Can CBD help with migraines?

Have you ever experienced a severe pulsing headache that intervenes your daily life turning it into 24-hour suffering? If yes, you need an immediate solution – CBD can help to relieve pain and cure migraine.

Although CBD has demonstrated non-deniable effectiveness in providing well-being and treating many diseases, the perception of it is still stereotypical. Mainly, it happens because of the CBD’s origin and its relation to hemp – a plant with ascribed psychotropic properties. But not least. Many people do not believe that the spectrum of the therapeutic effect of CBD is as broad as it is. Scientists and practitioners claim that CBD is an excellent means of relieving pain. It cures or mitigates migraines, arthritis pain, depression and anxiety, diverse kinds of inflammation, epilepsy, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

Indeed, it looks like a magic pill at the first sight. When looking closely, one can see what preconditions such a broad effect. As a rule, a close second glance at the remedy’s properties makes people believe that miracles do happen to those who are seeking them.

So, what is CBD?

CBD (or cannabidiol) is a medicine made using a unique formula. This formula includes biologically active chemicals derived from hemp – a cannabis plant. We are talking about two chemicals – cannabidiol (actually CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as THC). Thanks to the latter component, CBD is perceived with some extent of doubt since THC is responsible for the “taking high” effect. Yet, the presence of it in the remedy is not an alarming sign but a sign of effectiveness. The tandem of the two most active compounds is exactly what precondition a variety of pharmacological effects: anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective, antioxidative, antiemetic, and antipsychotic. Cannabidiol solely can also be used as a basic component but it will not be as effective as it could be in cooperation with THC.

So, what’s about “high effect” or threats related to the psychotropic properties of THC?

As the nature of THC is challenging, the scientific community does not stop exploring both the positive and negative effects of CBD. So, the review of the 132 studies on CBD safety profile showed no influence on the physiological parameters. Heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature are not altered. Psychomotor and psychological functions are not negatively affected. It concerns a variety of doses – from the small to the high one. Thus, high doses of up to 1,500 mg per day are well tolerated by humans, even in the case of chronic use.

It is worth admitting, that CBD is also used for treating different kinds of addictions. It might be surprising, but CBD may reduce the negative psychotropic effects, memory impairment, appetite stimulation, anxiety, and psychotic-like states of THC while enhancing its positive therapeutic actions.

Now we know what CBD is and that it is a safe remedy with a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects.

But is it good for treating migraine?

Migraine is not a mere pain. Who can be considered a migraine sufferer?

Sometimes, people used to consider any headache migraine. They call themselves migraine sufferers just having pain once or twice a year. Yet not every kind of pain is obligatory related to migraine. It is necessary to distinguish an occasional headache caused by circumstances and a migraine, which is a more complex health problem.

So, migraine is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases. It often remains undiagnosed and untreated because of unclear symptomatic and perceiving it as just a pain. Yet, migraine pain is not just pain. It is usually accompanied by pulsing sensations, nausea, and vomiting; it is also related to extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Attacks of migraine can last for a few hours or for days. However, even in the “latent” stage (pre-attack or post-attack), it provokes mood changes, eating disorders, flood retention, etc.

Considering the core symptom of headache, one can be defined as a chronic migraine sufferer if he/she experiences from 15 to 29 headaches days a month.

Sure, you should not practice self-diagnosis. And in any case, do not practice self-treatment. Many diseases have very alike symptoms. So, you need to get a professional consultancy. Care about getting an appropriate doctor’s appointment before starting to take any medications.

CBD effectiveness for migraine treatment

If you were attentive when reading the previous paragraph, you might notice that migraine is a neurological disease. You also might notice that the majority of CBD effects are in the area of nervous system functioning. So, why CBD is so good for treating such kinds of problems?

Because the compounds that are the components of CBD are natural cannabinoids. They are the only analogs of the elements playing an exceptional role in the protective functions of the human nervous system. Endocannabinoids are not restored by the human body if the nervous system is exhausted. The lack of them causes a variety of health problems, including migraines. Cannabinoids derived from hemp play the role of replacers. They empower the nervous system and restore its ideal functioning by causing a subtle natural-like effect.

Indeed, a recent study explored the effect of CBD on curing migraine. So, data from a clinically validated survey demonstrated a high level of people experiencing relief because of CBD. More than 85% of respondents reported a decrease in headache impact after taking cannabidiol (CBD) for a 30-day trial period. During this period, respondents experienced an average of 3.8 fewer headache days than before using CBD oil. It is a reduction of 23% which is a significant figure if compared to the results of conventional treatment.

It happens because CBD does not relieve the pain only. It causes a complex effect on the nervous system’s functioning. It cures inflammations in the brain. It helps also to normalize overall physical and psychological processes. It promotes curing all the problems that go with pain – nausea, vomiting, and light and sound extra sensitivity.

How to take it? Forms and dosage

CBD is available in a variety of forms to meet all the needs of consumers. You can buy CBD oil, vape, topicals, tinctures, or capsules. As a rule, these forms are not significantly different in terms of chemical composition or treatment effect. They are produced differently to make treatment more comfortable and preserve confidence. So, in case you need to take medicines in public, it is easy to take gummies. Gummies cause no suspects or questions about the reasons for taking them.

A single point is a time of causing an effect. If you have an awful pain that should be relieved as soon as possible it is better to prefer CBD oil – it is absorbed comparatively sooner.

The treatment should be started with a minimal dose. Then, you can gradually increase it until you will find the needed dosage that relieves your symptoms. A minimal dose is indicated in the remedy’s instructions.

Yet, remember about multiple CAUTIONS.

If you take any other medications.

If you have chronic diseases or the ‘troubling’ medical story with surgeries, innate diseases, or any other health problems.

If you have not used CBD before.

Please, consult with your doctor, health provider, or qualified cannabis dispensary to avoid side effects or adverse reactions.

Are there any age-related cautions?

CBD is good for treating migraines in all – teens, adults, and aged persons. There are no cautions, except for those mentioned above. The more health problems the person has, the more necessary the doctor’s appointment is.

Children – it is a single category excluded from the age list. It is not because of precautions but mostly because of special attention to the kid’s health. Currently, CBD works well for children too and causes any negative effect on the child’s health. Yet, the THC trace (even when we speak about pure cannabidiol) makes parents question the appropriateness of CBD for kids.

Sure, when we have the case of severe problems like epilepsy – the use of CBD by children is justified. Yet in the case of headaches, it is better to pay attention to a child’s lifestyle. But if the parents are ready to go the CBD way – there are no cautions; CBD is well tolerated by children.

One more step before using CBD for treating migraine

If you have prescriptions and absolute confidence in your will to start using CBD, you should check whether CBD is allowed legally in your state or country. The thing is that the relation to marijuana is still a threatening factor for many governments. Because of this, some states and counties have already legalized CBD. Some of them legalized it with restrictions (no more than 0,3 THC). And some are still hesitating about legalization.

So, be sure that CBD is allowed in the place where you live, especially when offering it only. If you offered a product, the company would not be able to deliver it to you if there are restrictions or prohibitions.