Social media users are buzzing about what they claim is an unexpected migraine remedy found at one of the world’s most recognizable restaurant chains, leaving many people astonished by the unconventional treatment.
McDonald’s, while not typically associated with health benefits or gourmet dining, maintains global popularity for numerous reasons that resonate with different customers.
Some patrons value the nostalgic connection to childhood memories and birthday celebrations, while others seek its convenient offerings as a restorative meal following evening festivities.
However, most customers would likely be surprised to discover potential therapeutic applications from the menu, particularly the notion that specific items might alleviate severe headaches.
Yet precisely this claim has gained traction across social media platforms, with users asserting that a particular combination of McDonald’s products can swiftly relieve migraine symptoms—a remedy now colloquially referred to as the “McMigraine meal.”
TikTok content creator Milly Hancock, intrigued by these online discussions, decided to test the approach herself after experiencing a persistent migraine for approximately 48 hours.
The recommended order proves surprisingly simple and familiar to most McDonald’s patrons: a large cola beverage accompanied by salted french fries.
Hancock’s video documentation shows her placing this order at a drive-through window, with her caption affirming “Can confirm it works.”
Fellow social media users have corroborated the effectiveness of this approach, with one commenting: “I’ve just had migraines for 48 hours honestly killed every second, nothing working, I drove the McDonalds got a large coke and large fries and a packet of salt added it on, I swear it went half hour later, it really works.”
Another supporter noted: “For real though, like this is my go-to everytime I’d get a migraine. It works.”
Dr. David Walker, a specialist in headache and facial pain at Rush University Medical Center, has addressed the growing popularity of this McDonald’s-based approach to migraine relief.
In comments to health publication VeryWell, he explained: “We know the caffeine can help migraines in the short-term therapy of them. So it isn’t too surprising that the caffeine in Coca-Cola itself is helpful.”
However, he advised caution before adopting this as a regular migraine management strategy, suggesting it may not be the comprehensive solution it appears to be.
He elaborated: “It’s great that this helps certain individuals. I don’t think it should be generalized because on the flip side of things, fried foods can trigger migraines. I think there’s a psychological component going on here. I don’t think this should be ignored.”
While acknowledging that salty, processed foods could potentially trigger migraines in some individuals, Dr. Walker noted that french fries might help those who have missed meals to quickly replenish carbohydrates.
Nevertheless, maintaining healthy skepticism toward social media health trends remains advisable, and those experiencing recurrent migraines would benefit from consulting healthcare professionals rather than relying solely on fast food remedies.