Latest news with #healthhacks
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Vinegar face masks and barley water? Medieval 'health hacks' mirror today's TikTok trends
Historians recently unearthed some "health hacks" dating back to the Middle Ages v and some sound like they came straight off TikTok. The database, called the Corpus of Early Medieval Latin Medicine, offers a wealth of information about how people in the so-called "Dark Ages" viewed health, science and medicine. It was announced by Binghamton University in July. Meg Leja, an associate professor at the university, told Fox News Digital that she helped catalog hundreds of medieval medical texts, particularly focusing on all surviving Latin manuscripts up to the year 1000. Wearable Hydration Monitor Could Help Prevent Heatstroke, Scientists Say "This means that we covered most of Continental Europe, but not England, where many early medieval medical writings were in the vernacular (i.e., Old English)," she said. "Because very few manuscripts survive from before the year 600, effectively our date range is 600 to 1000." Read On The Fox News App Some of the cures, researchers said, could fit into in modern wellness circles. Below are six examples they found. Historians repeatedly came across a 12-month detox plan that included drinking herbs like cinnamon, sage, ginger and fennel – one for every month. The drinks were said to purge the body of buildup like mucus and "unwanted matter," much like modern juice cleanses. World's Most Premature Baby Defies All Medical Odds To Reach 1St Birthday Another recipe in the database recommended a vinegar remedy "so that your face is radiant." "Grind wheat flour with vinegar [and] put this on as a plaster mixed with oil," the tip advises. Barley water occasionally pops up on TikTok as a "natural remedy" — and centuries before influencers promoted it, early medieval writers recommended its use. According to a text written before 1000 A.D., a healer claimed that mixing barley with hot wine would aid digestion. Other hacks were not TikTok-like at all, featuring ingredients that are both unpleasant and difficult to obtain. One text written before 1250 swore by dead vultures being a one-size-fits-all cure for a myriad of health issues. "You capture a vulture and decapitate it with a reed while saying 'Angel, Adonai Abraham, on your account the word is complete,'" the text advises. The dead bird's skull was said to prevent migraines, while its eyeballs "relieve pain of the eyes." Tying the vulture's feathers to a pregnant woman's legs was also said to help speed up labor. One late 9th-century tip – found in a priest's personal manuscript – suggested using green lizard ashes for fuller hair. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "For flowing hair, cover the whole head with fresh summer savory and salt and vinegar," the translated instructions read. "[Then] rub it with the ashes of a burnt green lizard, mixed with oil." The most repulsive recipe, from an 11th-century text, offered the following tip for chest pain. "You dissolve goat dung in water and, sieved, you give it to drink," the tip advises. "It soon relieves the pain, however intensely it hurt." J. Matthew Knight, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, urged caution for those considering trying these cures. The Florida-based medical expert told Fox News Digital that, while barley, cinnamon and fennel may offer minor digestive benefits, the idea of detoxing over 12 months isn't backed by science. Knight, the founder of the Knight Dermatology Institute, also noted that the vinegar facial mask "could lead to irritant contact dermatitis," though vinegar has antibacterial effects. As for the more extreme remedies – like using goat dung for chest pain – the doctor warned they are "unsanitary and dangerous," and emphasized that anyone experiencing chest pain should go straight to the emergency room. Though Knight said he appreciates the novelty of the list, they exist "somewhere between funny and completely ineffective." For more Health articles, visit "All of these schemes predate the microscope, germ theory of disease and modern medicine, and rely on the idea that maladies were due to spiritual imbalance, moral transgression or cosmic forces," he told Fox News Digital. "Illness wasn't seen as bacterial or viral, but as a disturbance in unseen forces, like 'body humors.'" "Unfortunately, when it comes to TikTok trends, or medieval remedies, there is painfully little to no scientific basis for their use."Original article source: Vinegar face masks and barley water? Medieval 'health hacks' mirror today's TikTok trends Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
2 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Vinegar face masks and barley water? Medieval 'health hacks' mirror today's TikTok trends
Historians recently unearthed some "health hacks" dating back to the Middle Ages v and some sound like they came straight off TikTok. The database, called the Corpus of Early Medieval Latin Medicine, offers a wealth of information about how people in the so-called "Dark Ages" viewed health, science and medicine. It was announced by Binghamton University in July. Meg Leja, an associate professor at the university, told Fox News Digital that she helped catalog hundreds of medieval medical texts, particularly focusing on all surviving Latin manuscripts up to the year 1000. "This means that we covered most of Continental Europe, but not England, where many early medieval medical writings were in the vernacular (i.e., Old English)," she said. "Because very few manuscripts survive from before the year 600, effectively our date range is 600 to 1000." Some of the cures, researchers said, could fit into in modern wellness