NEED TO KNOW
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Jemma O’Donovan found that a nostalgic candy alleviates her migraine symptoms in about 15 minutes.
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She suffers from severe migraines twice a week, dealing with aura, dizziness, vomiting, and severe pain.
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O’Donovan shared her candy solution on TikTok, encouraging others with migraines to test out similar sweet and fizzy remedies.
A woman has discovered a unique way to manage her migraine symptoms using an old-school candy.
At 28, Jemma O’Donovan traces her migraine experiences back three years. Now, she often finds herself battling at least two debilitating episodes each week.
“The first symptom I notice is the aura—flashing lights and colors, usually affecting one eye,” she explains. “It’s like a warning bell that gives me about half an hour to find a safe space before the real pain begins.”
Living in the U.K., O’Donovan also deals with symptoms like vomiting, dizziness, double vision, and severe pain throughout her body.
Despite taking strong medication for her migraines, she often grapples with unpleasant side effects.
“Sometimes, it seems easier to just endure the headache, since the meds make me feel like I’m shutting down completely,” she says. “It’s like my body turns to stone for about 20 minutes—lifting my arms or walking becomes a challenge.”
Recently, while suffering from a migraine, O’Donovan tried a Barratt Sherbet Dip Dab, a type of candy, and noticed a significant improvement.
This candy consists of a strawberry-flavored lollipop that you dip into fizzy white Sherbet powder, reminiscent of a Fun Dip in the U.S.
“The sweet hack was totally accidental. I grabbed a Dip Dab from the kids’ section at Tesco,” she recalls. “When I had it, I think the fizziness distracted me momentarily, and within 15 minutes, I wondered, ‘Do I actually feel better?'”
Initially skeptical, she decided to try it again during another migraine. She found that her symptoms seemed to “level off a bit,” making her daily activities a bit more manageable.
“It’s not a perfect solution, but it allows me to function throughout the day. I can get out of bed and open the curtains. It helps ease some of those awful symptoms,” she reflects.
Now, she keeps a stash of Sherbet Dip Dabs handy, ready for her next migraine encounter.
She likens it to the combination of “coke and fries”—something sweet and salty, even if the candy isn’t overly salty; it has a hint of “baking powder” flavor.
“I can’t explain why, but I really urge you to give it a try at least once. It has genuinely helped me,” she said in a TikTok video about her discovery.
Others experiencing migraines were surprisingly intrigued. One user commented, “I’m rushing to stock up on these now!”
“Oh wow, a blast from the past! I forgot how good they were,” another shared.
A third person noted, “You might be onto something here; my doctor once mentioned that really sour and fizzy sweets can help. Isn’t this a bit like that?”
Some commenters contributed their own remedies, suggesting all kinds of food items, from McDonald’s soda and salty chips to black coffee and energy drinks.
