Can Throwing Up Relieve Your Migraine? What to Know

Throwing up may relieve migraine, but it’s not clear why. It may be due to endorphins or vagus nerve stimulation, but it’s not a good idea to induce vomiting to stop migraine. Here’s what to do instead.

Migraine has been part of my life for over 10 years now, with more attacks than I can count. Still, I can vividly remember one attack — possibly the worst of them — in particular.

I was sleeping at my boyfriend-at-the-time’s house when migraine appeared, jolting me awake.

Migraine pain is unlike any other — any migraineur will tell you that. But I’d never had such intense head pain that it actually woke me. That morning, it did.

My head felt like it was being squeezed, or pulled, or wrung like a wet towel being twisted by a pair of invisible hands. Throbbing, white-hot pain pulsated through my brain, and I felt physically sick. Nauseated.

I immediately knew it was migraine. Luckily, I made it to the bathroom just in time.

Once it was over, a surprising revelation: my migraine was gone. Almost instantaneously. I threw up, and poof! The migraine disappeared along with the contents of my stomach.

To this day, I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. Migraine still happens, and nausea typically tags along, but that was the only time I actually threw up during an attack. It’s also the only time I’ve found migraine relief so quickly.

It turns out that experience isn’t all that uncommon. So, why is it that throwing up helps relieve the pain of migraine for some people? Read on to find out.

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The link between migraine and nausea

Nausea is one of the most common accompanying symptoms of migraine. In an ongoing study, over 75% of people with migraine reported experiencing nausea during attacks. A further 40% also experienced vomiting.

But why is that? How are the head and the stomach connected?

Like most things related to migraine, researchers aren’t exactly sure, although there are a few theories on the complex gut-brain connection.

“Migraine activates the nausea center in the brainstem,” says neurologist Dr. Julia Jones. Indeed, older research from 2014 suggests that migraine stimulates certain sensory neurons in the brain that also play a role in nausea and vomiting.

Another possibility has to do with serotonin levels. During a migraine, serotonin levels drop, and low serotonin has been known to cause symptoms of nausea and vomiting. 

Migraine is also linked to the release of the neurotransmitter calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which, as you’ve probably guessed, can also provoke nausea.

Can vomiting cause migraine relief?

For some people, yes. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that vomiting can provide migraine relief. But what does the science say?

Once again, the exact reason for this phenomenon is unclear. Researchers aren’t entirely sure why throwing up seems to help migraine for some, says Jones.

And while there are several theories, she cautions against taking the connection at face value. In other words, don’t make yourself throw up in the hopes that your migraine will evaporate.

Release of endorphins

Throwing up is stressful and uncomfortable, so in response, your body will naturally release endorphins to help you cope, says neurologist Steve Allder.

Endorphins are also known as the “feel-good” chemicals. They work to block pain and boost mood, so it’s theorized that throwing up during a migraine attack triggers a flood of endorphins, which can potentially stop migraine pain.

Reduced inflammation

Another possibility is the inflammation present in the brain during migraine.

“Vomiting may help reduce the intensity of the headache by relieving pressure and tension in the head and neck,” Allder says.

Throwing up diverts blood flow away from the brain to the stomach, so it may help to reduce inflammation in the brain.

Vagus nerve stimulation

Vomiting can also stimulate the vagus nerve, which can help relieve migraine pain.

Although Allder acknowledges that vagus nerve stimulation can effectively provide migraine relief for some, he doesn’t advise trying to force yourself to throw up.

Instead, there are plenty of other ways of stimulating the vagus nerve that aren’t so hard on the body, he says. These include deep breathing exercises, laughter, or gargling with cold water.

An alternative theory

One popular theory is that vomiting doesn’t actually cause migraine relief at all. Rather, it may simply coincide with the natural end of a migraine attack.

“Vomiting doesn’t relieve migraine, but some people may feel migraine relief after vomiting because nausea is a migraine symptom,” says neurologist and author Dr. Heidi Moawad. 

If you experience nausea during a migraine episode and then throw up, it might simply resolve at the same time, she explains.

According to this theory, migraine is often accompanied by gastroparesis, a condition that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine. 

As your migraine starts to subside, so does the gastroparesis. Once your gut begins moving again, vomiting can occur.

Since the two resolve around the same time, you may come to associate throwing up with migraine relief.

Managing nausea during migraine attacks

Nausea can be one of the most uncomfortable parts of a migraine attack, but there are remedies you can try. While you might think that purposefully making yourself throw up is the answer, experts don’t recommend that at all.

“It’s important to note that not everyone experiences relief through vomiting,” says Allder.

In fact, forced vomiting can actually worsen your symptoms of both migraine and nausea due to dehydration, low potassium, and loss of electrolytes.

Prescription and over-the-counter options

Luckily, there are other remedies you can try to help relieve migraine nausea. Prescription antiemetics, like Zofran, may be especially beneficial. 

There are also several anti-nausea medications available over the counter, such as Dramamine or even Pepto-Bismol.

Home remedies for relief

Many people also find relief with home remedies.

These can include:

• ginger
• CBD
• peppermint
• chamomile
• aromatherapy

You can try sucking on raw ginger or hard peppermint candy; drinking ginger, chamomile, or peppermint tea; or taking a CBD gummy.

Other ideas for relief that can help include placing an ice pack on your head or neck, opening a window to get some fresh air, and taking small sips of cool water. 

Takeaway

Although some people do find migraine relief after throwing up, it’s not a good idea to try and purposefully vomit.

Instead, try medication, an ice pack, a piece of ginger candy, or some peppermint tea to help relieve nausea.

If you do feel like you’re going to throw up, don’t try and fight it. Let your body do what it needs to, but make sure to drink water afterward to rehydrate yourself.