Using CBD to treat migraines or prevent debilitating headaches is gaining popularity, but how does it work? We explain it to you here, so you can decide if CBD is the right remedy for you.
What is a Migraine?
Migraine pain is categorized as an intense, throbbing or throbbing pain at a specific point in the head. The pain is paralyzing and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and/or sound. Migraines affect 10 percent of the world's population and are three times more common in women than men, according to the NIH .
Migraines are usually triggered by a trigger, such as stress, insomnia, hormonal changes, bright lights or flashes, even certain smells – it depends on the person. A third of people who suffer from chronic migraines can predict when one is coming because they see an 'aura'. Also variable between individuals, these “auras” can present as flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary loss of vision.
The Endocannabinoid System: How Is It Involved?
Cannabis and its tinctures have been used to treat headaches, including migraines, for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years. This is because the endocannabinoid system (ECS) naturally present in our bodies plays a crucial role in migraine sufferers.
The ECS is our largest regulatory system, controlling everything from pain to appetite. The body produces its own cannabinoids and has cannabinoid receptors in almost every cell. Anandamide , also known as the happiness molecule, is the body's natural version of THC . An interesting 2007 study found that regular migraine sufferers had below-average levels of anandamide. This has led some researchers to believe that migraines are caused by a deficiency in the endocannabinoid system.
Neurologist and cannabinoid researcher Ethan Russo used this evidence, along with other studies, to create his theory of “ Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency .” Simply put, this theory says that a lack of natural endocannabinoids can cause a variety of health problems, including migraines and fibromyalgia.
Another study , conducted in Colorado in 2016, came to similar results. This study found that regular cannabis use decreased the frequency of migraines from 10.4 headaches per month to just 4.6. Additionally, 11.6% of participants reported that regular cannabis use completely stopped migraines.
CBD for Migraines: How Does It Work?
This is where CBD for migraines comes in. Since migraines could be caused by an ECS deficiency, it makes sense to provide him with a daily dose of Cannabis, right? This is why many people are using CBD for their migraines. They are taking a daily dose of CBD as a preventative measure to keep migraines at bay. You can do this by putting CBD oil in your morning coffee, smoking or vaping a CBD-rich strain every day, or whatever your preferred method of intake is.
While research is still limited on the subject, there was a study in 2017 that showed cannabis was a more effective treatment for migraines than prescription drugs. Participants in this study were given a combination of THC and CBD for migraines, every day for three months. Not only did they have a 55% decrease in pain, but the relief was greater than with regularly prescribed medications for migraines and cluster headaches. Plus, participants who used THC and CBD for migraines had fewer side effects, such as stomach and muscle pain, often associated with prescription medications.
A 2015 survey in California had similar results. Care By Design interviewed medical marijuana patients and found that CBD used for migraines decreased pain 100% of the time. You read that right: 100%. On the other hand, they also found that CBD helped with other pain by an average of 50%.
How to Use CBD for Migraines
Even the little research we have indicates that a daily dose of CBD helps reduce the intensity and frequency of migraine symptoms. We suggest adding CBD oil into your daily routine as a preventative treatment. Since CBD can also help with many migraine triggers, such as stress, anxiety, and insomnia, it's a two-pronged approach. CBD for migraines helps prevent headaches as much as the triggers.
CBD for migraines also helps if you feel one coming on. Many migraine sufferers say they use a sublingual product, or vape or smoke a high-CBD strain when they feel or “see” a migraine coming on.
If you are looking for a good CBD strain suitable for migraines, we recommend:
For some people, smoking it intensifies headaches; If this applies to you, you may want to consider vape pens or taking products like oil sublingually for quick pain relief.
CBD for Migraines: The Safest Option
Not only is CBD more effective for migraines than prescription and over-the-counter (or FdB) medications, but it is also safer. There are many FdBs and prescription medications to treat and prevent migraines, but they all also have side effects, and many are not long-term options. For example, many people's first instinct is to take an FbD mixed with caffeine, such as Excedrin. But these drugs cannot prevent migraines and, if taken regularly, can cause heart, liver and stomach problems.
Some people take prescription opioids , such as OxyContin, to debilitate migraines, but we all know how easy it is to become addicted to opioid pills. With the risk of addiction, withdrawal and death from accidental overdose, it's not worth it.
There are also other prescription options for migraine sufferers, such as ergotamines or triptans. However, ergotamines can cause heart attacks, strokes, birth defects in women, and toxicosis if taken together with antibiotics or fungicidal medications. Likewise, triptans have many nasty side effects, which include dizziness, vomiting, extreme drowsiness, chest tightness, and rebound headaches. Because of these side effects, two-thirds of migraine sufferers avoid or delay taking these medications.
Doctors may also prescribe SSRIs (psychiatric drugs) for migraines. But the most obvious answer is the natural plant with almost no side effects: Cannabis .
CBD for migraines has been a game changer for many people. If you want to recommend CBD to a friend or family member who “doesn't get high,” remind them that CBD is not psychoactive. Don't miss out on the healing powers of CBD for migraines.