I find surrounding my head with something freezing is good. I've bought 2 big cold packs for the purpose, but frozen peas would be good too. Lay my head on one and put the other on my forehead, moving it around when it makes the skin too cold. Feels like the overheated wires in my brain are being cooled down and going from red to blue...

Works well for me, though you sound more of a 'heat' kinda guy. I can't imagine a hot pack doing anything for me at all. Weird!