Fact Check: Cream of Tartar does not provide relief from migraine
By Mounika Dasari Published on 7 Sep 2020 4:00 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Many social media users recently shared a post claiming that cream of tartar or potassium bitartrate, a byproduct of winemaking, can provide relief from migraines. The claim has gone viral on Facebook.
A Facebook post, which is accompanied by an image of a jar of cream of tartar, read, "If you have migraines just put a little bit under your tongue, within minutes you will feel your migraine easing up. Do you know someone that needs this info?"
Fact Check:
There is no scientific evidence to prove that cream of tartar can cure migraine. In fact, research has shown that excessive usage of tartar can lead to indigestion.
Snopes debunked the claim in 2018. Similar claims have been doing the rounds of social media in the past few years.
According to Snopes, the cream of tartar has never been known for its ability to cure headaches. It said it was difficult to pinpoint the source of the claim or the purported science behind it. The most precise online formulation of the notion comes from a 2015 post on the website Hello Lovely Living, which posits cream of tartar as a cure, or antidote, for the mostly unsubstantiated medical disorder known as "MSG poisoning."
MSG poisoning is usually not supported by scientific inquiry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does allow that unrealistically high doses could potentially trigger mild headaches and other symptoms. According to the FDA, "Although many people identify themselves as sensitive to MSG, in studies with such individuals given MSG or a placebo, scientists have not been able to consistently trigger reactions." However, its use remains controversial. Consumers reported adverse reactions to foods containing MSG, including headaches, sweating, and nausea.
While some people claim that cream of tartar helps ease their migraines, no scientific research supports such claims. It is advisable not to consume it. If taken in excessive quantity or continuously, it may lead to sickness.
Hence, the claim that cream of tartar can provide relief from migraines is FALSE.
