Bengal Fig (Ficus benghalensis), commonly known as the banyan tree, has been used in traditional Indian medicine, particularly Ayurveda, for various ailments, including headaches associated with tension or stress. The use of the bark, leaves, and latex of the Bengal Fig is documented in classical Ayurvedic texts and ethnobotanical surveys, where it is sometimes applied topically or prepared as decoctions for pain relief and calming purposes. The mechanism is generally attributed to its purported anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, although specific phytochemical constituents responsible for these effects are not well characterized in modern research.

Despite these historical uses, robust scientific studies confirming the efficacy of Bengal Fig for tension headaches are lacking. There are a few preliminary pharmacological investigations suggesting anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in extracts from Ficus benghalensis, but these are not directly targeted at headache, nor are they of sufficient quality to draw definitive conclusions. Thus, while the use of Bengal Fig for headache (tension) is justified by tradition and supported by anecdotal evidence within some communities, there is little scientific validation for its efficacy in this specific condition.