Headache Bandaid

When you get a headache it's usually in one part of your head. Your forehead is pounding or you have a dull throb in the back of your head. But no matter where you're feeling the pain you just want it to stop - now. You can take pills for the pain but, sometimes, a headache or migraine can be accompanied by vomiting. In that case, the pills aren't really helpful. You know what you need? A headache bandaid. When you make a cool band that wraps around your head your headache will ease up as you lie back and relax.

Use flannel, cotton, or another soft material, to make the headache bandaid. Measure around your head and add three inches to that measurement. Cut two pieces of fabric to be that length, and five inches wide.

Lay the fabric pieces so that their right sides face each other. Sew down both short sides and one of the long sides of the cloth. Remove it from the sewing machine and turn the arrangement right-side-out. Press.

Lay the fabric, horizontally, in front of you. Position the open side so that it faces you. Measure across your forehead, from one temple to the other. Draw this measurement on the open side of the headache wrap, centering it on the wrap. Rather than draw the whole rectangle on the fabric, draw just the two sides of it. The open edge will be the third side and the side across from it becomes the fourth side.

Sew a straight stitch across the two vertical lines drawn on the headache wrap. Between the two lines, leave that area of the wrap open. On each side, though, do a top stitch to close the opening.

Fill the opening with rice and then sew it shut. The rice should be enough to fill the pocket but not so much that it creates a huge pillow across the forehead.

Cut a piece of Velcro and sew it to one end of the wrap. Wrap the band around your head and mark an area for the opposing piece. Sew it on and the wrap is finished.

To use the headache bandaid, place the wrap in a freezer bag, then put it in the freezer. Keep it there until needed. When you have a headache or migraine, take the wrap out of the bag, and put it around your head. Place the rice pocket across the aching area, like the forehead, or the back of your head. Lie back and relax as your headache slowly dissipates.