Headaches can be a real pain. Most of us are lucky: we have them only once in a while. And when we do, easily accessible pain relievers come to the rescue. Some people, however, frequently have severe headaches that don't respond well. These can range from episodic but throbbing tension pains, to full-blown migraines that leave their victims bed-ridden for days at a time. The current medicines for these more brutal torments are far from innocent. What is worse, they don't always work. Out of necessity, many long-term headache sufferers reach out to other treatments for pain relief. Like the ancient Egyptians before them, they treat their headaches with hot water, or apply cold and hot head bandages. Modern patients doing this are following a long tradition of self-medication.

Headache sufferers, as well as their doctors, have learned that such treatments can be very beneficial ¹. The question is, of course, which mixture of pressure, heat or cold works best for each person. A recent study with a group of 15 headache patients has thrown some light on this issue. Out of this group, 10 suffered from moderate to severe migraines. The other 5 had severe episodic tension headaches. All of them were given a special device: a new headband that makes it possible to apply pressure, heat and cold at the same time. The people in the study were asked to maintain their normal medication and to use the headband the way they wanted over a period of three headache attacks.

Without exception, all 15 patients found the headband very helpful. It dramatically reduced the length of their headache attacks (an average reduction of 65% when compared to their headaches without the headband) and greatly boosted their overall sense of well-being. All members of the test group said they benefited from the headband's pressure. Interestingly, those with tension headaches preferred pressure combined with cold, whereas migraine patients found heat and cold in combination with pressure equally effective.

This headband, which can be tailored to the needs of each patient, seems a nifty new tool to manage migraines and tension headaches. It offers a pain relief option without the risks of side effects from usual medication. For many people with headaches, it could be the band-aid they need for a better life.