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Tools for Migraine Relief

Migraine presents differently from one person to the next.  The effectiveness of any treatment will vary significantly by individual, and no one therapy, medical or non-medical, will work for everyone. Combinations of treatments are often the most effective way to manage migraine attacks.

For this reason, MWS has curated a list of more than 100 nonmedical tools that you might be able to use to help with your migraine condition.

This list is sourced from our community of migraine patients, parents and caregivers, as well as physicians. Since some recommendations on this list may not be appropriate or comfortable for you, always proceed with caution and the advice of your healthcare provider.

If you’ve discovered a nonmedical treatment for your own migraine care that’s not already included in the list, please suggest it in the website chat box at the bottom of the page.

Important notes:

  • These are tools that people living with migraine have suggested
  • The efficacy and effectiveness may vary greatly
  • Look for the free options as there are many inexpensive, free or DIY (do-it-yourself) options to consider
  • Where products are available on Amazon, only products with 4 stars out of 5, or higher have been listed. Any products with a small amount of reviews or unverified reviews have not been shown
  • These tools should not replace your medication without your physician’s advice and any treatment changes you make must occur under the supervision of your physician
  • Looking for even more tools and options? A separate list including over 300 medical and nonmedical treatments is available in the Migraine World Summit Treatment Directory. There is also a guideline of recommended treatments that evaluate the evidence for over 100 treatments. These are both available in the VIP Pass for the 2024 Summit. Learn more >>

FOR ACUTE MIGRAINE ATTACKS

Ice

      • Use a free ice pack you have at home. Numb the pain and take the edge off an attack
      • An icy drink. Some people have reported that this helps provide relief
      • Headache Hat – designed by a migraine patient, a cotton, spandex micro fleece that covers the head
      • Migraine Cooling Headache Pads. Lightly scented
      • Salonpas Pain Relieving Patches
      • Some people have suggested that “polarization” may be helpful. I.e. Lie down in a dark room and put an ice pack on your head and a heat pack on your feet. Or soak your feet in a tub of hot water and put an ice pack on your head. The hot and cold at the same time may be soothing and according to some people it may provide some relief during a migraine attack

Sleep

      • Many people with migraine find sleep during a migraine attack can provide significant or even full relief
      • Deliberate yawning
      • Eye mask – to shut out the light
      • Dark, quiet room – minimizes additional pain from light and sound during an attack. Also helps with sleep
      • Compression Eye Mask & Pillow It’s freezable, it can soothe tired, puffy eyes. Provides cooling relief and blocks out light

See sleep section below for more.

Bath/shower

      • Bath option 1) During and/or after an attack. Blend your own oils and relax in a bath helps to try to relax during the pain. This may help to prevent tension experienced in the head, neck, and shoulders
      • Bath option 2) If possible, hop in a hot bath in which you dissolve 2 cups Epson salt and 1 cup baking soda. Place ice on neck, lay back and rest for 10 mins. The heat pulls the blood downward and the ice keeps it out of your head again, while the magnesium and soda balance out your ions. That may help to abort or to drop the pain level down to manageable
      • Bath option 3) Soak feet in hot water – may help take the edge off during an attack
      • Take a hot shower – heat may help some people more then cold, everyone is unique

Caution: Drowning is an unfortunate possibility for a hemiplegic migraine attack if an attack occurs in a bathtub. This is not appropriate for those with hemiplegic migraine.

Essential Oils

Common oils mentioned by people with migraine are:

Which may be mixed in blends and rubbed onto pressure points or tender areas like the back of the neck, temples and forehead during an attack. Sometimes even the feet.

Whilst not an essential oil – Vicks Vapor Rub on the side of the head at the pain location and under the nose may offer some relief.

Caffeine

A double-edged sword. Can be used for good or evil (i.e. can help or hinder). Often not recommended by physicians if you have chronic migraine but in episodic acute attacks it can be used to enhance the effectiveness of some medications by up to 30-40%. Caffeine can also increase your risk of rebound headache or medication overuse headache. Proceed with caution and medical supervision.

Ginger

Eating ginger sweets and candies may provide relief from the nausea associated with a migraine attack.
There is also some evidence that suggests the right dose of ginger may abort a migraine in some people.

Trigger/ Pressure points

      • Massage the webbing between the thumb and first finger with the other thumb and first finger for one minute using medium pressure. Then consider repeating on the other hand. This is one type of pain point massage which may help decrease pain
      • Applying pressure to a throbbing temple may reduce the blood flow and relieve pain while pressure is maintained

Hydration

Having fluids at the first signs of an attack or during the early signs is thought to be helpful. Dehydration is a known migraine trigger. Some people may find additional electrolytes and salts more helpful than hydration through water alone.

