Can CBD for migraine headaches help address the often severe symptoms that come along with them? Is it possible that CBD can stop a migraine from starting?
The best evidence when it comes to medical matters is peer-reviewed research. There isn’t enough of that research to definitively say how, why, and to what extent CBD can help with migraine.
However, we do have some indications that CBD can help at least some people suffering from migraine headaches. The American Migraine Foundation, for example, points to CBD as a potential way to address the joint and muscle pain associated with migraine. It may also help reduce or prevent nausea and vomiting.
Let’s take a closer look at CBD to better understand it. Then, we’ll look at some in-progress studies and early signs that CBD may be useful to treat the symptoms of migraine.
What is CBD?
CBD is the common name for cannabidiol, a chemical that’s naturally present in cannabis and hemp plants. CBD has specific effects on the human body.
CBD has proven medical benefits. It’s used in the FDA-approved anti-seizure medication Epidiolex, as the Mayo Clinic explains. CBD has also demonstrated potential in other medical applications. One area of interest is the use of CBD for headaches and migraines.
Many people purchase CBD over the counter to benefit from its effects, which we’ll detail later in this section.
Where Does CBD Come From?
Federally legal CBD products, like our tinctures and gummies, have their active ingredient sourced from hemp plants.
Technically, the chemical contained in hemp plants is CBDa. It is converted to CBD by a process called decarboxylation. Heating CBDa is a simple way to achieve this reaction and convert it into CBD.
CBD brands process raw hemp, or purchase processed hemp from suppliers, then use it to make products like CBD gummies.
What Effects Does CBD Have in General?
CBD stands out among cannabinoids (the active chemicals in cannabis and hemp plants) because it isn’t psychoactive. In other words, it doesn’t cause a high, like the one you’d feel when using Delta 8, Delta 9, HHC, and other cannabinoids.
Harvard Medical School explains that, while not proven, CBD may also provide benefits for treating anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and drug addiction.
Additionally, CBD’s side effects are seen as mild. Nausea, fatigue, and irritability are the most notable. Harvard Medical School shared the reminder that CBD can extend the active life of certain drugs in the human body, including blood thinners. If you take prescription medication and want to try CBD for migraines or to address another issue, it’s always best to discuss that choice with your doctor.
Is CBD Legal?
When extracted from hemp plants that contain no more than 0.3% THC, CBD is federally legal. The 2018 Farm Bill authorized the production of hemp meeting this standard at the federal level. In many areas, there are no laws or penalties against purchasing and using hemp-extracted CBD.
However, some states and municipalities have stricter laws and regulations related to hemp-extracted cannabinoids like CBD. Always check your local and state laws before making a purchase.
How Do People Take CBD?
CBD, like other cannabinoids, can be consumed in a wide variety of ways. Gummies, lozenges, and other edible CBD products are popular. Other common options include topical applications, like lotions and balms, and vape cartridges and disposable vapes.
CBD and Migraine Relief: What We Do and Don’t Know
We want to be clear about two things in this conversation about CBD for migraine treatment and symptom relief:
- CBD shows potential for treating migraine headaches, as noted by authorities like the American Migraine Foundation.
- Research into CBD and migraines is still ongoing, and there is not yet definitive proof of CBD as an effective treatment.
For these reasons, we won’t discuss the “best” CBD for migraine relief or otherwise speak in absolute terms. Our goal is to inform you of the state of research, potential benefits, and how to make a decision, backed by information and a discussion with your doctor, related to CBD use.
Is There any Scientific Evidence that CBD can Relieve Migraine Headaches?
While there isn’t conclusive, scientific proof that CBD relieves migraines or their symptoms, there are promising signs and ongoing research. Here are a few examples.
The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) Health reported on the first placebo-controlled, worldwide study into the effects of CBD and THC specifically for treating acute migraines. The study began in 2021.
A 2018 review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology explained cannabinoids like CBD demonstrate potential benefits in treating migraines. The review specifically mentioned benefits like pain relief and antiemetic (preventing vomiting) and anti-inflammatory properties.
Healthline shares results from cannabinoid research presented at the meeting of the 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in 2017. A combination of THC and CBD helped reduce acute pain by 55% for migraine sufferers participating in the study.
How Does CBD Potentially Help with Migraine?
Research and user reports indicate CBD may help to mitigate the pain associated with migraines, including joint and muscle pain. Along with benefits like anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can potentially address some of the most common migraine symptoms.
Potential Risks of Using CBD for Migraine Relief
The risks associated with CBD use for treating migraine are mostly minor but are certainly worth knowing about to make an informed decision.
The biggest potential risk is CBD interacting with certain prescription medications. If you take prescription medication, make sure to discuss potential CBD use with your doctor before actually starting. You should also discuss the CBD ratio for migraines — how much you plan to take, and how you plan to take it.
Other side effects, like fatigue and irritability, are relatively minor. However, they’re definitely worth taking into account. One key point to keep in mind is CBD doesn’t have psychoactive effects, so it won’t impair you like THC and other cannabinoids.
CBD You Can Count On
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