If you get migraines, you've probably looked for anything that helps — including honey. Here's what's actually behind the connection, and a tasty way honey can fit into managing one common trigger, without pretending it's a cure.
What Causes Migraines?
Migraines are a neurological condition, and triggers vary a lot from person to person. Common ones include hormonal changes, stress, poor sleep, certain foods or drinks, dehydration, and skipping meals or eating irregularly.
Can Honey Help With Migraines?
There's no clinical evidence that honey treats or prevents migraines directly, and we're not going to claim otherwise. But one of the more well-established migraine triggers is going too long without eating — the NHS specifically lists "skipping meals or not eating regularly" as a trigger to watch for, and recommends eating at regular times.
Your brain runs on glucose, so if a migraine tends to follow a skipped meal or a long gap without eating, it's worth making sure you're not going too long between meals. A warm glass of water with a spoonful of raw organic honey — we like our Raw Organic Rainforest Honey From Brazil for this — is a genuinely nice way to bridge a gap between meals or start the day. To be clear: this is about avoiding a specific trigger with regular eating habits, not treating a migraine once it's started, and it's only relevant if skipped meals are actually one of your triggers.
When A Headache Needs Medical Attention
Most headaches are ordinary and not a sign of anything serious, but it's worth knowing when to get help. According to the NHS, you should contact NHS 111 or your GP if you have a headache with vision or eye problems, a headache that's worse when coughing, sneezing, bending down or exercising, a headache with vomiting, or jaw pain when eating.
Call 999 or go to A&E if a headache comes with: a seizure, numbness or weakness in the body or face, sudden and extremely painful onset, a head injury in the last 3 months, difficulty speaking, balancing, walking or remembering things, drowsiness or confusion, loss of vision, a rash that doesn't fade under pressure, or a very high temperature with a stiff neck.
Managing Migraines More Generally
Alongside regular meals, other well-known migraine management steps include staying hydrated, keeping a consistent sleep routine, managing stress, and tracking your own personal triggers, since they vary so much between individuals. If your migraines are frequent, worsening, or affecting your daily life, it's worth speaking to your GP — there are effective medical treatments and preventative options available.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have concerns about headaches or migraines, please speak to your GP.
Sources
- NHS, Migraine – Causes
- NHS, Headaches