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How to use CBD Oil for Migraines
23:56 07 May 2020
If you suffer from chronic migraines, you’ve probably tried every remedy in the book: extra-strength over-the-counter pain relief, prescription-strength painkillers, massages; but nothing seems to drive that searing pain out of your skull.
But don’t worry, you’re not alone; according to research, less than half of headache sufferers experience relief of symptoms and for some, symptoms progress and they suffer from more severe or chronic headaches throughout their lifetime.
What if we tell you that a component of Cannabis—known already for its effects on the brain— can help ease your migraines, while you remain 100% sober?
At this point, you’ve probably heard of CBD, popping up everywhere as the new magical cure-all for pain and anxiety relief. But can it really be that effective? How are you supposed to trust that it’ll work for migraines when nothing else has? What can CBD really do that an Advil and a nap can’t?
Aren’t migraines just bad headaches?
Before we talk treatments, we need to know what we’re dealing with.
What are migraines, and how are they typically treated?
For starters, they’re much more than bad headaches. A migraine is “an extremely incapacitating collection of neurological symptoms”, which typically involves a severe throbbing recurring pain on one side of the head, lasting between 4 and 72 hours. Other disabling symptoms include visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell, and tingling or numbness in the extremities or face.
Migraines are typically treated with either over-the-counter or prescription medications, such as analgesics and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin) or Triptans (migraine-specific prescription medication). Other natural, home remedies include massage, applying cold, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, and quiet.
What is CBD, and how can it help?
Migraines are included in a lengthy list of chronic conditions which are largely treatment-resistant. At least, they have been so far, using traditional pharmaceutical treatments; enter CBD.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the active compound in Cannabis which produces calming and pain-relieving symptoms, with no psychoactive effects.
According to the CBD Fable website CBD has been used to treat pain, anxiety and depression, and cancer-related symptoms, and is also thought to have neuroprotective properties (the potential to treat neurological disorders like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis) and may even benefit heart health.
As CBD has become legal in many U.S. states, we are learning more and more about its healing and pain-relieving symptoms.
So, what’s the science behind CBD’s relief of chronic pain like migraines? CBD interrupts the activity of neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids, which are involved in a variety of bodily processes and reside in the nervous system. This interruption can reduce the inflammation that causes migraines.
Is CBD is better than pharmaceuticals in treating Migraine?
One of the most common treatments for migraines and headaches is the use of NSAIDs. It has been found that the regular use of NSAIDs has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
Additionally, they tend to be hard on the stomach and can cause ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding. These problems only tend to arise after heavy use. For those with occasional headaches, that’s fine. But for those with chronic migraines, the use of NSAIDs can be dangerous.
CBD is a natural remedy that simply causes an interruption in pain receptors, side effects of which include calmness, pain reduction, and a possible increase in appetite.
Triptans are the most common pharmaceutical used to treat migraines, and the list of side effects for this type of medication is extensive.
Most important to note is that these medications can cause dizziness, nausea, tingling in the hands, all of which are symptoms of chronic migraines. They can even cause headaches and other inflammation such as chest pain.
CBD can reduce nausea and other symptoms, while pharmaceuticals are causing additional discomfort and potential danger.
What does the research say?
In recent studies, Cannabis-based medicines have “demonstrated safety, efficacy and consistency” in treating various neurological conditions and pain, including migraines.
The inherent properties of Cannabis offer unique advantages over the current single-target pharmaceutical model and have the potential to revolutionize neurological treatment into “a new reality of effective interventional and even preventative treatment”.
Believe it or not, Cannabis has a long history of being used tomorrow to treat migraines and headaches. For over 900 years from 1001-2000 BCE, Assyrian treatments for migraines included Cannabis. Ayurvedic medicine, one of the world’s oldest medical systems which are still used today in India, has recommended the use of Cannabis for “diseases of the head” such as migraines, for thousands of years.
In many conditions that CBD is being used to treat, including fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome, “clinical endocannabinoid deficiency” is thought to be the cause because of various symptoms overlapping between these conditions. The use of cannabinoids, found in CBD, can give the body what it lacks and counteract harmful symptoms.
So, what does this all mean?
Migraines are a pervasive medical condition that causes extreme pain and other debilitating symptoms. Traditional medical treatments for migraines and various disorders with similar symptoms have failed to be consistently effective.
CBD is now being legalized in more and more places as this compound has none of the psychoactive properties traditionally associated with Cannabis.
Cannabinoids found in CBD have been shown to counteract processes in the body that send pain signals as well as fulfill the body’s need for cannabinoids in those who are deficient, as this deficiency is believed to be the root cause of symptoms. Cannabis has been used throughout history as a trusted method for treating migraines, and that should not stop now.
Many negative symptoms are found to derive from pharmaceutical remedies provided for migraines, many of which are the problematic symptoms that are supposed to be treated, completely counteracting the purpose of treatment.
CBD has shown effectiveness in treating the most debilitating of migraine symptoms such as severe head pain, dizziness, and nausea without the harmful effects of prescription medication.
It appears that CBD could be the breakthrough remedy we’ve been waiting for. Say goodbye to migraines and start living again!