Migraine is a painful and disabling disorder. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) states that (JAMA), 5.6% of men and 17.1% of women suffer from migraines. Most people experience periodic episodes. A minority, though, suffers from these intense headaches virtually every day.
Migraines also result in further difficulties. According to the American Migraine Foundation, severe headaches significantly influence the daily lives of chronic migraine patients — those who suffer from migraines at least 15 days per month.
CBD oil for migraine headaches has gained popularity since the introduction of the first supplements. Prescription medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), offer relief, but their adverse effects frequently exacerbate the problem.
How onlineCBDstore oil helps, if at all, is still being determined. Nonetheless, preliminary research and a plethora of anecdotes portray an optimistic picture.
Then, does CBD oil alleviate or prevent persistent migraines? Let’s have a peek.
How CBD May Benefit Migraine Treatment
Almost no research has been conducted on CBD oil for migraines. Ironically, the largest body of evidence predates the scientific method by a significant margin. Since ancient times, cannabis has been the standard therapy for headaches for thousands of years.
The scant contemporary research focuses on THC or a mixture of THC and CBD. Therefore, we can only surmise how CBD would aid, if at all.
However, it is not all gloom and doom. There may not be much research on CBD and migraine headaches, but many symptoms and triggers, such as stress and discomfort, have garnered widespread attention.
What Research Says Regarding CBD and Migraines
Before healthcare providers recommend high-quality CBD oil for migraine attacks or persistent migraine symptoms, more study is necessary.
Significant research includes a 2018 study by Hitchcock et al. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. This online survey-based study examined 589 “migraineurs” individuals.
According to their comments, 161 individuals suffered from chronic migraine episodes, with some experiencing daily migraine headaches.
76% of migraine sufferers report using cannabis primarily for migraine pain. Nevertheless, 86% also utilized prescription medications to manage their illnesses.
In contrast to the balanced medicinal marijuana employed in the study, conventional medications’ efficacy exhibited startling outcomes.
An astounding 75.82% reported that cannabis provided superior migraine pain relief to conventional medication.
However, remember that the strains used in the study contained both CBD and THC, making it difficult to determine if CBD, THC, or both played a role.
A 2017 study by the 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology examined CBD’s potential effects on migraine and cluster headaches.
The researchers selected oils containing either a balanced amount of THC and CBD or 9% and no THC. According to participants, the balanced onlineCBDstore oil produced superior benefits than its THC-free equivalent.
Participants also used the mood stabilizer and migraine treatment amitriptyline and compared its efficacy to that of cannabis. The results were about 50/50, with 40.1% stating that amitriptyline reduced migraine attacks more effectively than cannabis and 40.4% favoring cannabis.
In addition, applicants reported a 43.4% reduction in the intensity of migraine headaches when using cannabis.
What Professionals Say
Initially, the medical establishment exhibited considerable hostility toward cannabis. It remains true in many ways. While THC remains controversial among medical experts, CBD appears to be more accepted.
Although there will always be skeptics, the following experts are, as expected, cautiously optimistic.
Dr. Stephen Silberstein is the director of Jefferson University Hospital’s Headache Center. He is among the numerous physicians interested in CBD’s ability to treat headaches in chronic migraine sufferers.
Silberstein acknowledges in an interview with the American Headache Society that there is limited proof that full-spectrum onlineCBDstore oil, CBD isolate, or any other type of medical cannabis relieves migraine discomfort.
“There is scant proof that any of marijuana’s constituents are beneficial in the treatment of migraine and headache disorders,” he says. However, that does not imply that they are ineffective. This indicates that they have not been examined.”
Dr. Nathaniel Schuster is another expert actively involved in CBD research to treat migraines. As a headache and pain specialist at UC San Diego, he is presently recruiting subjects for an upcoming study on the effects of vaping CBD on migraine pain. The anticipated completion date for the study is November 2023.
In 2019, one of our writers was honored to interview Dr. Schuster. Working with youngsters using CBD to treat severe epilepsy sparked Schuster’s initial interest.
However, Dr. Schuster advocates vaping. Although the effects are nearly instantaneous, they only last a fraction of as long as CBD oil. In addition, Schuster notes that migraines inhibit digestion, which could reduce the effectiveness of oral CBD. Regardless, many migraine sufferers swear by the efficacy of onlineCBDstore oils.
Dr. Schuster’s view on CBD follows Dr. Silberstein’s cautious stance. “Outside of two rare pediatric epilepsy syndromes, the medical evidence for CBD is scant,” he says. “Therefore, it is certain that some individuals are using CBD for medical illnesses for which future research studies will demonstrate that CBD is no better than a placebo.”
Schuster is also concerned about the marketing of CBD as a panacea, particularly by companies that (illegally) promote this narrative. CBD’s allegedly beneficial treatment for migraine, chronic pain, muscle pain, mood, digestion, nausea, and immunological support, among many others, is not fully supported by peer-reviewed research or other cannabis science (yet).
Ultimately, the medical community’s response to the question “does CBD work for migraine?” is a loud “maybe.”
What Migraine Patients Take CBD Oil for, Say
It may be challenging to locate peer-reviewed studies, but there are an infinite number of tales to at least somewhat compensate.
Remember that “hemp”-derived online CBD store goods and “marijuana”-derived CBD products are yet unknown, so consult your healthcare practitioner before utilizing cannabis plant products.
According to “Glen,” a participant in the 2018 survey study cited previously, CBD helped him lessen his dependence on prescription drugs and provided reasonable pain control:
“What a difference CBD oil has made: no more carbamazepine or hydrocodone, and just half as much gabapentin—and vastly superior pain management. Agony breakthroughs still occur, but 15 minutes after another application of [CBD oil], the pain is gone. I had no adverse reactions.”
Another person who wished to remain anonymous provided excellent feedback: “[CBD] has eased my persistent migraines tremendously. I can promptly count on it to alleviate discomfort if taken at the outset.”
How Should CBD Oil Be Used for Migraines?
CBD oil is simple to administer for migraines. However, you must first locate high-quality online CBD store oil from a trusted provider.
Find a source that uses naturally-grown industrial hemp, has a strong internet presence, and conducts third-party tests with readily available results.
How Much CBD for Migraine Should You Take?
A fundamental disadvantage of dosing CBD is that, at least for the time being, no standard formula exists. Each individual’s body is unique and will respond to CBD differently. Some may require a modest dose, while others may require a higher dose, and a certain proportion may not have any effect.
However, while starting, it is essential to “start low and go slow.” Start with between 2 and 5 mg of CBD and progressively increase as needed over several days. Eventually, you will observe the effects, at which point you should maintain the current dose. Tolerance can develop. Therefore you may need to raise your dosage later.
Also, keep in mind that CBD may take time to build up in your system, so it may take days or even weeks – even with the optimum amount – to observe improvements.
Summary: CBD for Migraine
There is a lengthy history of using CBD oil or other medical marijuana to treat headaches and other symptoms. The fact that this medical practice has endured for millennia is evidence of cannabis’ remarkable potential therapeutic effects.
However, the current standard of proof is far higher than that of our ancestors, and, unfortunately, we need more evidence to meet it.
Therefore, it is impossible to claim with certainty that CBD oil can assist in alleviating migraines. Only peer-reviewed papers and other research can provide definitive evidence. Fortunately, as we saw, research is in progress. Even if it may take some time for this new research to be published, it is still preferable to publish them later than never.