circles. Below are six examples they found. Historians repeatedly came across a 12-month detox plan that included drinking herbs like cinnamon, sage, ginger and fennel – one for every month. The drinks were said to purge the body of buildup like mucus and "unwanted matter," much like modern juice cleanses. Another recipe in the database recommended a vinegar remedy "so that your face is radiant." "Grind wheat flour with vinegar [and] put this on as a plaster mixed with oil," the tip advises. Barley water occasionally pops up on TikTok as a "natural remedy" — and centuries before influencers promoted it, early medieval writers recommended its use. According to a text written before 1000 A.D., a healer claimed that mixing barley with hot wine would aid digestion. Other hacks were not TikTok-like at all, featuring ingredients that are both unpleasant and difficult to obtain. One text written before 1250 swore by dead vultures being a one-size-fits-all cure for a myriad of health issues. "You capture a vulture and decapitate it with a reed while saying 'Angel, Adonai Abraham, on your account the word is complete,'" the text advises. The dead bird's skull was said to prevent migraines, while its eyeballs "relieve pain of the eyes." Tying the vulture's feathers to a pregnant woman's legs was also said to help speed up labor. One late 9th-century tip – found in a priest's personal manuscript – suggested using green lizard ashes for fuller hair. "For flowing hair, cover the whole head with fresh summer savory and salt and vinegar," the translated instructions read. "[Then] rub it with the ashes of a burnt green lizard, mixed with oil." The most repulsive recipe, from an 11th-century text, offered the following tip for chest pain. "You dissolve goat dung in water and, sieved, you give it to drink," the tip advises. "It soon relieves the pain, however intensely it hurt." J. Matthew Knight, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, urged caution for those considering trying these cures. The Florida-based medical expert told Fox News Digital that, while barley, cinnamon and fennel may offer minor digestive benefits, the idea of detoxing over 12 months isn't backed by science. "When it comes to TikTok trends, or medieval remedies, there is painfully little to no scientific basis for their use." Knight, the founder of the Knight Dermatology Institute, also noted that the vinegar facial mask "could lead to irritant contact dermatitis," though vinegar has antibacterial effects. As for the more extreme remedies – like using goat dung for chest pain – the doctor warned they are "unsanitary and dangerous," and emphasized that anyone experiencing chest pain should go straight to the emergency room. Though Knight said he appreciates the novelty of the list, they exist "somewhere between funny and completely ineffective." For more Health articles, visit "All of these schemes predate the microscope, germ theory of disease and modern medicine, and rely on the idea that maladies were due to spiritual imbalance, moral transgression or cosmic forces," he told Fox News Digital. "Illness wasn't seen as bacterial or viral, but as a disturbance in unseen forces, like 'body humors.'" "Unfortunately, when it comes to TikTok trends, or medieval remedies, there is painfully little to no scientific basis for their use."
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Does the ‘McMigraine meal' really help with headaches? TikTok thinks so
Migraine sufferers have heard it all: ice hats, essential oils, ginger tea. The latest advice? Head to McDonald's and order a large Coca-Cola and fries, dubbed the 'McMigraine meal.' The household auto fleet is a money pit Why AI Is Making 1:1 Meetings Irrelevant Why you're catching the 'ick' so easily, according to science One viral video with 5.7 million views reads: 'Trying McDonald's chips and a Diet Coke because I've had a headache for 48 hours and TikTok said it would help.' In the caption, the TikTok creator confirmed the hack worked. Another posted, 'the migraine girls get it' while pulling up to a McDonald's drive-through. A third asked, 'can someone please explain why the McMigraine always works?' While TikTok health hacks should be taken with a generous pinch of salt, this one may have some basis in science. 'This is a hack that's relatively well known in the migraine community,' neurologist and fellow migraine sufferer Jessica Lowe (@doctorbrainbarbie), explained in a TikTok video with 9.3 million views. 'A large coke from Mcdonalds has about 80 milligrams of caffeine in it. That right there is probably enough to stop your migraine in its tracks.' Caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor—meaning it narrows blood vessels, which helps counter the dilation that occurs during a migraine. The fries offer both electrolytes and carbohydrates. 'Mcdonalds is well known to have some of the saltiest fries around,' Lowe added. Electrolytes can ease migraine symptoms tied to dehydration or low sodium, while carbs may help if the trigger is hunger or a drop in blood sugar. Still, proceed with caution. For some people, caffeine and fast food can trigger migraines rather than relieve them. Dr. Kay Kennis, a trustee for the Migraine Trust and a GP who specializes in migraines, told the BBC that McDonald's food may also contain high levels of tyramine—a known potential trigger. If you're struggling with migraines, consult your healthcare provider to explore treatment options. But if you're craving McDonald's in the meantime, go for it—you just might get some relief. This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter:
Fast Company
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
Does the ‘McMigraine meal' really help with headaches? TikTok thinks so
