Orgasms will work just as well as drugs to cure headaches this Valentine's Day, says brain professor
Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day or not, one thing's for sure – it's a 14 February like no other.
If the uncertainties of another almost month-and-a-half in lockdown have left you with a headache today, a top brain expert has come up with a steamy solution.
Professor Amanda Ellison, who works at Durham University, said an orgasm works just as well as drugs for curing your migraine.
She explained that climaxing during sex releases the "happy" hormone, called serotonin, The Sun reported.
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Research has found that people who regularly suffer from migraines have lower levels of serotonin – and they also, interestingly, crave intercourse 20% more.
Ellison writes in her new book Splitting that "sex results in an injection of serotonin".
She uses the example of two men, aged 61 and 47, who suffered from episodic cluster headaches.
"At the point of orgasm with their respective partners both men reported their headaches suddenly disappeared," she said.
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Ellison added that simply hugging your other half can also release the "love" hormone, oxytocin, which is another headache reliever.
It comes after research revealed late last year that million of people in the UK have seen their intimacy levels suffer during the pandemic.
Indeed, there's been a huge impact on sex lives, with a tenth of Britons not having got frisky in the bedroom since last March.
According to research by wellness brand CBII, loss of libido has been down, in large part, due to anxiety.
Other factors that are believed to have reduced intercourse since the start of coronavirus include loss of sleep and also watching too much television.
