Q. I have been suffering from severe migraines and recently noticed that if I chug a Slurpee and induce “brain freeze,” my headache immediately clears up or goes away entirely. It makes more of a difference than my prescription medication.
A. You are not alone. Other readers have reported that inducing brain freeze with ice cream, ice water or a Starbucks Frappuccino can interrupt a migraine.
There is even some research to support this approach (FASEB Journal, supplement, April 2012). Researchers found that drinking ice water constricted blood flow near the palate, resulting in brain freeze. Since migraines are believed to be triggered by changes in blood flow to the brain, disrupting the process by creating brain freeze may explain your remedy.
Those who don’t benefit from brain freeze may be interested in the many other natural approaches in our Guide to Headaches & Migraines.
