Weird Things We've Tried to Help With Chronic Migraine

When migraine medications don't help enough, many take unusual, even weird steps to ease symptoms. Most haven't been formally studied, but in theory, they sound plausible. Also, there's something to be said for the "placebo effect." That's when there's no scientific reason that something will work but you feel better anyway. Just remember that your triggers may be different from someone else's, and what may work for one person could cause or worsen a migraine in another.

Fat, sugar, salt, and caffeine can be migraine triggers. But for some, when you put them all together in a fast-food meal – like a burger, soda, and fries – it's their secret migraine cure. One explanation is that caffeine eases pain, and salt and sugar help if the migraine was triggered by low sodium or low blood sugar. Some specifically crave salt during a migraine and swear by high-sodium foods like pickle juice or soy sauce to fix this electrolyte imbalance. But eating or drinking a lot of high-sodium foods can be very dangerous.

Though a simple ponytail can be a trigger, the idea here is to pull your hair back – at the temples, in a braid, or in a tight French braid – to stimulate nerves and release endorphins to fight pain. This pulling is one element of Thai massage, which also uses stretching and rocking motions instead of the usual rubbing and can make migraines less intense. Also try scalp massage, positive pressure to boost circulation and possibly ease stress.

Some people shave their heads so that there's no barrier between their scalp and a pain reliever you use on your skin, like a cold compress or ice pack. While research shows that a lack of hair doesn't make a difference in how well an ice pack works, there's plenty of evidence that cold itself can help ease migraine pain right away. It numbs the area and lessens inflammation. A small study showed that a frozen wrap over the carotid arteries at the front of the neck can be very effective – no shaving needed.

The benefits of yoga for pain relief make it easy to see why twisting into a pretzel might help with migraine. (There are even special poses for this purpose.) Some people stand or sit with a craned neck or press their upper face into a fist to offset head pressure. Similar to a recovery pose, one way to realign bad posture (a migraine trigger): Lie on your back, knees bent, and lace your hands behind your head. Gently press your elbows to the floor until you feel a stretch and hold for up to two minutes.

Whether you use your fingers or a hairclip, the idea is to disrupt the trigeminal nerve, the largest nerve in the skull. It acts as a pathway between the face and the brain, with nerve endings in the eyebrow area. This part of the forehead is a trigger point, so pressing against it could relieve migraine tension. Also try placing a thumb under each side of the brow bone and pressing up and in at the same time, or try pressing with your index fingers at regular intervals along the bone.

A rubber dog bone, a back massager, the rounded top of a walking cane – these are a few of unusual items used for a common approach to migraine relief that's usually done with the hands – acupressure. Focus on trigger points, like the hollows on either side of your spine at the base of your skull. You can also use two tennis balls in a sock, making small circles with them. Apply pressure for up to a minute, then rest and repeat up to 10 times, but avoid skin that's irritated.

Hot packs, heating pads, and steamy showers ease tight muscles and increase blood flow to the brain. Some people aim a hair dryer directly at the throbbing site. Others put their feet in a hot water bath at regular intervals, sometimes using a dedicated slow cooker. But there are safety concerns about using an appliance for other than its intended purpose, so use a foot bath. Skip foot treatments if you have any cuts, sores, or any problems sensing hot (or cold).

Cold combats migraine pain. From bathroom floor tiles to an empty tub, these cool surfaces have a head-to-toe effect for some. The idea is like cold stone therapy, which uses cold stones on the head and other points to reduce blood flow to the brain. An extreme variation, cold water immersion, causes hormonal changes that ease pain for some people. Cold showers or a dip in a tub filled with cold water could work, too. But if it's done for too long, it can lead to hypothermia.

Some people have found success putting lidocaine gel on a cotton swab and gently applying it inside each nostril. As wacky as this sounds, there's research to back up its usefulness. A review of five studies about it found it eased migraine pain within minutes and drastically cut the need for rescue medications. But be careful, because it can cause burning or stinging in the nose or eyes.

Brain freeze from eating ice cream too quickly is usually an uncomfortable feeling. But doing it during a migraine is a positive for some. It can cause helpful changes in the brain's blood flow, first constricting then dilating it. Ice cold Coke or a Coke slushie may be particularly effective because it delivers hydration, cold, sugar, and caffeine. But it's important to remember that too much caffeine can be a problem. You might have soda only when a migraine hits.

There are many other alternatives with science behind them:

Ginger. Raw slices or ginger extract may help, especially to control nausea.

Essential oils like peppermint, rosemary, lavender, and basil may be soothing as a topical or when inhaled.

Acupuncture. Having thin needles applied at strategic points causes a helpful immune system response.

Hot and cold. Rotating between heat – which increases the blood flow to your brain – and cold – which decreases it – can have a stronger effect than either one alone.

Magnesium. Many people with migraine are short on this mineral, and a daily dose of 600 milligrams of magnesium citrate to restore levels may help with prevention.

CoQ10. Half the people taking part in two studies had a 50% decrease in how often they had migraines and how serious they were after taking a daily dose of 300 milligrams for three months.

Always check with your doctor before starting a supplement to make sure it won't interfere with any medication you take for other conditions.