Treatment of headache with cold compress - quick treatment of headache

• September 24, 2025
• Author: Dr. Majid Kehani Fard
• The article has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Kehani Fard

Using a cold compress to treat migraines and tension pains is a great home remedy for severe headaches. The cold can constrict the blood vessels, which causes less pain receptors to be transmitted, and ultimately, your headache will improve. This is not the only mechanism for treating headaches with cold compresses. Here we talk about why and how compression can help you.

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How does a cold compress help reduce headaches?

Headache treatment with cold compress is very effective for the following reasons. This method is a method headache home treatment that works with the help of simple and well-known mechanisms.

1. Constricting blood vessels

As mentioned, the cold compress can constrict your blood vessels and reduce the blood flow to the pain area, thus reducing the pain.

2. Reduction of swelling and inflammation

Sinus and tension headaches and migraine with the inflammation they cause, increase the headache. Cooling with a cold compress reduces inflammation and thus helps reduce pain.

3. Anesthetize

Anesthetizing receptors helps reduce nerve conduction and improve headaches. Also, these compresses have a calming effect.

🔴🔴🔴 How to make a cold compress?

You can easily use a cold water compress at home. To prepare a compress, use the following three methods

• Cold water towel; Take a towel, wet it and wring it out until it is damp. Then put it in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for 15 minutes. After that, remove the towel from the plastic and use it. You can put the towel on the forehead and temples for 15 to 20 minutes
• Take a plastic bag (strong zip cap). Put some ice (about a quarter kilo) in it and pour some water in it. Put the bag in a bowl and put it on your forehead.
• Another method is to pour three cups of water with one cup of ice in plastic and make an ice pack. This ice is reusable and you can put it in the freezer to freeze again. You can also use bags of frozen peas or corn.

How to use a cold compress?

Use the compress on the temples, forehead or neck. Similarly, for migraine patients, cooling the blood vessels in the front of the neck is effective when the pain starts. We use this as targeted cooling of neck veins. In this way, we control the migraine attack.

Scientific research on cold compress in the treatment of headache

In the scientific research conducted on 20 people, it was shown that the effect of cold compress on headache: 18 out of 20 people, equivalent to 40% of the patients, stated that their headache was completely resolved. 10 of them stated that their headache was relieved and finally the effect of pain reduction was reported in 87% of patients after 24 hours. [1] [2] [3]

You can use the ice pack alternately

You can use the ice pack intermittently for a few days until the pain is completely relieved. But don't put it directly on your skin.

How do we feel when using a cold compress

You go through 4 steps during this time

• • • cold stage
    • burning stage
    • stage of pain
    • Finally the anesthesia stage

Some people's skin is more sensitive, so if your skin is very irritated, take a compress and don't use it.

Last words

Many of us are upset because of the use of painkillers. For example, ibuprofen can cause heartburn, although you can find ibuprofen on the market that opens in the intestines instead of the stomach and does not cause heartburn, but obviously it is difficult to find a suitable pain reliever for each person due to the difference in drug manufacturing companies. In addition, it is generally not pleasant to take medicine in the long term. Therefore, a solution like cold water compress to treat headache, with great effect and without side effects, is an excellent issue. But keep in mind that not all headaches get better with compresses. There are some dangerous headers that should not be ignored at all. I have listed these headaches and their symptoms in the article on which headaches are dangerous. Be sure to read it.

1. Vanderpol J, Bishop B, Matharu M, Glencorse M. Therapeutic effect of intranasal evaporative cooling in patients with migraine: a pilot study. J Headache Pain. 2015;16(1). doi:10.1186/1129-2377-16-5

2. Sprouse-Blum AS, Gabriel AK, Brown JP, Yee MH. Randomized controlled trial: targeted neck cooling in the treatment of migraine patients. Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2013;72(7):237-241.

3. Cristina Foralosso H, Lira J, Ramos J, Neves M, Marinho Portolez J, Flor Bertolini G. Cryotherapy in tension headache: analysis of the frequency of symptoms. Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2019;2(1). doi:10.15761/nnr.1000116

• Categories:

  headache

  Sources:

  healthline

  verywellhealth

  webmd

  Dr. Majid Kihani Fard Dr. Majid Kihanifard was born in 1352 in Isfahan. He completed his general medical education at Isfahan University and specialized neurology course at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz and completed his knowledge and skills by completing a subspecialty fellowship in cerebrovascular surgery in Switzerland. He has always been a pioneer in providing new treatments and effective research, especially in the field of MS and stroke prevention, by emphasizing on increasing the health level of the society, informing the patients and respecting the patient. Dr. Kihanifared has been awarded the title of "Best neurologist in Isfahan" by the provincial medical system organization and has played an effective role in improving patient care services with applied research and advanced surgeries. Related Articles

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