If You Love Someone with Migraine, This Wish List Can Help You Find the Perfect Gift

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Find great gift options for loved ones with migraine, handpicked by a Bezzy Migraine Guide. Plus, learn what not to gift to avoid triggering attacks. 

The holidays are fast approaching, and retail sales are in full swing.

It’s that time of year for making a list and checking it twice — or maybe three or four times (looking at you, brain fog).

The holidays are a time for us to express our love and affection for those important people in our lives. To that end, the wish list below offers ideas perfect for those dealing with migraine — plus some fun things I’ve personally enjoyed using over the last year or so.

I hope you find inspiration for the perfect gift for someone in your life with migraine.

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Bezzy Guide Eileen’s migraine picks

1. For scent-sational relief: Saje Peppermint Halo

• Price: $

If you’ve been around people with migraine for any length of time, you’ve heard about peppermint oil. This one takes things to a whole new level!

The Saje Peppermint Halo combines peppermint, eucalyptus, and rosemary oils in a rollerball that you can apply around your hairline. When the combination of oils kicks in, it feels like there’s an ice pack wrapped around your head.

The cooling sensation is a soothing and comforting distraction during an attack. It’s by far my favorite oil I’ve tried yet.

2. For finding calm by going green: Allay Green Light Therapy Lamp

• Price: $$$

Green light therapy has become a staple in my life, and Allay’s unique cylinder of green is my go-to for a migraine attack.

Green light therapy, discovered by Harvard researcher Rami Burstein, consists of a narrow band or wavelength of green light that may help by quieting hyperactive neurons, allowing your brain to calm down. This means it may help reduce the amount of pain you feel during a migraine attack.

In a small 2021 study of 29 people with episodic or chronic migraine, green light-emitting diodes significantly reduced the number of headache days and the intensity and duration of attacks, along with improving quality of life for the participants.

Green light may also help with secondary symptoms such as anxiety and difficulty falling asleep, according to a small 2023 study.

3. For cooling comfort: Migrastil Migrafreeze Deluxe Headache and Migraine Hat

• Price: $

Ice can be very comforting during a migraine attack. It’s even better when you can put on an ice pack that’s fashioned into a hat and go about your day, lie down, or watch your favorite movies. Whatever brings you comfort during an attack!

The real key is being able to put the hat on and have it stay in place. You don’t have to continually adjust it like a regular ice pack. The gel inserts stay cold for a long time, and you can throw it back into the freezer once it warms up.

If you have two, you can cycle through them without any break in relief.

4. For melting away pain: Pure Enrichment Neck and Shoulder Heating Pad

• Price: $$

As much as ice is soothing to my head during an attack, the same can be said for heat on my neck and shoulders.

The Pure Enrichment Neck and Shoulder Heating Pad has several settings to choose from and a magnetic closure on the front.

When you drape it around your shoulders, it gently rests against your neck to provide comforting and relaxing warmth in all the right spots. It’s always one of the first things I reach for during an attack.

5. For giving your mind something to do: Word Search Puzzle Book

• Price: $

Distraction can be key on days when a migraine attack is just hanging on and we need to think about something other than our symptoms.

Word search puzzles aren’t exactly mindless, but they don’t require a lot of thought-power either. They’re just the perfect amount of distraction on those tough days, with the bonus of being fun on regular days too!

This 4-in-1 Word Search Puzzle Book offers large print for when your vision is swimming, along with different levels of challenge depending on what you’re up for that day.

Reviewers note that the varied topics keep them interested and learning something new with each puzzle.

6. For your inner child: Mindful Patterns Adult Coloring Book

• Price: $

A mindful coloring book goes along the same lines as a word search puzzle book. We can use it as a distraction on days when we really just don’t have much to give in the way of energy. It’s also portable, so we can take it with us to doctor’s appointments, which can often involve long wait times.

This book contains 50 unique designs, including floral patterns and geometric mandalas. Difficulty ranges from simple to intricate, so you can get in a quick color or hunker down for a longer project.

7. For the artist in you: Colored Markers for Adult Coloring

• Price: $

If you have a coloring book, you need markers to go with it! These markers come in a lovely array of colors that will make any artist’s heart sing.

Markers are an easy option to take on the go, as they don’t require sharpening and you can’t break the lead like you can with colored pencils. Just remember to put on those caps so they don’t dry out!

8. For the bookworm: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

• Price: $$$

I’ve had a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for years. It’s a wonderful e-reader that allows me to purchase e-books online or borrow them from my library.

