A look at the
Flax seed eye pillow
and IMAK eye pillow

A flax seed eye pillow? What's that?

Some people get sore around their eyes and face when they get headaches. This could be related to a migraine attack, for example, or it could be that their eyes are sore from the sun or a computer screen, and that itself brings on a headache. Two popular solutions are the Flax Seed Eye Pillow and products like the IMAK Eye Pillow. After an old eye pillow of mine wore out, I decided to check out the market and see what might work the best to relieve pain around my eyes.

What is an eye pillow?

Both the flax seed eye pillow and IMAK eye pillow are designed to rest on your eyes when you are resting or sleeping.  Not only do they block the light, they also provide a cool relief, without the harsh cold of a gel mask.  They can also provide a gentle, cool pressure around the eyes that may help with your pain.

How they're the same

Both eye pillows are a fabric filled with something, to allow them to conform to the shape of your face, effectively block out light, and apply a cool pressure.  Both can also be put into the freezer if you want to increase the cool feeling on your face.

How they're different

The biggest difference comes in the "filling". The IMAK eye pillow is filled with tiny plastic beads with a smooth coating, to allow them to glide over your face and conform easily to the shape. One advantage is that it can be easily hand washed.

The flax seed eye pillow is, of course, filled with flax seeds. For those that want a more natural approach, flax will do basically the same thing as the plastic beads. Personally, I like the gentle, natural scent of flax, so that was a drawing card for me.

This particular flax eye pillow that you see pictured is also an aromatherapy eye pillow. It has a lavender scent. At first I worried that the lavender would bother me during a migraine attack, but it's a gentle scent, and it's been used for years as a headache therapy, so it's the scent to get. Mixed with the flax, most people will find it soothing. (Actually, the eye pillow I'm going to recommend also has the herb valerian, which is generally used by aromatherapists as a sleep aid and for muscle relaxation)

The IMAK eye pillow has a contoured shape, but to me this doesn't make much of a difference because either way they conform very well to the shape of your face.

One other thing to look at when considering an eye pillow is the strap. I've tried one with a strap and without, and I find I very rarely use it. I'd rather have something sitting there while I lie on my back, than have it strapped to my head. There may be times you would want it. But if you get one without, you can sew one on that actually fits your head. Or you could remove it if it was in the way. So I wouldn't call it a big selling point.

The IMAK eye pillow is cotton, and the flax eye pillow is made of silk.

So what do you use?

You may have guessed by now, I personally use a silk flax eye pillow. But either one will soothe your sore eyes and your headache. The advantages are tremendous. For a migraineur, the fabulous way these block out the light is worth the purchase alone. For me, the cooling effect does a lot to take the pain out of my eyes and the area around my eyes. If I have a bad headache attack, it's easy to stick the eye pillow in the freezer for an hour or two before bed. Then just putting it on for 15-20 minutes can cool the heat and make sleep a lot better.

Where can I get them?

Various kinds of eye pillows may be found at your local drug store. If you're interested in the specific brands discussed here, click the links below for more information. I've also found a good flax seed eye pillow with no added scent, and another great idea - an eye pillow with a buckwheat neck pillow to support and cool the back of your head and neck.

Silk Lavender Flax Seed Eye Pillow

IMAK Eye Pillow, Sinus & Headache Relief