraine, please read the paragraph below rather than the name on the packet.
What migraine actually needs. Migraine is a neurological condition, not a bad headache, and it is both common and seriously under-treated. There are effective options — acute treatments taken early in an attack, and preventive medications for people with frequent attacks, including a newer class specifically developed for migraine. There is also good evidence that identifying personal triggers, keeping regular sleep and meal patterns, staying hydrated and managing medication-overuse headache all matter. A GP or a neurologist can help with all of this. A tea cannot, and we would rather say so than take your money on a false impression.
What the blend genuinely offers. A warm, caffeine-free drink, which is not nothing when you have a headache: many people find that lying down somewhere dark and quiet with something warm helps them cope with an attack, and a caffeine-free option matters because caffeine cuts both ways in migraine — it can relieve an attack and, taken regularly, can contribute to rebound headache.
The plants themselves are lovely. Peppermint's menthol binds to TRPM8, the nerve receptor that detects cold, which is why it reads as cooling without being cold. Marjoram is a gentle, sweet oregano relative rarely seen in infusions. Lemon peel supplies aroma without acidity, and ginger — which does have real evidence behind it for nausea, a common migraine symptom — adds warmth.
Brewing: water just off the boil, five to seven minutes, covered. Caffeine-free, so suitable at any hour.
Available at Só Verde, an organic concept store in Foz, Porto.