CBD and migraine: Cannabis can help with headaches
Migraine and medications
As you may know, these frequently prescribed drugs can cause addiction and often lead to moderate to severe side effects. It is important to remember that pharmaceutical drugs are not the only option for treating migraines. In addition to body care (lifestyle choices), you can include CBD as a plant-based natural migraine headache treatment.
Are you not sure? We will show you evidence from several medical studies conducted over the last ten years. These studies have assessed the medical effectiveness of CBD in treating people suffering from different types of headaches, including migraines. The results are presented below.
Migraine and cannabis
In 2017, the 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology found that active substances in cannabis (THC and CBD) more effectively reduce the frequency of acute migraine pain than prescription drugs, causing fewer side effects. This study discovered that patients suffering from chronic migraines who received a dose of 200 mg of THC/CBD daily for three months the symptoms dropped by 55%
The second part of the study focused on patients suffering from chronic, acute migraines and those suffering from headaches caused by Horton syndrome (Cluster headache). Participants were given either THC/CBD or pharmaceuticals - antidepressants for migraines and calcium channel blockers for Horton syndrome. The study concluded that THC/CBD is better at reducing the frequency of migraine attacks, making cannabinoids a better pharmaceutical alternative.
The study also found that a mixture of THC/CBD resulted in fewer side effects than the pharmaceutical option. The observed patients showed less stomach pain and muscle pain experience.
You can find the study on the European Academy of Neurology website (www.ean.org).
A 2016 study assessed the effectiveness of medical marijuana in treating migraine pain in 121 adults. It concluded that “the frequency of migraine headaches decreased from 10.4 to 4.6 cases per month when using medical marijuana. Most patients used more than one form of marijuana and used it daily to prevent migraine headaches. Positive effects were reported in 48 patients (39.7%). The most common effects were the prevention of migraine headaches and reduction of the frequency.”
You can find the study on www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
A fascinating fact is that cannabis was one of the most commonly used migraine drugs recommended by doctors from 1874 to 1942.
Recommended regimen of CBD use for headaches
When formulating a routine of taking CBD for headaches, such as migraines and Horton’s syndrome, it is essential to remember that CBD should be used regularly for maximum relief. This means that it should be used as a preventive measure; it can also manage acute conditions, but prevention is the most important aspect!
Think of it as it was any other dietary supplement, creating a principal concentration in your system.
Daycare
Daily consumption of CBD oil in the form of tincture or gel capsules is recommended to manage migraines. The composition of these products is the same. The only difference between the two is the form and dosage - pills vs. sublingual tincture(administered under the tongue).
It is suggested that patients suffering from headaches start with 5-10 mg of CBD per day. If the patient does not feel relief at this amount, it is recommended to increase it by 5-10 mg until the wanted effects are reached.
The gel capsules are pre-filled, and each pill contains 25 mg of CBD. If the patient starts at 25 mg of CBD per day, this is not a problem since you cannot get overdosed by CBD or severe side effects.
These edible products provide relief for a few hours - many people find that lasting throughout the day! One thing to keep in mind with edible CBD products is the delayed onset time. It can take up to 90 minutes before the tincture or capsules kick in.
Managing acute seizures
In addition to the daily prevention of migraines described above, many patients need a safe way to manage acute seizures. Whether it is due to a bad lifestyle or another reason, it is recommended to vape CBD extract to manage such acute conditions; you might even be able to stop it before it even begins.
The advantage of vaping or dabbing CBD extracts is that the effect comes in practically instantly. CBD extracts can contain up to 99% of CBD, and they can bring a wave of relief that will pass throughout the body.
CBD can also be used in tinctures or pills to combat seizures; remember that the onset time will be significantly longer than vaping.
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