The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Ice Pack
Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 10/03/2017
★★★★★
After traveling about 700 miles yesterday by car I had a terrible migraine. I find them very difficult to shake.
I filled a gallon bag half full of ice and wrapped that in a t-shirt and sat with the ice pack on my neck. Slowly relief was coming. I kept it on for the better part of 2 hours and even tried to prop to up to my neck when I got into bed, though by the time I went to bed it had lessened significantly. Usually if I go to bed with a headache I wake up with one.
I was thrilled to wake up with no headache. My ice pack was still cold and one part of my shoulder was cold.
~Mama to Many~
Ice Pack
Posted 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.
Ice Pack
Posted 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!
Ice Pack
Posted 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.
Ice Pack
Posted 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!
Ice Pack
Posted 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!
Ice Pack
Posted 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!
Ice Pack
Posted by Jeanie (Lancaster, Ca, USA) on 12/28/2009
★★★★★
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!
Ice Pack
Posted by April (Savannah, GA) on 07/14/2009
★★★★★
Ice Pack Cured my Migraine
I'd had the worst migraine in years and it had already persisted for a day, and I had already taken the max of my prescription medication. My next step was to go to the ER when a coworker suggested the ice pack at the base of the skull. I placed several ice cubes in a Ziplock bag, placed it on the back of my neck, and lay in my bed again. I also took four more Tylenol and fell back asleep. When I awoke this time, the migraine was gone completely.
Ice Pack
Posted by HV (Coeur d Alene, Idaho) on 05/09/2009
★★★★★
Migraines - Ice/hot neck wraps.
A massage instructor told me that when you have a migraine, the blood is entering the head faster than it is leaving. His solution is to keep a flexable neck wrap in the freezer or refrigerator. Have a very warm wrap ready - such as a slightly damp towel hot (but not too hot) from tap water or a microwave.
To stop a migraine, wrap the cold wrap around the neck - make sure you get the front of the neck - for 30 seconds. Then apply the hot wrap for 30 seconds. This is to shock the veins open. Repeat as necessary. I don't get migraines anymore - thanks to the ACV - but I really would like feedback on this remedy.
Also for the same reasoning, if you donate blood, your migraine will go away almost instantly.
Ice Pack
Posted by Heidi (Phoenix, AZ) on 01/22/2006
★★★★★
Try using a frozen ice pack (the flexible kind for sports injuries works best), and place it at the base of the skull. The ice will reduce the swelling in the blood vessels which are causing the restriction of the blood flow and causing the migraine in the first place. It usually relieves my migraines within about 10-15 minutes.
