Explore CBD for Migraines
If you have ever experienced a migraine, you know how painful and upsetting it can be. Typical symptoms of a migraine include sensitivity to light and nausea. Most of the time, the pain and sensitivity will cause you to lay down somewhere dark until the migraine has cleared up.
Today's available treatments are not enough and usually leave the patients with other symptoms that are even worse than the migraine. As such, patients are forced to go through suffering without any hope of reducing the symptoms they are experiencing.
Luckily, many people who suffer from migraines have discovered CBD oil to be quite helpful in reducing the pain that accompanies the migraine without the other harmful side effects.
In the following review, we will look at the various ways CBD oil can help treat migraines. We will also look at the study behind this reasoning and whether or not CBD oil for treating migraines is ideal for you.
What are Migraines?
This is a type of headache that is known to cause serious pain of varied intensity. The sufferer experiences severe pain in addition to other symptoms such as:-
- Light sensitivity
- Dizziness
- A feeling of nausea
- Tiredness and general fatigue
- Auras on other occasions
Auras are one of the strangest symptoms that a migraine sufferer can experience and have been known to affect the five senses. It is known to cause hallucinations and flashing lights, and in other cases, it can happen even without a migraine.
A migraine is often unsettling and will leave the sufferer without the ability to get through their daily activities. Usually, the person suffering from the migraine will go to a quiet room with no lights and lay down until their headache subsides.
Migraines are typical in many people, and 1 in 5 women and 1 in 15 men suffer one or another form of migraines. Some will experience migraines a few times a week, while others only experience them occasionally.
Other lucky people will only suffer them after a few years, even though they tend to be very painful when they happen.
How to Tell the Difference Between a Migraine and a Headache
Several methods can be used to establish the difference between a migraine and a headache. For a typical headache, you will only experience head pain. However, migraines have additional symptoms apart from the headache, and the pain sensation also differs. It feels like a squeeze and will last a few hours.
When experiencing a migraine, one will feel a throbbing sensation on one side or the front of the head. This pain can also be relentless and will usually last several days. The pain experienced when someone has a migraine also tends to be painful, and the victim cannot perform their daily activities.
Migraines are characterized by more severe and debilitating symptoms than headaches.
Migraine Pain Management
The available options for pain management for migraines tend to be almost similar to those used to treat tension headaches.
The victims will often resort to over-the-counter drugs to treat their pain and avoid specific triggers that are known to escalate the feeling. An increase in the levels of pain will usually require consulting a doctor to get an appropriate prescription.
Even though the drug has been known to alleviate migraine symptoms, it has additional side effects that are not pleasing. For this reason, anyone suffering from a migraine will be left with other symptoms to deal with due to using prescription drugs.
As such, an alternative and practical option for the management of pain is required. Cannabis is a more promising alternative in this way, and recent evidence shows that migraines and cannabis have something worthwhile.
CBD Oil for Migraines
An alternative treatment for managing migraine pain, CBD oil is rapidly becoming a hot topic. So, is it effective for the treatment of migraines and the accompanying symptoms? To begin with, CBD oil is not a discovery as far as the treatment of migraines is concerned.
It has been used even long before the research has already started to manage migraine symptoms. It has even been reported that in addition to reducing the symptoms experienced, CBD oil can also shorten migraine attacks.
A lot of good testimonials from people that have experience with this treatment option have been recorded. You must be wondering whether CBD oil is a viable treatment solution for a migraine you or a loved one has been suffering from.
CBD vs. THC for Migraines
THC and CBD are both cannabis molecules that can be used in the treatment of migraines. According to Madkamin, different types of cannabinoid molecules may help in treating migraines.
To determine which of these products can help with your migraines, it is crucial to look at their effects. CBD does not produce any high impact and has been effective in treating inflammation and pain treatment.
However, THC has been proven to be more powerful and has more substantial properties that help manage pain. It has a more significant potential than CBD, which makes it better for migraines. However, it produces a high effect on the user, making it less appealing to non-users.
Experimentation with a product that mixes the two compounds have found that a compelling mix has the best results on migraines. Tolerance and chemistry are different in individual patients, and the combination of the two compounds is the best balance.
How CBD Oil Affects Migraines
It is not yet established precisely how CBD oil affects migraines, but there are several theories. One of them is that CBD maintains homeostasis in the body by binding to the cannabinoid receptors in the body. There hasn't been any scientific proof as yet to that effect.
Another theory is that CBD helps the body to maintain a stable and relatively higher level of Anandamide.
This compound is known to reduce the activation of pain receptors in the body, enabling migraine victims to lessen the symptoms felt when they are experiencing the migraine. A triggered immune system is also known to cause a lot of inflammation, which is reduced by using CBD.
