Close

You must be logged in to love this post! Please sign in:

Close

You must be logged in to follow this post! Please sign in:

Jeanie (Lancaster, Ca, USA) on 12/28/2009
5 out of 5 stars

I have suffered from migraines for 40 years. Recently my husband came in from the cold and to tease me put his hand down the back of my neck, expecting me to yelp. Instead, I said, "Don't move that feels great!" He thought I was kidding. I wasn't. I was getting yet another headache. His hand warmed up so I got a gel pack out of the refrigerator and held it where his hand had been. In about 15 minutes the headache was gone. I have been doing this for about a month. It has stopped every migraine except one, and it was 50% better. I shared this with a friend who said that I was cooling down the brain stem. I googled "migraines and brain stem" and found a significant number of articles linking the two, but, nowhere could I find that applying cold would help. Here is what I do: I use a gel pack that is 4 inches by 5 inches. I do NOT keep it in the freezer - the frig is cold enough. I place it in the area from the base of my neck to the top of my spine. It's best if I can sit down in a high backed comfortable chair or sofa, or lie down. It takes about 15 minutes to start feeling very relaxed and to feel my hands and feet warm up. My daughter thought that it would feel uncomfortable because she always feels cold during a headache, but she said that it surprised her how good it felt. It has worked on other types of headaches as well and even stopped a panic attack. I don't know the science behind it, I just know that it is the fastest, cheapest, no side effects remedy I have ever used. Thanks for this great site - my family is healthier because of you!
REPLY   1      

Replied By Karina (Munich, Bavaria, Germany) on 01/10/2010

YEA - ...I was so close to take a headache tablet and in the last moment I decided to get a cool pack. I am amazed how well it worked - within 10 min. I felt relieve and as if my brain calmed down. Thank you so much for this remedy I will definitely pass it on...it is very relaxing!
REPLY   1      

Replied By Breann (St. Louis, Mo) on 01/11/2010

I am a faithful reader of Earth Clinic. I saw this post regarding migraines and the use of a cool pack. I passed it along to my mom, who suffers from migraines multiple times per week. She tried it with her last episode, and she said it helped substantially. Thanks, EC!
REPLY   2      

Replied By Sophie (Pdx, Oregon) on 02/22/2010

I usually do not get headaches or migraines but this time I was really feeling flu-like symptoms, cramps bloated and I had a headache which turned into a migraine, I had the migraine for three days. So I looked up Earth Clinic. And drank about 1 T of Apple Cider Vinegar in some water ...then I read the story a lady shared about using cold packs for migraines. We have the flexible ice pack in the freezer I layed down and place it on the back of my neck where my brain stem is for about 15 minutes and my migraine went away. Great remedy and it worked for me!
REPLY   2      

Replied By Michelle (Brunswick, Ga, Usa) on 03/23/2010

I am currently sitting here, unable to sleep due to a rapid onset of a migraine. Did I mention the carrots? LOL! I don't have an ice pack (you can bet I am buying one tomorrow!) right now, but what I do have is my son's bag of carrots-fresh out of the fridge-on the back of my neck at the base of the skull. I am staring to feel some relief (it's been about 5 minutes), and I am pretty sure that if I raid the fridge for more produce, I may actually be able to go to bed soon! I have suffered with migraines since puberty (I'm 34 now and am post total hysterectomy, so I know it's not the hormones anymore) and I never thought that I could get such fast relief! Thank you EC and those that post what works for them!
REPLY   2      

Replied By Eve K (Houston, Texas Usa) on 06/08/2010

I fill two gallon size plastic zip baggies with ice cubes--wrap each in a thin dish towel or t-shirt--place one on the neck and one over the eyes and lie down (a cool, dark, quiet room is best)...this is not a permanent fix but brings relief while waiting for other remedies to kick in....also, drink cool water and cool fresh juice (diluted is best). The ice packs usually make it possible for me to get to sleep and stay asleep through the night...if the pain comes back the next day, then more extreme measures are usually called for...(e.g., prescription meds--ugh).
REPLY         

Replied By Nightfire (Danville, Illinois, United States) on 03/04/2012

OMG... Thank you, thank you, thank you! After trying cure after cure and being frustrated to the point of actually taking over the counter meds (gah) which I knew was too far progressed to even put a 'dent' in the headache I had, which seem to grow worse by the second no matter what I tried. After a cold shower and feeling frustrated as well as miserable and in constant agony. I went to the freezer and grabbed a frozen roll of ground turkey and dropped it in a baggy, put it behind my neck then watched a comedy for about a hour (and the headache was baaad). By the time it was over the headache had decreased then went away (I was dancing around my kitchen, lol) after all I tried it was as simple as that! The kind of headache that should have lasted 3 days. I nearly cried because of the relief. So hey sometimes it 'can' be that 'easy'. Hope this works for you. Hugs Hugs.
REPLY   6      

Replied By Kathy (Las Vegas, Nv) on 03/08/2012

Along with the cold pack on the neck I put my feet in a bathtub with hot water, as hot as I can stand it. After about 10 min the migraine starts to melt away.... Ahhhh relief!
REPLY   1      

Replied By Kay (Destin, Fl) on 09/10/2012

This site is Godsend; thank you too all who contribute!

When 'on the road' and a migraine starts, I buy cold drinks (bottles or cans) to cool my neck while driving; they are the perfect fit between my neck and headrest. At home, I often use bags of frozen vegetables (after when I use up all my gel packs), then I make a hearty soup out of them the next day.

REPLY         

Replied By Misty (San Antonio) on 02/23/2017

This feels good while doing it but when the ice pack comes off, the migraine comes back.
REPLY   1