Does Salt Therapy Help Relieve Migraine Symptoms?

In certain cases, ingesting salt may ease migraine symptoms. In others, however, it can provoke them. Your healthcare provider can offer guidance on how sodium levels might influence your individual symptoms.

Migraine attacks can be set off by many different triggers.

One possible cause is a shortage of essential minerals, including sodium. Migraine signs due to low sodium may respond to controlled amounts of salt water.

That said, evidence is not definitive that salt water by itself cures migraine headaches — and consuming excessive sodium can actually raise your likelihood of migraines when your sodium intake falls below what your body expects.

Read on to see what research reveals about salt water for migraine relief and other helpful details about the connection between migraine attacks, sodium, and other vital minerals your body requires.

Does drinking salt water treat or cure migraine symptoms?

Migraine symptoms stemming from low blood sodium (hyponatremia) may improve when sodium intake is increased. There are two primary reasons for this, and the second may be unexpected.

First, dehydration can trigger migraines, particularly when you lose a lot of sodium through heavy sweating during exercise or prolonged heat exposure.

Consuming water with added salt can help restore hydration and elevate sodium levels, which can ease migraine symptoms.

Second, migraines can occur when your usual dietary salt intake drops below what your body is accustomed to.

A 2021 review highlights a close association between the elevated sodium content in processed foods and migraines as a withdrawal-type symptom when those high sodium levels are reduced.

If you skip meals or cut back on sodium, you might precipitate a migraine and feel a strong urge for salty foods or salty water until your sodium levels are replenished.

Sodium also promotes retention of fluid in the body (edema), including fluid near the brain — part of a phenomenon called neurogenic inflammation that may contribute to migraine symptoms.

Edema commonly appears just before migraine episodes, alongside increased urination (polyuria) and greater sodium loss in urine. Replenishing sodium and other minerals via salt water can help replace sodium lost through urine.

Can you actually drink salt water?

Yes and no. While sodium is an essential nutrient for normal bodily function, regularly drinking salt water is not considered healthy. It’s often unappetizing, and large amounts may induce nausea.

When using salt water to address a migraine, add no more than a pinch of salt to a full glass of water.

You might prefer obtaining sodium from foods like salty snacks or an electrolyte-rich sports drink. Some people who sweat excessively for work or exercise are prescribed salt tablets, but you should consult a physician before adding them to your regimen.

Can eating salt help treat migraine symptoms?

There’s intriguing research that links dietary sodium intake with migraine occurrence.

An earlier 2016 study of more than 8,800 American adults found that higher dietary sodium was often associated with fewer reported migraine symptoms.

This implies that maintaining a higher sodium intake might prevent migraines simply because many bodies adapt to the relatively high sodium typical in the American diet.

However, that doesn’t mean salt will always relieve a migraine, particularly if you don’t usually consume a high-sodium diet. Excessive sodium intake or drinking too much salt water carries risks, including:

• elevated blood pressure
• higher risk of heart disease
• fluid buildup
• increased thirst

Does salt make migraine symptoms worse?

For many people, too much salt is a common migraine trigger.

A 2021 study involving 224 women and 38 men observed a connection between elevated blood sodium and longer migraine duration — indicating that greater salt might worsen an attack.

Salt can also raise blood pressure, which in turn can precipitate migraines.

A 2023 trial that assigned 213 participants to either high- or low-sodium diets found that lowering salt reduced blood pressure, a frequent contributor to headaches and migraine symptoms.

Related FAQ

Below are answers to common questions about using salt water for migraine attacks.

Does drinking electrolytes help treat migraine symptoms?

Electrolyte beverages can alleviate migraines caused by dehydration or low blood sodium.

Other electrolytes such as potassium have also been found to help improve migraine symptoms alongside sodium (see research).

Does drinking water help treat migraine symptoms?

Staying hydrated can relieve migraines that arise from dehydration, and regular fluid intake may help prevent headache symptoms related to inadequate hydration.

Can a salt water bath help relieve migraine symptoms?

There’s no solid proof that a salt bath specifically eases migraine symptoms. That said, some research suggests that a hot bath in general can soothe headache symptoms.

A few studies report benefit from warm baths, and a 2022 review indicates that cold showers or baths may temporarily relieve migraines. If you’re curious about alternatives, you could also explore a himalayan salt bath for general relaxation, though evidence for migraine relief is limited.

Takeaway

Salt water can help ease migraine symptoms when they result from dehydration or low blood sodium.

However, salt water is not a universal remedy for migraines — consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist despite hydration or common home remedies such as pain relievers. If you’re considering methods to replenish sodium quickly, options range from sipping lightly salted water to using electrolyte drinks or, in certain cases, a salt water flush, but discuss any such approach with your provider first.