Science has also shown that mammals with a deficiency in endocannabinoids can experience several problems. With the inclusion of CBD in their diets, this deficiency can be alleviated in the very same way minerals, and vitamins are supplemented in patients with deficiencies.
Side Effects of CBD Oil for Migraines
Very few side effects are why CBD oil is used as an alternative treatment for migraines. The typical prescription medicines have unwanted and severe side effects, but for CBD oil, there are very few side effects. Some of these side effects include drowsiness, fatigue, or even a stomach upset.
Liver toxicity has been observed in experiments where very high doses of CBD were administered. The side effects usually depend on the method of ingestion that you choose for the CBD. For instance, if you choose to smoke, you will still be at risk of lung damage, whereas oral CBD will not.
Research for CBD and Migraines
There is a lack of definite research on CBD as an alternative treatment for migraines. A lot of the research that has been conducted has been for medicinal marijuana as a whole, which means that THC components were also included. However, this research in itself has shown a lot of promise in treating pain, including that of migraines.
According to a 2016 research by Pharmacotherapy, medical marijuana can reduce the occurrence of migraines by 60%. in other medical studies, medical marijuana was shown to be an ideal stepping stone for people that were using heavier drugs such as opioids for pain treatment.
People with severe migraines always struggle with using opioids to alleviate migraines and pain relief. The currently available data indicates that CBD and medical marijuana can be used for pain treatment and CBD oil is worth trying.
Legality of CBD Oil
The CBD oil that is derived from Hemp is legal in almost all states except for:-
- Nebraska
- Idaho
- South Dakota
As such, you are probably in a state where the use of CBD oil has been made legal since there is no THC in CBD oil.
The best form of CBD oil has been shown to come from a high-CBD flower which means that some variants of hemp have almost none. Only legal cannabis states can produce the quality of CBD oil required to manage migraine pain.
In some states, a medical marijuana card is needed to purchase CBD oil, while others allow adults to use cannabis in all forms, and you will not have a problem getting the oil. Before starting CBD oil treatment, you must check the hemp laws in your state to ensure that you are on the right side of the law.
How to Use CBD Oil for Migraines
Many people believe that hemp seed oil can be used as a cannabinoid supplement in the diet. However, this is not the case as hempseed does not have any cannabinoids. Instead, users should look for CBD oil or Hemp oil, usually derived from flowers and shake.
There are various ways of consuming CBD oil for migraines, and if you are not sure which to use, consult your doctor for better advice. Typical methods of CBD consumption include:-
- Eating it in a beverage or a food
- Consuming it as a capsule
- Smoking it
- Orally ingesting liquid drops
- CBD ointments
Usually, your doctor should recommend the ideal starting dosage and adjust it depending on its effectiveness for your migraines. Ideally, you should start with the tiniest dosages and increase as required.
CBD Products for Migraines
Following are some of the popular CBD oils that can be used for migraines. These do not contain any THC, and as such, they are readily available for many people.
- Sabaidee CBD Oil
- Spruce CBD Oil
- Penguin CBD Oil
- Fab CBD Oil
How THC Oil Affects Migraines
Thanks to legalization, increased research on THC use for treating migraines has made the plan readily available for studies. It is generally assumed that cannabinoids affect migraine victims through:-
- Anticonvulsive
- Anagelsic
- Antiemetic
- Anti-inflammatory effects.
Relief from nausea is beneficial and helps victims suffering from severe migraines. These are the patients that vomit several times when they are experiencing a migraine attack.
THC is known to increase endorphins which is also helpful for the alleviation of pain and helps improve the level of compounds such as Anandamide which causes feelings of relaxation and pleasure. For some migraine victims, THC has been known to help them avoid using pharmaceutical medications which are known to come with severe side effects that are just as terrible as those of migraines.
Side Effects of THC for Migraines
The main side effect of using TCH for the treatment of migraines is the high feeling. Using a combination of THC and CBD helps to reduce the high impact and effectively reduces the overall pain associated with the migraine.
Other patients do not mind the high effect produced by the THC and consider it to be desirable. Additional side effects include:-
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Hunger
- Thirst
- Giddiness
- Paranoia on other occasions
Couch-lock is also expected, and the patient feels good not standing up or doing anything at all. The side effects do not last very long. Some will stay as short as half an hour or an hour and a half.
Edibles have more prolonged side effects, and the type of cannabis you consume is just as important as how much you consume when you think about side effects.
Research into THC for Migraines
CBD oil does not have much research conducted, but medical marijuana has more excellent research into side effects. Medical marijuana has been shown to reduce overall body pain, even that from chronic conditions.
