Can Localised Cryotherapy Help Migraines?

Troy Lowrey
2 days ago
3 min read

Here’s What the Research Says

Why Cold Therapy Makes Sense for Migraine Pain

Researchers point to three main mechanisms:

1. It reduces blood flow where migraine pain starts

Migraines often involve dilation of blood vessels in the head and neck. Cooling the carotid region (the sides of the neck) triggers vasoconstriction, helping reduce the vascular throbbing that drives migraine pain.

2. It calms the trigeminal nerve

The trigeminal nerve is the key pain pathway in migraines. Applying cold to areas it innervates — like the temples, forehead, and upper neck — can reduce nerve firing and slow neurogenic inflammation.

3. Cold slows pain signals

Cooling physically slows nerve conduction speed. This provides a direct, quick analgesic effect, similar to icing a sprain.

What Studies Show

A randomized clinical trial on neck cooling

One of the strongest studies examined an ice-based neck wrap placed over the carotid arteries at migraine onset. Participants experienced significant reductions in pain compared to a control condition. This supports the idea that targeted cooling — not just any ice anywhere — can interrupt a migraine in real time.

A 2022–2023 systematic review

A recent review of cold-based migraine treatments found that:

Localised cryotherapy is effective for immediate pain relief
It works best when used early in the migraine
It has minimal side effects
More long-term prevention research is needed

The review included ice packs, cooling headbands, and intranasal cooling devices—indicating a broad benefit across different delivery systems.

Emerging tech: Intranasal cooling devices

New devices that deliver evaporative cooling through the nose (near the sphenopalatine ganglion) have shown promising early results:

Faster reduction in migraine symptoms
Significant pain improvement within minutes
Good tolerability

These studies are smaller but point to an exciting future for targeted cooling therapies.

How to Use Localised Cryotherapy at Home

Here are evidence-informed ways people safely use cold therapy:

1. Neck cooling at the first sign

Place an ice or gel pack across the upper neck, near the carotids, for 15–20 minutes. This mirrors the method used in clinical trials.

2. Forehead or temple cooling for immediate relief

A soft cold pack or cooling strip can reduce pain quickly, especially during aura or the early headache phase.

3. Try cycle-and-rest intervals

Many migraine sufferers prefer: 10 minutes on / 10 minutes.

This prevents skin irritation while maintaining the analgesic effect.

Who Might Benefit Most?

Localised cryotherapy may be especially helpful for:

People who want a non-medication option
Those who prefer natural or complementary treatments
Individuals sensitive to migraine drugs
Athletes or active individuals who want fast, performance-friendly relief

The Bottom Line

Localised cryotherapy is a science-backed, low-risk, fast-acting option for many migraine sufferers. Whether applied to the neck, forehead, or through emerging intranasal devices, cold therapy shows consistent ability to:

reduce pain
work quickly
offer relief without medication
be used anytime, anywhere

It’s not a cure for migraines, but for many people, it’s a practical and powerful addition to their toolkit — and the research supporting it grows stronger every year.

References

Sprouse-Blum AS et al., randomized controlled crossover trial of an adjustable neck wrap with ice packs for migraine (neck cooling). (Available on PubMed / PMC). PMC
Hsu YY et al., Cold intervention for relieving migraine symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2022/2023). Concludes cold interventions are effective for immediate pain relief but long-term effects are unproven. PubMed+1
Wolff M et al., Feasibility trial of intranasal evaporative cooling for migraine (2024). Shows promising reductions in time to symptom relief. PMC
Robbins LD, cryotherapy for headache series (older clinical work). headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Zakrzewska JM et al., cryotherapy and trigeminal neuralgia literature (physiological/clinical rationale).