Migraine sufferers have heard it all: ice hats, essential oils, ginger tea. The latest advice? Head to McDonald's and order a large Coca-Cola and fries, dubbed the 'McMigraine meal.' One viral video with 5.7 million views reads: 'Trying McDonald's chips and a Diet Coke because I've had a headache for 48 hours and TikTok said it would help.' In the caption, the TikTok creator confirmed the hack worked. Another posted, 'the migraine girls get it' while pulling up to a McDonald's drive-through. A third asked, 'can someone please explain why the McMigraine always works?' While TikTok health hacks should be taken with a generous pinch of salt, this one may have some basis in science. 'This is a hack that's relatively well known in the migraine community,' neurologist and fellow migraine sufferer Jessica Lowe (@doctorbrainbarbie), explained in a TikTok video with 9.3 million views. 'A large coke from Mcdonalds has about 80 milligrams of caffeine in it. That right there is probably enough to stop your migraine in its tracks.' Caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor —meaning it narrows blood vessels, which helps counter the dilation that occurs during a migraine. The fries offer both electrolytes and carbohydrates. 'Mcdonalds is well known to have some of the saltiest fries around,' Lowe added. Electrolytes can ease migraine symptoms tied to dehydration or low sodium, while carbs may help if the trigger is hunger or a drop in blood sugar. Still, proceed with caution. For some people, caffeine and fast food can trigger migraines rather than relieve them. Dr. Kay Kennis, a trustee for the Migraine Trust and a GP who specializes in migraines, told the BBC that McDonald's food may also contain high levels of tyramine—a known potential trigger. If you're struggling with migraines, consult your healthcare provider to explore treatment options. But if you're craving McDonald's in the meantime, go for it—you just might get some relief.
Asharq Al-Awsat
02-06-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
After Extolling Its Virtues on TikTok… Is Cola-Fries Combination Helping Migraine?
Migraine is a painful and disturbing condition that affects many people. So when a hack comes along that says it can 'cure,' or at the very least fend off a migraine, people will try it. While there are medical treatments, there is no cure. Prescription medication can be very effective - but it doesn't always work. For many people there is no simple solution. Some discover their own ways of managing the debilitating pain: blasting the side of their face with a hairdryer, or sitting in a hot bath while wearing an ice pack and drinking a smoothie. But now a new hack has suddenly gone viral - the McMigraine Meal. A simple offering of a full-fat cola and a portion of salty fries seems to be doing the trick for hundreds who've been extolling its virtues on TikTok, according to BBC. If there is any science behind these hacks - what do they do to the body? For Kayleigh Webster, a 27-year-old who has had chronic migraines all her life, it's the salt on the chips that might slow down a migraine attack. 'It can help,' she says cautiously, 'but it's certainly not a cure.' She said, 'Migraine is a complex neurological condition - and it can't be cured by a bit of caffeine, salt and sugar in a fast food meal.' Kayleigh's tried cocktails of different medications, putting her feet in hot water, a flannel at the back of the head, acupuncture, cupping - but they've had little effect. One of the few treatments that has given her relief is medical Botox - having dozens of injections in her head, face and neck. It's still not clear how Botox works for migraine, but it's believed to block powerful pain signals being released from the nerves. Skulls dating back to 3,000 BC show ancient Egyptians even had trouble with migraines - but despite that long history, their exact cause is still unknown. Dr Kay Kennis, a trustee for the Migraine Trust and a GP who specializes in migraines, explained how elements in coke and fries can help stave off a migraine attack. 'The caffeine in the coke can act as a nerve disruptor, it is a substance that affects nerve activity. For some, that disturbance works in a positive way,' Kennis said. 'There are some painkillers that people take for migraines that have caffeine - and some do respond well to that - but we don't fully know why.' But she warned against using caffeinated fizzy drinks like cola as a way of regularly managing migraines. 'Too much caffeine can be a trigger too - and you can end up in a worse situation in the long run,' Kennis said. Other ingredients in a fast food meal, like the salt on the chips, can affect nerve activity, she explains, but adds the effects of sodium on migraines have not been tested. She also warned that not only is fast food often ultra-processed and not conducive to a healthy diet, it can contain high levels of Tyramine, a natural compound commonly found in many foods, which can actually cause severe migraines. Some social media users say the hack does not work. 'There are so many videos online that take advantage of the desperation we all feel," Eloise explains,' said one TikTok user, Eloise Underwood. Prof Peter Goadsby, a neurologist at the NIHR-King's Clinical Research Facility, said research is beginning to produce positive results after years of underfunding. His latest study shows medications known as gepants could block a group of pain receptors in the lead-up to a migraine attack, cutting off the pain before it starts. 'Listen to your body - don't listen to TikTok, that's my advice,' Goadsby said. 'If you can feel the warning signs - yawning, sleepiness, mood change, passing more urine and even craving salt and sugar - listen to your body.'
