Ginger is as effective as migraines-chroniques-prophylaxie-sumatriptan">ginger vs sumatriptan (100 mg) for relieving acute migraine-maux-de-tete-sumatriptan-naturel-2026">migraine attacks: a randomized study (Maghbooli et al., 2014, Phytotherapy Research) involving 100 patients showed equivalent relief of headache symptoms after 2 hours, but with fewer side effects than the medication.
Ginger and migraine: the mechanisms
Migraine involves two key processes: neuroinflammation (activation of trigeminal-vascular pathways) and serotonergic dysregulation. Ginger acts on both:
- Prostaglandin inhibition: 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol inhibit COX-2 → ↓ prostaglandins causing neurogenic inflammation
- Serotonergic modulation: ginger compounds interact with 5-HT3 receptors (the same target as triptans)
- Vasodilation: cortisol-ontspanning-natuurlijk">relaxation of intracranial blood vessels → relief of pulsating pain
Ginger for headaches: practical application
| Type of headache | Form of ginger | Dosage |
|---|---|---|
| Acute migraine | Powder 250-500 mg or concentrated shot | At onset of attack |
| Tension headache | Fresh ginger infusion or shot | 500 mg extract/day preventatively |
| Cluster headache | Insufficient evidence | Not recommended as sole therapy |
INTI vs other ginger shots for headaches
For anti-migraine effects, the quantity of active gingerols is crucial. INTI Drink uses concentrated fresh ginger (pressed) — higher gingerol concentration than dried powders or ready-made drinks like INTI vs GIMBER comparison (highly diluted, 34g sugar/100ml).
No added sugar: 1.19g/100ml. Sugar can trigger migraine attacks in sensitive individuals, so this is an important difference. See also ginger and migraine (FR) for more details.
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Fresh ginger + turmeric + black pepper. No added sugar, no preservatives. Order now on inti-drink.com →