The Mindful Migraine

A little while ago a reader called Angelina sent me a link to a Facebook video that showed someone putting their feet in a bowl of warm water and mustard and said, “I saw this and thought of you”. Now, it’s not every day that people associate me with mustard, so I just had to follow up on the link!

[Image source: Instagram screen shot]

In the comment section of the video there were THOUSANDS of replies and many of them were advocating mustard for cramps, and general aches and pains.

Some of the comments were a little more skeptical, or else worried about the mustard staining their toenails yellow (someone said it was the vinegar in the mustard that was the helpful agent so just add white vinegar to warm water instead and avoid the dye risk).

Others noted that the brand makes a difference, given that it’s the mustard seeds that have the greatest anti-oxidant benefits, and that cheap yellow sauce that is flavored like mustard does not contain the helpful ingredients. Some noted it was the turmeric in the mustard that was the helpful agent (I’ve written about turmeric just the other day – here), so again; read the ingredients on the bottle before you pour it into your bathtub.

Several believed just having your feet in warm water whilst also having a cold compress on the back of your neck to redistribute blood flow was a winner, and as such, you could “give the hotdog garnish a miss”. (I’ve blogged about the super hottie / cool kid aspect of migraines before (here) AND I’ve posted that this exact hack is a pet peeve of Dr Berk and why (here)).

Still others went a little off topic and started writing about other home remedies that involved pickle juice or onions in socks…

Hmmm…

So, does mustard really help with migraines?

Turns out the answer is very possibly YES (but it’s a small yes).

OK, so here’s my summary of what I found out:

• Store bought sauces are often a TRIGGER for migraines as they contain MSG or high levels of salt – so eating mustard may be a problem if you’re migraine prone.
• Mustard MAY help some migraine people as some brands contain turmeric and mustard seeds, both of which boast anti-inflammatory and vasodilation properties, and as such, the mustard might reduce inflammation and dilate blood vessels.
• Advice on how to use the mustard varies, however, with some suggesting you eat it, others rub it on their temples, or (as per Facebook post) you soak your feet in it.
• The Oprah website suggests it is the hot water that is helping: “The heat from the water and the mustard will draw down the vascular congestion and release constricted blood vessels in the head, bringing blood flow to the feet and alleviating pain.”
• Conversely, the recent “Migraine Fact or Fiction” post I wrote, specifically identified any remedy advice associated with vascular congestion as being 25 years out-of-date; migraine pain doesn’t work that way.
• Importantly, there appears to be NO scientific studies conducted that prove that mustard can assist in migraine mitigation – any support for the approach is ANECDOTAL ONLY and sits beside other anecdotal advice including, “warm your hands to prevent headaches” [!?!].
• Even more importantly – some people can have ADVERSE reactions to mustard, after applying it to their skin, or ingesting it, due to allergies.
• Lastly, mustard is NOT a substitute for doctor-prescribed migraine medication.

[Disclaimer – just a reminder that I am not a doctor, scientist or nutritionist – please seek medical advice on how to best manage your individual migraine predicament.]

So… I guess it’s up to you whether you can afford to tip food onto your feet. I think this remedy will go into the “NO THANKS” category for me. Then again, anecdotal evidence is still a form of evidence in my books, so I’d love to hear from any of you if you’ve tried mustard baths and it worked – yay you!!!

Take care taking care, Linda xx

PS – As a complete arbitrary aside – here’s some (seriously concerning) AI images of people covered in mustard trying to get rid of their migraines…

PPS – Here’s a few of the links I used if you want to do a cross-check of the information for yourself (I do think, however, that they tend to be a bit self-referential, just borrowing talking points off each other, rather than presenting any new, scientific, evidence):

Migraine Safe Foods and Potential Triggers by Category – Association of Migraine Disorders

Does mustard help with migraines? – Chef’s Resource

12 Foods to Help Get Rid of a Headache or Migraine Attack Naturally

Migraine sufferer finds relief from yellow mustard

12 Natural Remedies for Headaches – How to Relieve a Headache