Fact Check: Can daily consumption of homemade laddoo made from dried ginger, carom seeds, jaggery, ghee relieve migraine pain?

Claim

A post made on Instagram claims that homemade herbal balls (laddos) made from dried ginger, carom seeds, jaggery, and ghee can relieve migraine pain when taken daily. The post shared by Instagram user neelamsaini8788, captioned as "Homemade migraine remedy" states, "For those who often suffer from headaches, you should prepare your own headache-relief pills at home. Now listen carefully to how you need to make these pills, and keep them ready at home. Here's what you need to do: Take 50 grams of saunth (dried ginger powder) and 50 grams of ajwain (carom seeds). Make a fine powder by grinding them together. Next, take about 20 grams of old jaggery (gur). Heat it until it melts. While it's melting, add one teaspoon of desi ghee (clarified butter) to it. Keep it on low heat on the stove. Once melted, mix in the powdered saunth and ajwain mixture completely. When the mixture cools slightly, roll it into small balls, each about the size of a chickpea. Let them dry in the sun and then store them in a container. Women who suffer from frequent headaches, joint pain, or body aches should start taking two of these pills every morning and evening with warm water."

The post has 24,521 likes and can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim is Mostly False. Dried ginger, carom seeds, jaggery, and ghee may offer general health benefits, but there's no proven evidence that their combination relieves migraine pain. Such claims are anecdotal and not supported by medical consensus.

What is Migraine?

Migraine is a prevalent neurological condition with a genetic basis, characterised by repeated episodes of moderate to severe headache, typically affecting one side of the head. These episodes are often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and heightened sensitivity to light and sound, and can last from several hours to a few days, significantly disrupting daily activities. Individual triggers differ and may include stress, hormonal fluctuations, specific foods, or environmental influences. Diagnosis relies on a detailed patient history, physical examination, and recognised diagnostic criteria. Management includes acute medications to relieve attacks, preventive treatments to lessen their frequency and intensity, and lifestyle modifications. A collaborative, patient-centred approach is key to enhancing care and outcomes for those living with this chronic condition.

What are the nutritional benefits of ginger?

Ginger is a popular plant known for its many health benefits. People have used its root for a long time as a natural remedy to help with common problems like pain, nausea, and vomiting. It is especially helpful for easing nausea caused by motion sickness, pregnancy, or after surgery. Ginger also has other helpful properties like it fights off harmful germs, reduces inflammation in the body and brain, and helps protect cells from damage.

What are the health benefits of carom seeds?

Ajwain, or C. copticum, is a well-known Indian spice from the Apiaceae family, widely used for its medicinal properties. It has been shown to help with breathing issues like cough and asthma, and digestive problems such as acidity, stomach pain, and cramps. It may also help fight bacteria, parasites, and infections, and is used in colds and sore throat. Some studies suggest it might help increase breast milk production in lactating mothers, especially during the postpartum period and act as a natural diuretic.

What are the health benefits of jaggery?

Jaggery is a natural sweetener made from sugarcane or palm juice and is used in many traditional sweets for its rich flavor and aroma. Often called "medicinal sugar," it’s believed to offer health benefits like improving digestion, easing constipation, boosting energy, and helping with PMS symptoms. Jaggery is also known for its antioxidant and cleansing properties, and may support lung health and help the body fight harmful substances.

What are the health benefits of ghee?

Ghee is a dairy product made by removing water and milk solids from butter, giving it a rich flavor and smooth texture. It is known for several health benefits. Ghee may support brain function and memory, improve digestion, and protect gut health. When used in cooking, it can help manage blood sugar levels after meals. Ghee also contains short-chain fatty acids that strengthen the gut and boost immunity. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory, skin-healing, and wound-repair properties, and may offer some protection against tumour growth.

Can homemade herbal balls (laddo) made from dried ginger, carom seeds, jaggery, and ghee can relieve migraine pain when taken daily?

Dried ginger, carom seeds, jaggery, and ghee have various nutritional benefits such as easing nausea from motion sickness, pregnancy, or surgery, improving digestion, relieving constipation, fighting bacteria and infections, boosting energy, strengthening the gut, and supporting immunity. However, the scientific paper lacks concrete evidence, and there is no medical consensus supporting the claim that herbal balls made from these ingredients can relieve migraine pain when taken daily.

A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that ginger might help with migraine pain, but the evidence is limited due to small sample size and differences in ginger products, so it’s not yet officially recommended.

A conference paper presented at the National Meet on Modernization of Jaggery Industry in India noted that jaggery contains nutrients like magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, selenium, and various vitamins, which are speculated to support brain health and potentially reduce migraine frequency. However, these claims lack clinical evidence and have not been validated through controlled studies.

Another review article in the Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology noted that ajwain (carom) powder may offer symptomatic relief during acute episodes of the common cold or migraine. However, this claim lacks confirmation through clinical trials or studies.

Yet another review published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care highlighted that Agnikarma (thermal cautery) followed by honey-ghee application eased migraine symptoms like headache and nausea. However, the benefits can't be attributed to ghee alone, as it was part of a combined therapy.

While these studies highlight the individual role of dried ginger, carom seeds, jaggery, and ghee in relieving migraine pain, none have examined their combined effect. Moreover, the available evidence is largely anecdotal and lacks clinical validation. There is also no medical consensus supporting the idea that consuming these ingredients together daily can relieve migraine pain.

Ms. Veena V, Chief Clinical Dietician, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, added, "There is no scientific data or clinical trial evidence to support the claim that a laddu made from dry ginger, carom seeds, jaggery, and ghee can cure or relieve migraine pain. However, some ingredients like dry ginger have anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea properties, which may help reduce migraine severity and duration. Carom seeds, known for aiding digestion, might help in cases where migraines are linked to digestive issues. While the combination may offer mild symptomatic relief, there is no scientific trials, no proper scientific data behind this."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

Ingredients like dried ginger, carom seeds, jaggery, and ghee are often valued for their general health benefits. However, there is no proven evidence that consuming them together as herbal balls can relieve migraine pain. The claims supporting such use remain anecdotal and lack medical validation. For those dealing with frequent or severe migraines, it is important to seek professional medical advice rather than relying on traditional remedies without scientific backing.

Hence, the claim is Mostly False.