Of course, medical advice shared on TikTok can sometimes be dubious. But experts say there’s a chance that soaking your feet in hot water could actually help mitigate migraine symptoms—there’s just not a wealth of research to back it up.

Soaking Your Feet in Hot Water Could Relieve Migraine Symptoms

Because of this, people with migraine need strategies that work to treat or prevent pain.

“I have heard from some of my patients that they do this,” he told Health. “It’s a remedy that some patients say they benefit from.”

Despite the positive anecdotal evidence, there's not a lot of data to confirm whether soaking feet in water is truly beneficial.

One small study from 2016 investigated the remedy—researchers took 40 chronic migraine sufferers and divided them into two groups. Both groups were given conventional migraine medication, but one group also received “hydrotherapy,” meaning those participants put their feet and arms in a hot bath and had an ice massage on their heads for 20 minutes daily.

At the end of the 45-day study, the researchers found that people in the hydrotherapy group had less pain than those in the control group.

The results are promising, but more research needs to be done.

Why Might This Home Remedy Work?

It’s not totally clear why soaking your feet in hot water could reduce migraine pain, but experts have a few hypotheses.

When someone puts their feet in hot water, it may help shuttle blood toward the feet and lower legs, explained Mikhael. Blood moves away from the brain, in turn decreasing the migraine attack, he said. On TikTok, this is a common explanation for the hack.

But there are other possible answers, too.

Nerve signals transmit pain, Rajneesh said, as well as touch, vibration, and temperature.

“By activating these surrounding nerves, we can sometimes reduce the total amount of pain signal reaching the brain and consequently decrease the pain experienced by patients,” he said.

Warm water can also mimic the feeling of being in a hot tub, Mikhael added, which can be relaxing.

“When you have a migraine episode, you’re stressed and anxious,” he said. Soaking your feet can help bring calm and ease some of the pain.

Also, placing your feet in warm water may simply serve as a way to distract from the migraine itself.

“The central nervous system likes distraction during acute pain episodes,” said Mikhael. “It distracts the system and decreases the conduction of the pain signal.”

One of Many Ways to Address Migraine Pain

The research to support this at-home migraine remedy may not be super robust. But giving the hack a try can’t hurt, said Sachdev.

The only safety concern would be the temperature of the water itself. People should use a thermometer or their finger to see if it’s tolerable ahead of time.

“Don’t put your feet or leg in very hot, boiling water—you can burn them,” said Mikhael.

This trick is just another tool people can use to help relieve their migraine headaches—there are a lot of options available, ranging from home remedies to over-the-counter medications to prescriptions.

The right choice for you is ultimately the one that works. And it’s best to talk to a doctor for guidance, said Mikhael.

And if you use medication, it’s best to take it as soon as you feel a migraine coming on.

“If you take it early enough, you may be able to avoid going through the whole migraine episode and shorten it, instead of making it last hours,” Mikhael said.