The marijuana ingested through inhalation has been shown to reduce headaches by 47.3% and the intensity of migraines by 49.6%. This is quite a considerable improvement and means that migraine victims no longer experience intense pain whenever they get an attack.
It also proves the effectiveness of medical marijuana to treat the severe pain and symptoms associated with migraines. Migraine patients will find medical marijuana to be quite a promising option for the management of the pain and in alleviating the side effects that are usually accompanied by migraine episodes.
THC happens to have a high effect, but if you do not mind this, you will find it effective in dealing with the pain and reducing the other symptoms.
In other studies, medical marijuana has also been proven to reduce the frequency of migraines which is good news for migraine sufferers.
Patients who used to experience them about ten times have reduced the number of incidences to as low as 4, which is a vast improvement for them and a promising treatment option for their symptoms.
Legality of THC for Migraines
Owing to its psychoactive component, medical marijuana with THC is more regulated than products derived from Hemp. If you happen to be living in a state that has legalized medical marijuana, you will have to make an application for a medical marijuana card.
Legal, medical cannabis can be used to treat the headache associated with migraines and additional side effects. In other states, the use of cannabis by adults for all reasons is legal, and anyone over 21 years of age can use it for any reason they want.
You must check with your state’s medical marijuana control office first before using cannabis for migraines and chronic pain. When you check, you will be sure that you are on the right side of the law and are using cannabis legally to treat migraines and manage the accompanying symptoms.
How to Use THC for Migraines
The simplest method of consuming THC and getting it into your system to treat migraines is smoking it. With a joint, you will be able to ingest cannabis to treat migraines and their accompanying side effects.
THC products can be consumed in many ways, whereby inhalation is the easiest and fastest means of obtaining relief.
The effects usually reach your body systems in 5-15 minutes, but inhalation is not allowed in all states. In the states where the inhalation of cannabis is not permitted, patients usually resort to tablets or sublingual tinctures for faster relief.
THC is known to absorb faster through the massive blood vessels under the tongue. This does not apply to all patients but is worth trying in states where inhalation of cannabis has not been allowed.
Other methods of cannabis consumption include:-
- Foods and beverages
- Capsules
- Creams and transdermal patches
- Oral liquids
It is essential first to consult your medical marijuana doctor to recommend the best method of ingestion, depending on the symptoms you are experiencing.
With the advice from the doctor and a look at your medical history, you will be given advice that is suited to your particular condition. The treatment will be more effective, and you will know the safe dosages to use for your specific case.
Get a physician's consultation before trying to use THC or any other cannabis product to treat your migraines. This way, you will be taking a more practical approach to your treatment, and the results will be more manageable.
Best THC Products for Migraines
When choosing the best THC product for migraines, many people usually consider the strain of cannabis. The most effective and standard relief method for migraines is smoking flowers. OG Kush is the most common flower used for people who want to stay in their rooms until the migraine subsides.
It has been shown to have a sedating effect, making it possible to get some sleep until the migraine attack is over. Cannabis has a different impact on different kinds of users, and some users are more interested in supplementing their THC with CBD.
Such users will opt for AC/DC, Charlotte’s Web, and Harlequin for their cannabis. These strains are usually combined with other more potent THC strains like Pineapple Express, which brings about the effect of both the THC and the CBD.
Conclusion
Evidence has clearly shown and proven that THC and CBD are effective treatment methods for migraines.
There is a need for further research and studies to establish whether both are effective treatments for migraines. So far, the studies on medical marijuana on pain treatment have been proven to be very helpful and practical, and CBD and THC can also be viable alternative treatments for migraines.
Medical marijuana products and CBD oil are increasingly being used by people suffering from migraines to lessen the symptoms without the severe side effects of prescribed medicines.
As a form of treatment, it is becoming popular as it does not cause further complications the way prescribed medications are known to affect the victims. It is safe and easier to use, and the patients can handle the side effects more quickly.
For anyone who would like to stay away from THC, CBD oil is recommended by researchers, and they should try it. It does not have a high effect which is usually the case with the use of THC.
As such, it leaves the patient in a stable state and does not cause any paranoia when used for the treatment of migraines. It is also less robust and recommended for patients who are not regular users of medical marijuana for pain treatment and medications.
HappyMD is here to provide you with the consultation and advice you need before trying CBD oil to treat migraines.
We have physicians available from 8 AM to 10 PM in Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. If you wish to speak to someone knowledgeable and compassionate about weed, you get to see our physician right from your home.
There is no need for an appointment, and you will get a weed doctor to guide you through the process of using cannabis to treat migraine symptoms. Get the help you need and know how to use CBD oil right for your migraine treatment.
Do you need medical marijuana card?
.png)