The Kindle Paperwhite is my favorite e-reader because it’s small, light, and portable and can hold thousands of books — plus, it holds a charge for weeks.

Pro tips:

While reading is wonderful, many people with migraine have trouble focusing on the written word. Consider gifting a subscription to Audible instead. Having books read to us is lovely when we just can’t focus.

Alternatively, there’s a setting on the Kindle Paperwhite that reads to you! You can find this option under the Accessibility menu.

If you haven’t experienced the performances of Jim Dale (US) or Stephen Fry (UK) in their readings of the Harry Potter series, you’re missing out!

If you’re looking for a great book to read or gift, I enjoyed “Lessons In Chemistry: A Novel.” It’s also a limited series on Apple TV+ right now!

9. For the foodie with migraine: “The Mediterranean Migraine Diet”

• Price: $

If you’re interested in cooking, “The Mediterranean Migraine Diet” by Alicia Wolf (aka The Dizzy Cook) and neurologist Shin Beh is a science-based look at how to manage migraine symptoms using a healthy Mediterranean diet.

The book is filled with amazing recipes that will keep you coming back for more.

Make sure to try the Berry, Beet & Goat Cheese Salad on page 40, the Za’atar Roasted Carrots on page 87, and the Couscous & Lamb Stuffed Peppers on page 105, to name a few. Chef’s kiss!

10. For days when a sweet treat is called for: “Hello, My Name Is Ice Cream: The Art and Science of the Scoop, A Cookbook”

• Price: $

One of my favorite hobbies is making ice cream at home. It’s a tasty distraction on days when I have low grade migraine symptoms that are lingering and nothing seems to be helping.

How do I make the most of it? I make ice cream!

“Hello, My Name Is Ice Cream” is one of my favorite books, and it really explains the science behind how to achieve high quality ice cream at home. If you have an ice cream lover in your life, this could be a great gift for them!

The book includes classic ice cream recipes along with recipes for custards, sherbets, and frozen yogurt — plus unique ice cream flavors like Parmesan in case you want to get adventurous.

11. For tea lovers or those new to the brew: Tazo Tea Bags Sampler

• Price: $

Tea can be such a soothing and calming ritual. I love this sampler, as it offers so many options for those who love tea or those who are new to it and want to give it a try.

With 42 tea bags and 14 flavors, your giftee will always have a new brew to try.

It includes the following flavors:

• Wild Sweet Orange
• Organic Peach Cobbler
• Green Ginger
• Organic Peachy Green
• Refresh Mint
• Calm Chamomile
• Passion
• Sweet Cinnamon Spice
• Vanilla Caramel Chai
• Organic Spicy Ginger

Organic Spicy Ginger with a little sweetener is my straight-up favorite when my stomach is off and my head is hurting. Sweet Cinnamon Spice is lovely with some honey, a dollop of cream, and maybe a cookie on the side!

12. For staying comfy and cozy: Esterra Chunky Knit Throw Blanket

• Price: $$

This heavyweight throw is perfect for those days when snuggling on the couch or lying in bed is the plan of the day.

This is not a weighted blanket per se, though it weighs in at just over 7 pounds — a lovely weight for feeling extra snuggly. It’s very soft and smooth and has a fleecy feeling that doesn’t catch on dry skin.

You can wash it in your machine if it needs a refresh, which means no visit to the dry cleaner is necessary.

Customer reviews note how well made and soft this blanket is.

Other gift options

Some people with chronic migraine spend a fair amount of time at home. Having access to streaming services can make a huge difference in our lives. Consider gifting one of these services for a few months or more:

• Apple TV+
• Disney+
• Netflix
• Paramount+
• Max
• Peacock
• Hulu
• Starz
• HBO

Gift cards can also be a great choice! Consider food delivery for those who can’t go out due to symptoms or can’t afford to eat out regularly.

Options include:

• GrubHub
• DoorDash
• Uber Eats
• Caviar
• ChowNow
• Seamless
• Postmates
• Instacart

Another good choice is gift cards to local grocery stores or favorite restaurants that offer delivery.

Gifts to avoid for people with migraine

As a gentle reminder, there are a few things to avoid giving to people with migraine, unless they’ve asked for them specifically.

These are:

• anything scented, such as candles, perfumes, and lotions
• things that make loud noises
• toys or electronics with bright, flashing lights
• tickets to events with a specific date
• foods such as chocolate, wine, and aged cheese

Takeaway

I hope you found some inspiration from this migraine holiday wish list. If you have any suggestions to add, I’m always looking for new ideas. You can comment below or share with me in the Bezzy Migraine app.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!