Headaches are an immense burden, especially when they occur repeatedly. A distinction must be made between classic headaches and migraines. The latter shows itself with numerous facets and different faces. Some migraine patients are affected by the agonizing attacks several times a month, others only once a year. We enlighten you and reveal what effect CBD can have on migraine.
I. Introduction
If you have ever had a migraine attack yourself, you know how far-reaching the effects can be. Migraine should be distinguished from cluster headaches, which also occur in attacks but are classified as classic headaches. But what is a migraine and where does it come from?
What is migraine and what are its symptoms?
Migraine is defined as recurring headache attacks that must have occurred at least five times. Only from this frequency is actually spoken of a migraine disease. In addition to the excruciating headache, there are typical other symptoms that affected people report again and again. These include:
- Vomiting and nausea
- Sensitivity to sound
- Photosensitivity
- Perceptual and visual disturbances
- Flickering scotomas (jagged visual disturbances, also called aura)
- Irritability, aggressiveness, inner restlessness
Up to now, it has not been conclusively clarified how migraine occurs in the first place. Statistically, women are affected more often than men, and the recurring disease usually develops between the ages of 20 and 40. Potential causes can be circulatory disorders in the brain, hormonal fluctuations, serotonin deficiency, stress or sleep disorders.
How is migraine treated?
A causal treatment of migraine is not possible until today, because the causes are almost never known. The goal of treatment is therefore to relieve the pain and discomfort to a large extent. For this purpose, mainly medications are used, which are taken in different dosages during migraine attacks.
For acute treatment, painkillers of the NSAID type are primarily used. They alleviate the symptoms experienced by sufferers by reducing the perception of pain. Triptans are also available as special migraine medications, which are used for severe migraine attacks. Symptoms of auras such as light sensitivity, nausea, and other discomfort can also be relieved only symptomatically.
For some patients with aura, it is helpful to take painkillers such as triptans immediately after the onset of the first signs. In this way, the migraine attack can be inhibited in its development. Experienced migraine patients know that an attack is imminent as soon as nausea and vomiting appear.For some time now, studies on the topic of cannabis in migraine have been increasing, and it is often used in combination with CBD. Cannabis is not legal in this country, but may be prescribed in the form of medication. However, the experience reports of numerous people now indicate that cannabidiol alone is also capable of achieving a positive effect in migraine.
What is CBD oil and how is it made?
To understand why CBD oil can relieve migraines, it is important to know the product itself. CBD is a cannabinoid whose origin is the hemp plant. It is extracted from high-quality organic CBD flowers. It is grown from commercial hemp seeds that have been certified in the EU Variety Catalogue. After harvesting, the CBD extract is obtained from the flowers using CO2 extraction process. The raw material is then dissolved in a carrier oil, making it available for human use.
II. CBD Oil and Migraine
The effect of CBD on migraine is complex and based on several building blocks. Cannabidiol interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system. It has been consistently suggested that migraine attacks may be triggered due to dysfunction of this system. Since CBD can lead to normalization of function by targeting the various receptors, a first starting point for the efficacy of CBD in migraine would have been found. However, there are other important aspects as to why CBD can alleviate migraines.
Reduction of pain through CBD
There are already a large number of studies dealing with the influence of CBD on pain. This interesting work, however, focuses on cannabinoids and their influence on migraine. It is made clear how promising CBD really is against migraine and what influence cannabinoids could also have in the case of an endocannabinoid deficiency.
The influence on serotonin levels
The neurotransmitter serotonin has long been suspected of being able to trigger migraines, among other things. It is known that a deficiency can lead to depression and other ailments. A shifted balance of serotonin in the brain can also lead to headache attacks in the sense of migraine in many cases. CBD oil has a direct influence on cannabinoid receptors in the human body. Thus, it can play an important role in the regulation of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
Help for circulatory problems with CBD
If you have ever had to struggle with the symptoms of a migraine, you know how much the quality of life suffers. There is still no adequate therapy, because so far only the symptoms are fought. However, if the causes are known, you can focus on prevention. During a migraine aura and during the attack itself, individual areas of the brain can be insufficiently supplied with blood.
Even though there are no clear studies on this yet, the active ingredient CBD seems to have a positive influence on the blood vessels. It is said to improve blood flow, which in turn could prevent the symptoms of migraine. The presumed efficacy is based on the findings that have already been obtained regarding CBD in cardiovascular diseases. There are many indications that blood pressure can also be lowered in a regulatory manner via the dilation of blood vessels. This effect can also be used by migraine sufferers.
Better sleep thanks to CBD
Many people use CBD drops when they suffer from sleep disorders. The cannabidiol has a relaxing and slightly fatiguing effect, so that sleep is generally improved. Since lack of sleep is often cited as a cause of migraines, the use of CBD could address this, among other things. Through a regular sleep rhythm and a balanced night’s rest, it is conceivable to take preventive action against migraines.
The advantage with CBD against sleep disorders is primarily that no “hangover” is to be expected the next morning. The head is not befuddled as with the use of sleeping pills, CBD does not make high.
III. possible side effects of CBD oil
Every externally supplied agent can have side effects. In the case of medications, these are sometimes pronounced in a strong form, so that many sufferers are desperately looking for an alternative. But can CBD be this alternative and actually replace medication? What effects and side effects can be expected and is the combination of migraine medication and CBD possible?
Are side effects to be expected when using CBD oil?
Cannabinoids like CBD are considered to be well tolerated. Most experiences of users show that the effect of CBD is perceived as pleasant, without occurring side effects. However, it cannot be ruled out that unpleasant effects may occur at a particularly high dosage. If the body is not yet used to CBD, it reacts particularly sensitively to it. Typical signs are nausea, stomach discomfort in general, dry mouth or even increased fatigue.
How can you avoid side effects?
Regardless of whether you use CBD for migraines or other pain and triggers, side effects can almost always be avoided. The dosage is crucial! At the beginning of use, a small application of a few drops is sufficient. Listen carefully to your body after each use. You will not experience a high feeling, but you will clearly feel the effectiveness of CBD.
If you haven’t felt any benefits from the cannabis plant after a week, you can increase the dosage by another two drops. Follow this rule until you clearly feel the power of hemp. The slow dosage will help you to avoid negative experiences to a large extent.
IV. Conclusion
Studies provide clear initial evidence that CBD oil may make life easier for migraine patients. CBD’s support for pain, anxiety, stress, poor circulation, and lack of sleep is very valuable as a combination in migraine treatment. It is likely that many more studies on CBD oil for migraine will be published in the coming years.
If you suffer from migraines and want to try CBD oil, look for a high-quality product first and foremost. Made from hemp, without the use of pesticides and other pesticides, get only top quality into your house. Already need to take medicine because of your migraines? Play it safe and ask your doctor about potential interactions.
In all studies conducted so far, CBD has been shown to have little effect on other medications when used to treat various ailments. However, it can’t be ruled out, so get the advice of a professional!
In the past, it has been shown that not only CBD can significantly relieve migraines. Oils from eucalyptus, peppermint and even taking magnesium are also said to be effective. Many sufferers combine various remedies together to tap into the full power of nature for headache relief. The use of CBD is not contraindicated here, the natural product can be wonderfully combined with peppermint oils for smelling or lemon drops for headaches.
