Salt and Lemon for Migraine: Does It Work and What Helps Instead

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How To Stop A Migraine Instantly

Can a glass of lemon juice with Himalayan salt stop a migraine? There is no good evidence that it can. The remedy comes from one blogger's personal story, and the health claims made for the salt do not hold up. If you live with migraine, the most reliable route to relief is a plan worked out with a doctor, built on treatments that have been tested.

That said, the search behind this question is completely understandable. A migraine can wipe out a whole day, and when usual painkillers do not help, a cheap kitchen remedy sounds tempting. Below we look at what the original tip claimed, what is actually known about Himalayan salt, and what reputable health services say about getting through an attack and preventing the next one.

The salt and lemon remedy, and where it came from

The tip first circulated in 2014 on the wellness blog Body, Mind, Soul & Spirit and was then reposted widely. The writer described years of migraines, many failed attempts to stop them, and finally one method that seemed to work: drinking a glass of lemon juice with a large amount of Himalayan crystal salt stirred in. The writer said it acted almost instantly and was glad not to need conventional medicine.

It is easy to see why the story spread. It is personal, it is simple, and it uses things most people already have. But a single account cannot tell us whether the drink helped, whether the migraine was about to ease anyway, or whether something else, such as sitting down quietly for ten minutes, made the difference. Migraine attacks naturally rise and fall, which makes any remedy taken during one look effective some of the time.

What Himalayan salt really is

Himalayan salt is rock salt mined mostly at the Khewra Salt Mine in the Salt Range of Punjab, Pakistan. Its pink tint comes from tiny amounts of iron and other trace elements.

The original post claimed the salt contains 84 minerals and elements, and that it reduces migraine severity, strengthens immunity, raises energy, balances serotonin and restores the body's "alkaline balance". Here is how those claims compare with the evidence:

  • Composition: lab analyses of Khewra salt find it is about 96 to 99 percent sodium chloride, the same compound as ordinary table salt. Calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and similar elements are present at under 1 percent each.
  • The "84 minerals" figure: this number is widely repeated in marketing, but even where trace elements are detectable, the amounts in a pinch of salt are far too small to matter nutritionally.
  • Health benefits: nutritionally, Himalayan salt is very similar to table salt, with a similar sodium content. Claims of special health benefits lack scientific support, and in the United States the FDA has warned at least one supplement seller to stop making them.
  • "Alkalising" the body: your blood's acidity is tightly controlled by the lungs and kidneys. Food and drink do not meaningfully change it in healthy people.
  • Iodine: unlike iodised table salt, most Himalayan salt is not iodised, so it does not protect against iodine deficiency.

Could salt or lemon help at all?

There are a few plausible, modest reasons someone might feel better after the drink. Taking a break to prepare it means stopping, sitting and sipping fluid, and skipping meals or being low on fluids are commonly reported migraine triggers. Some people also find that a strong taste distracts them for a while. None of that is specific to Himalayan salt, and none of it is proven to shorten an attack.

The downside is easier to measure. A glass of lemon juice with "a high concentration" of salt can contain a lot of sodium in one go. That is a real concern for anyone with high blood pressure, heart failure or kidney disease, and for people told to limit salt. Concentrated lemon juice is also acidic enough to irritate a sensitive stomach and wear on tooth enamel. If you want to try any home remedy, talk to a doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you have another health condition or take regular medicines.

What health services advise during a migraine attack

The UK's National Health Service describes migraine as a moderate or severe headache, often throbbing and on one side of the head, that is frequently accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. Some people first get an "aura" of zigzag lines, flashing lights or tingling. Attacks typically last from four hours to three days.

The NHS lists these options for treating an attack:

  • common painkillers, which it says work best when taken as soon as the headache starts;
  • prescription medicines called triptans and, more recently, gepants;
  • anti-sickness medicines for nausea and vomiting;
  • resting or lying down in a darkened, quiet room.

It also cautions that taking painkillers on more than a couple of days a week can itself lead to more headaches. A GP can help you choose what is suitable for you and how often to use it.

Preventing migraines and spotting triggers

For people with frequent attacks, prevention matters as much as treatment. The NHS mentions preventive medicines, as well as acupuncture, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioural therapy and vitamin B2 for some people. Lifestyle steps such as regular meals, steady sleep, regular exercise and less caffeine can help too.

Commonly reported triggers include stress and tiredness, skipping meals, too much caffeine, hormonal changes around periods, anxiety and lack of exercise. Because triggers differ widely between people, a simple migraine diary is one of the most useful tools you can keep. Note when each attack started, what you ate and drank, how you slept and what helped. Bring it to your appointment; patterns often become obvious over a few weeks.

When to see a doctor, and when to call for help

The NHS suggests seeing a GP if your migraines are severe, getting worse or lasting longer than usual, happen more than once a week, are hard to control, or regularly come around your period. It recommends getting urgent advice if an attack lasts more than 72 hours, if an aura lasts more than an hour, or if you are pregnant or have recently given birth.

Call emergency services straight away for a sudden, extremely painful headache, or a headache with any of these: weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body, slurred speech or trouble remembering, loss of vision or double vision, confusion or drowsiness, a seizure, a very high temperature with a stiff neck or rash, or a recent head injury. These can be signs of a stroke, meningitis or another emergency rather than migraine.

A kitchen remedy can feel like taking control, and that feeling is worth something. Real control, though, usually comes from understanding your own pattern of attacks and having a tested plan ready for the next one.

Sources: NHS: Migraine; Wikipedia: Himalayan salt. Original remedy from Body, Mind, Soul & Spirit via The Open Mind.

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