      • Some sports drinks may contain electrolytes and salt but beware of additional inflammatory ingredients like sugar

FOR MIGRAINE PREVENTION

STRESS

Relaxation practices

Other activities

      • Drinking tea
      • Playing with your pet – pets make great nurses
      • Practice gratitude – remember the good days and what you achieved. Even if it is just getting up, getting dressed and sitting outside for some sunshine
      • Keep a regular routine
      • Gardening – doing something you enjoy outside in the fresh and keeps you active is a good thing. Just make sure it’s not too labor intensive
      • Binaural music – music that produces a meditative state. Earphones required
      • Journal – write, start a gratitude journal, make lists, breathe
      • Essential oils that calm and relax
      • Have a chat either while out on a walk or for tea, over the phone or even in a support group. It’s about spending time together. The important thing is to get ‘outside your illness’ and feeling connected to the world
      • Laugh more
      • Have a hobby
      • Exercise regularly
      • Be good to yourself and carry on
      • Educating self on migraine – greater understanding can reduce anxiety, improve confidence and sense of control. Suggested expert interviews include:

MUSCLE TIGHTNESS/ STIFFNESS

Heat

      • Heat cream
      • Tiger balm or similar
      • Wheatpack
      • Flaxseed heatpack
      • Hot water bottle
      • Oat or clay pack

Massage

      • Free option: put two tennis balls in a sock and tie the sock. Then use the tennis balls to target your problem area. Golf balls may also be another option
      • Spikey Massage Ball – 3 inch, diameter
      • Theracane – cane-shaped massager for easing aches and pains
      • Electric Massager
      • Shiatsu neck/shoulder massager
      • Trigger point therapy – focusing on key trigger points in the back of the head, neck, and shoulders
      • Foam roller
      • Acupressure Massage Mat which helps with tight muscles and stress relief. Apparently it’s like an at-home acupuncturist

Stretch

      • Isometric neck exercises for headache and neck pain
      • Shoulder and neck stretches
      • Physical therapy exercises
      • Occipivot – used to help manage poor spinal alignments, poor posture, headache and neck pain.

Other

SLEEP

Pillows

      • Duck Down Pillow – remouldable to suit your position without the stems characteristic of feather pillows
      • Memory Foam Pillow
      • Buckwheat Husk Pillow – common in Japan and typically lower cost versus Memory Foam Pillow
      • Cold eye mask – an eye mask kept in the fridge or freezer

VISION

SOUND

HYDRATION

ODOR

      • Mint lip balm – to mask surrounding odors
      • Candles or essential oils which emit a pleasant and calming fragrance

JAW

APPS

      • MigraineBuddy -migraine diary, impact reports, intelligent sleep recording, and doctor finder
      • N-1 Headache – migraine diary, 3 maps, protectors, and analytics
      • Headspace – a gym membership for the mind
      • Twilight – blue light filter for your phone and tablet for healthier circadian rhythms in the evenings
      • MyFitnessPal – free calorie counter, diet and exercise journal
      • Cronometer – to track your fitness health and nutrition data
      • Calm – a meditation app for sleep and stress meditation

BOOKS

For patients

OTHER CATEGORIES

Miscellaneous Tools

      • Neuromodulation devices (eg. Cefaly, Vagus Nerve Stimulator, SpringTMS)
      • Daith Piercing
      • Magnesium salts, sprays, and oils
      • HEPA air filter – removes dust, allergens, pet dander, mold spores, and plant pollens from the air
      • Probiotic for stomach/gut health
      • Prayer – can bring comfort to those who have faith
      • Eating a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods and minimizing processed foods
      • Service dog – for migraine alerts, mobility work, and other tasks

Thank you to everyone who responded and helped to create this list. This list was created by members of the Migraine World Summit community to benefit each other.

Download Migraine Tools (PDF)

Looking for even more tools and options?

A separate list including over 300 medical and nonmedical treatments is available in the Migraine World Summit Treatment Directory. There is also a guideline of recommended treatments that evaluate the evidence for over 100 treatments.

These are both available in the VIP Pass for the 2024 Summit. Learn more >>

Are we missing any suggestions? Is there a link that is no longer working? Let us know in the website chat or leave a message for our team and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Affiliate disclaimer: This page contains some Amazon affiliate links. If you decide to purchase one or more items listed above, we may receive a portion of the proceeds to help us continue our important work.

Last updated: March 25, 2024

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