CBD For Migraine

Recent research has suggested that CBD might have properties you can use to relieve migraines. This article talks about what CBD and migraines are, how CBD works for migraines, how much you should take, its legality and how to take it.

CBD is one of the compounds found in the cannabis plant, and it has been under several types of research for having several health benefits, such as relieving pain, inflammation and anxiety. However, a less common benefit of CBD is its use for helping those Migraines. Migraines are headaches that keep recurring and usually cause a lot of pain and are usually felt on one side of the head. They usually cause a lot of discomforts and can include other symptoms such as sensitivity to light, nausea, and vomiting. Several treatments are used to help those with Migraines; however, some of the most recent research points to CBD as an alternative treatment.

Defining the terms; what are CBD and Migraines?

According to Ihler (2022), the cannabis plant can be traced to about 5000 years ago, being used for therapeutic and recreational benefits. CBD is one of the compounds found in the cannabis plant and is known to have several health benefits, such as helping with pain, inflammation and mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Little is known about CBD; however, an increasing number of people are opting for CBD as an alternative treatment for many health problems, including migraines.

Migraines are some headaches that can cause a lot of discomforts;they are usually characterized by pulsing pain on one side of the head, although you can experience it on the back or both sides of the head. Some of the most common symptoms of migraines usually include moderate to severe head pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness and head pain that seems to get worse with movements. The main causes of migraines are normally stress, anxiety, strong smells, sleeping problems and consumption of alcohol.Several medications are used to treat migraines; however, recent research has suggested that CBD might just be used to help those with migraines get relief. Learn more about is cbd beneficial for athletes?

How CBD works for migraines

According to Cuttler et al. (2020), CBD has properties that might help those with migraines get relief. Although current research is sketchy, researchers believe that the interaction of CBD with the endocannabinoid system makes this possible. The endocannabinoid system is usually responsible for many of the body's functions, such as pain, mood and the immune system.

Poudel et al. (2021) state that CBD might reduce migraines because it inhibits platelet serotonin. Research suggests that CBD might CBD oil might relieve migraines by acting on serotonin receptors known as 5HT1A, similar to how anti-migraine drugs usually work.

Another way CBD might help relieve migraines is by acting on some symptoms. The main symptoms associated with migraines are nausea and vomiting; CBD is usually known to interact with the endocannabinoid system to relieve these symptoms so that it might offer aid for migraines. However, more research is still needed to know how CBD might affect how CBD acts against migraines. Learn more about is cbd effective at treating period pain?

How much CBD should I take for migraines?

There is ongoing research on how CBD might affect migraines; moreover, CBD is not yet approved for migraines or headaches, so choosing the right dosage might be quite a task. Most manufacturers usually indicate the amount of dosage that might be perfect; however, you can start by using small doses of CBD and noting how your body reacts to it. You can start with dosages of about 10-20 mg/day and notice how the dosages offer pain relief; if no changes are noted, you can increase your dosage gradually until you find just the right amount of CBD you require. 

A few factors might affect the amount of CBD you require; these include your body mass, metabolism rate, and concentration of CBD. People with higher body masses might require a higher dosage. In contrast, a low concentration of CBD might require a higher dosage before you feel the same effects as higher concentrations. However, it would be best to remember to visit your health adviser before trying out any CBD products for migraines.

Legality

CBD is usually legal in the UK if it has a THC level lower than .2%. The Misuse drugs act of 1971 removed CBD from highly controlled substances and allowed CBD products derived from hemp to be available. Although most cannabis products usually contain a small amount of THC, you can find three main products: Full spectrum CBD with all the compounds in the cannabis plants, broad spectrum with some but not all compounds and isolate with 99% pure CBD.

According to Russo (2019), all the compounds in the cannabis plant usually combine to give a more powerful effect known as the entourage effect. However, if you don't want to take any chances in taking too much THC from full-spectrum CBD products, you can opt for CBD isolate. CBD isolate usually has no taste, so you can easily add it to your favourite food supplements or add your flavours.

How to take CBD for migraines

CBD usually comes in several products, such as edibles, topicals and vapes. Vaping and taking CBD sublingually usually offer the benefits of CBD much more quickly. However, CBD edibles usually have more long-lasting effects that can last hours after taking your CBD. You can try different products until you find the right product according to your preference.

Conclusion

CBD's properties for having the ability to offer several health benefits, including pain and inflammation, seem to grow in popularity; however, research suggests CBD might offer relief from migraines. CBDs' ability to interact with the endocannabinoid system, which is normally responsible for a number of the body's functions such as pain, mood and the immune system, is usually thought to be responsible for this relief for migraines. There are several products in the market, such as CBD oil, edibles and vapes. Because there are no recognized dosages for CBD, you should start with lower doses and move on to higher doses according to how your body reacts. Always remember to seek advice from your health adviser before taking CBD!

References

Cuttler, C., Spradlin, A., Cleveland, M. J., & Craft, R. M. (2020). Short-and long-term effects of cannabis on headache and migraine. The Journal of Pain, 21(5-6), 722-730.

Ihler, H. M. (2022). Cannabis–miracle medicine or psychosis-inducing drug? Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening.

Poudel, S., Quinonez, J., Choudhari, J., Au, Z. T., Paesani, S., Thiess, A. K., ... & Michel, J. (2021). Medical cannabis, headaches, and migraines: A review of the current literature. Cureus, 13(8).

Russo, E. B. (2019). The case for the entourage effect and conventional breeding of clinical cannabis: no “strain,” no gain. Frontiers in plant science, 1969.