Soaking Feet in Hot Water to Treat Migraines
If you suffer from migraines, you know the level of pain and frustration
they bring. Recently, more and more people on TikTok and other social
media claim there's a very simple trick to reduce the symptoms: soaking
your feet in hot water. The truth is, there are many ways to treat
migraines, including taking pain relievers and magnesium, but the
effectiveness of these methods varies from person to person and case to
case. So, is soaking your feet in hot water something that can help
those who suffer from this problem and haven't found a solution? Let's
explore this topic with the help of medical experts and see if it can
really work.
The New Trend – Soaking Feet in Hot Water to Treat Migraines
The advice to soak your feet in hot water when suffering from a migraine
went viral on TikTok back in September 2023. According to this tip, you
should sit on the edge of the bathtub with your feet in hot water.
Various TikTok users have tried this trick and posted their own videos,
reporting that it indeed works. They recommend soaking your feet in a
basin of hot water without risking burns and waiting until the pain
subsides.
"Four minutes ago, my eyes were shaking, and I couldn't see properly,"
says Andrea Adar, a TikTok user who tried the trick while suffering from
a migraine. She added at the end, "I am grateful to the person who
shared this trick on TikTok because I think you changed my life."
What Do Medical Experts Say About This Trick
Like anything else shared on social media, such tips can be nonsense
aimed at garnering as many views, shares, and likes as possible.
However, experts suggest that this trick might indeed help reduce
migraine symptoms – there's just not enough research to prove it. "It
might work for some people," says Dr. Amit Sachdev, Medical Director in
the Neurology Department at Michigan State University. "I've heard from
some of my patients that they do this," says Dr. Medhat F. Michael, a
pain management specialist at Orange Coast Medical Center in California.
"Some of them say it helps them."
Nevertheless, despite the personal stories of TikTok users and patients,
there is no real evidence supporting this treatment. The only research
related to it was conducted in 2016, involving 40 participants who
regularly suffered from migraines and were divided into two groups. Both
groups received regular medications for migraine treatment, but only
one group also received hydrotherapy treatments, in which the
participants soaked their feet and hands in hot water and massaged their
faces with ice for 20 minutes daily.
After 45 days of the study, researchers found that people in the
hydrotherapy group experienced less pain than the participants in the
control group. The results are promising, but since it's such a small
number of people, more studies need to be conducted on the topic. "We're
always open to new ideas," says Dr. Kiran Rajneesh, a pain specialist
neurologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. "However, as
a doctor, I must be rigorous before encouraging new treatment methods
and lifestyle changes."
Why Does This Method Work?
It's not entirely clear why soaking feet in hot water helps treat
migraines, but experts have a few hypotheses. The first, as Dr. Michael
explains, is that this action helps quickly circulate blood from the
head to the feet, reducing the pressure on the blood vessels in the
head. This is also how TikTok users explain the phenomenon. Another
possible explanation is offered by Dr. Rajneesh, who says that nerve
signals transmit pain, as well as touch and temperature. "By activating
these nerves in the feet, it might be possible to reduce the intensity
of pain signals reaching the brain, thus reducing the pain experienced
by the patient," he explains.
Dr. Michael adds that soaking feet in hot water mimics the sensation of
being in a hot bath, which generally relaxes. "When you have a migraine
attack, you're very stressed," he says, and soaking feet in hot water
helps relax the body, thus slightly reducing the pain. Additionally, it
may be that the hot water simply helps distract from the migraine pain,
and the doctor explains it simply: "The central nervous system likes
distractions when there's pain."
This Is Just One Method to Relieve Migraine Pain
"Studies may not have proven the effectiveness of this method, but it
seems worth trying," says Dr. Sachdev. However, there is still a danger
in using water that's too hot, so it's highly recommended to ensure you
use water at a safe temperature that won't harm you. "Don't soak your
feet in boiling water – it can cause burns," says Dr. Michael.
Given all this, it certainly seems like a potential tool for dealing
with migraines, but there are many others worth trying in parallel, such
as the LI-4 pressure point, which also emerged as a trick posted online
for dealing with the persistent pain. Don't forget that there are also
pain relievers that can be very effective. Ultimately, you have to
choose what works for you, remember to drink plenty of water, avoid loud
noises and bright lights, get proper sleep, and avoid excessive
caffeine. Dr. Michael recommends not relying solely on home tricks.
"It's better to take pain relievers as early as possible to shorten the
duration of the migraine attack, rather than dragging it out and making
it last for hours," he says.