{"id":870519,"date":"2026-10-04T13:58:53","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T13:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/870519\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T13:58:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T13:58:53","slug":"doctors-explain-why-the-viral-claw-clip-hack-might-work-for-migraines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/870519\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctors Explain Why The Viral Claw Clip Hack Might Work For Migraines"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you start to feel that pounding sensation in your head, do you feel tired of the go-to tips for headaches<\/a>, like taking medication, napping and drinking water?<\/p>\n

If that sounds familiar, perhaps try grabbing a hair clip. <\/p>\n

According<\/a> to various social media creators<\/a>, a quick headache fix (that some claim works better than prescription medicine<\/a>) is putting a claw clip<\/a> on your eyebrow. (Watch an example here<\/a>.) And unlike many dubious claims on the social media app, doctors say this one may have a little merit (but, as always, there\u2019s still a catch).<\/p>\n

Below, experts break it down:<\/p>\n

Why Some People Are Finding Relief With This Hack<\/p>\n

For starters, it\u2019s essentially acupressure<\/a>, which comes from traditional Chinese medicine. Acupressure entails applying pressure to specific points of the body.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe clip puts pressure on where branches of the trigeminal nerve run,\u201d explained Dr. Fawad Mian<\/a>, founder and physician at Ascend Regenerative, who\u2019s board-certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology and sleep medicine. (The trigeminal nerve plays a role in migraine pain.) \u201cThis gives your nervous system something to focus on, which diverts your attention away from the pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cApplying pressure to the skin can activate competing sensory signals, which may temporarily dampen pain perception, a concept sometimes referred to as \u2018gate control\u2019 of pain. This is because pain signals travel slower than sensory signals for touch, pressure and vibration,\u201d explained Dr. Jon Stewart Hao Dy<\/a>, a board-certified neurologist based in Manila, Philippines.<\/p>\n

In other words, your brain may focus more on the applied sensation from the clip than the painful sensation from the headache.<\/p>\n

While unstudied, this hack is basically a DIY version of something more scientific and researched.<\/p>\n

\u201cClinical studies<\/a> have shown that controlled electrical stimulation of the trigeminal nerve can reduce pain, but a claw clip is not a neuromodulation device,\u201d clarified Dr. Lynette Gogol<\/a>, a board-certified neurologist and lifestyle medicine physician.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, this also mirrors the concept of daith piercings, Dy said. Daith piercings go on the innermost fold of your ear, and people claim they help relieve migraines<\/a> through stimulation. Like the claw clip trend, the benefits of daith piercings aren\u2019t researched, but anecdotal.<\/p>\n

\"According<\/p>\n

South_agency via Getty Images<\/p>\n

According to various social media creators, a quick headache fix is putting a claw clip on your eyebrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no studies showing how quickly a claw clip should work or for how long the relief should last,\u201d Gogol said.<\/p>\n

Neurologists agree that the effects would most likely be temporary, unfortunately, and vary from person to person.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt works better for tension headaches and migraines<\/a> if you catch them early,\u201d Mian said. \u201cIf your migraine is full-blown, this most likely will not help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plus, if it does help, it would only do so while the claw clip is on your eyebrow. Once you take it off, poof: The pain is back. Dy said that it\u2019s \u201cbecause the clip is essentially providing an external sensory stimulus rather than treating the underlying migraine process.\u201d<\/p>\n

If it still works for you, awesome \u2014 just keep in mind it\u2019s not a true \u201ccure\u201d or treatment.<\/p>\n

Additionally, note that in some situations, it can make matters worse. Mian said it could make you feel worse due to skin sensitivity<\/a>, and Gogol said a harmless touch or pressure on the face can be painful for some people with migraines. According to Dy, this is particularly true for people who develop allodynia, or extreme sensitivity to touch, during migraines.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going to try this tip, Mian provided the following guidelines:<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t put the clip on too tightAim for firm pressure, not painIf it makes you feel worse, take it offDon\u2019t use this as a replacement for other headache treatments<\/p>\n

Gogol said she wouldn\u2019t recommend it at all, and Dy fell somewhere in the middle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a patient finds that it provides mild, temporary relief and it\u2019s not causing harm, I would not necessarily discourage it,\u201d Dy said. \u201cHowever, I would emphasize that it should not replace evidence-based treatments, especially for patients with frequent<\/a> (more than 15 days a month of headaches) or severely debilitating migraines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, he recommended wearing the clip for no longer than 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn terms of safety, using a claw clip in this way is generally low-risk if it is not applied too tightly,\u201d Dy continued. \u201cExcessive or prolonged pressure, however, could potentially irritate superficial nerves, worsen localized pain or paradoxically trigger a tension-type headache.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Headache Hacks Recommended By Doctors And Patients<\/p>\n

While the claw clip hack is interesting, it\u2019s far from the only helpful thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOld standbys are always worth doing,\u201d Mian said.<\/p>\n

What works for someone else might not work for you \u2014 even if it\u2019s an \u201cold standby\u201d \u2014 and that\u2019s OK. Mian shared that caffeine and ice packs<\/a> help some individuals, whereas others benefit more from sleeping in a dark room.<\/p>\n

Gogol believed your best bet is aiming for prevention through consistency.<\/p>\n

\u201cA regular sleep schedule, regular meals, avoiding dehydration and managing stress<\/a> can support migraine prevention,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

If and when you do have a migraine, she agreed that two things \u2014 putting a cold pack on the head or neck, and reducing light and noise \u2014 may also help.<\/p>\n

Dy added that putting a cold compress on the achy spot, avoiding food and beverage triggers<\/a> (such as chocolate, cheese, alcohol and sometimes coffee) and taking prescribed medication can also be beneficial.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think migraine \u2018hacks\u2019 can be helpful in that they encourage patients to explore non-pharmacologic ways of managing their symptoms<\/a>, but they can also be misleading if they create the impression that there is a quick fix for a migraine,\u201d Dy concluded. \u201cThey may complement their current treatment, but they should not replace medically proven therapies or proper evaluation by a physician\/neurologist\/headache specialist, especially when the headaches are frequent, severe, progressive or changing in character.\u201d<\/p>\n