We changed the name of our best-selling formula, but its all the same herbs! Our tension tincture, Head Helper - formerly known as Migraine Melter - is one of our most-beloved cult favorites.

But we have to let you in on a little herbalist secret: there are no herbs for specific diagnoses, because herbs don’t work that way. Herbs for headaches don’t exist. But herbs for patterns do exist! Herbs work on patterns that show up system-wide or in specific parts of the body by helping us re-establish balance when things get out of whack.

Tension is a pattern, usually an unwelcome one. And it just so happens that certain herbs are especially skilled at helping the body alleviate the discomfort that comes with tightness, constriction, and stagnation. The truth is, there are lots of different reasons people get head discomfort: dehydration, emotional stress, injury, fatigue, food sensitivities, allergies, or tension. And there is no magical herb that can do all of those things. So people with different head, neck, and shoulder discomfort need different herbs.

Head Helper is specifically formulated with herbs to help calm and soothe tension and stress. You may be wondering, how do I know that the discomfort I’m experiencing in my head, neck, and shoulders is from tension? As usual, we’re so glad you asked.

6 Signs You Need Head Helper

1. Tightness in your neck and shoulders
2. Recurring head discomfort at the base of the neck
3. You sit at a desk most of the day
4. You perform repetitive movements at work
5. Pressure behind your eyes
6. Overly sensitive to smells, sounds, or other people’s behaviors

How Herbs can Help

Tension arises for many reasons: how you sit or move at work, stress, or what physical activity you do or don’t do. So when you start to experience tightness in your head, neck, and shoulders it’s a good idea to go back over your week and ask yourself how things are going. Look for patterns that would help you identify a source: “that new chair I’ve been sitting in makes me shrug my shoulders to my ears all day.” Cool! You found an origin story. File that away to inform future behaviors and maybe find a new chair. But, in the meantime, you still have the actual discomfort to deal with.  

In the case of tightness and constriction we want to choose herbs that help the body and mind do a few things:

• Get blood moving
• Soothe discomfort
• Help you stop thinking about the tension

How Herbs in Head Helper Relieve Tension

Skullcap calms the nervous system and is especially helpful in soothing muscles that involuntarily contract and can’t relax. Skullcap is for when your body is trying to tell you that you’ve been stressed lately.

California poppy is one of the go-to herbs for spasmodic discomfort aka tightening and aching that comes in bursts. Its antispasmodic actions are felt system wide and target the head, neck and shoulders.

Feverfew is traditionally indicated for discomfort that originates at the back of the head or the base of the neck. From the daisy family, it offers intense bitterness that helps you turn down the tension by encouraging you to be here now.  

Lavender is commonly praised for its ability to disperse stuck feelings and digestion. So if digestive complaints are at the root of your tension, this is a plant for you. It improves sleep quality, moves stagnation, and calms the nervous system.

When tightness in your head, neck, and shoulders hits, the last thing you want to do is spend a bunch of time thinking about how to alleviate the discomfort. With Head Helper on hand you can get back to feeling relaxed in just a few doses.