Roughly 13 percent of adults in the US experience migraines throughout their lives, and nearly 3 million of these patients experience chronic migraines lasting anywhere from four hours to several days. While there are limited studies of the effects of CBD (Cannibidol) on migraines as a whole, taking CBD on a regular basis has been proven to ease the individual and often chronic symptoms of migraine.
In order to best understand the effects of CBD in migraine patients, it’s important to first evaluate their symptoms and the ways it works in the body. Finding proper dosage for individual needs and implementing a routine of intake can result in both temporary and long-term results.
“CBD has been helpful for migraine pain
management as well as the relief of
symptoms such as nausea, dizziness,
and sensory sensitivity.”
Understanding Migraines
Clinically speaking, a migraine is defined as an unprovoked headache lasting from 4 to 72 or more hours. According to the American Migraine Foundation, a patient is deemed a chronic migraine sufferer if they have experienced these headaches a minimum of five times in their lifetime. A migraine can present a variety of symptoms such as nausea, sensory sensitivity, and a decrease in equilibrium. All migraines are unique and can present in various areas of the head or in the entire head for some.
Migraines are believed to be a genetic condition stemming from hypersensitivity in the body and specifically particular brain cells located in the central nervous system. When these genetically altered neurons are provoked by either an internal or external trigger, it becomes activated, thus resulting in the aforementioned symptoms.
Every migraine sufferer is unique, just as every person’s body is unique. Treatment is never a “one size fits all” option. Various treatment options are available, including medications (both preventative and post-symptomatic). Different medications targets a separate aspect of migraine pain:
- Pain relievers are often prescribed for patients with mild migraines to ease moderate pain. They alone are rarely enough to treat a severe migraine.
- Triptans are some of the most common, used to constrict the blood vessels in order to block pain pathways to the brain.
- Ergots and anti-nausea meds are often used to treat individual symptoms of migraines, proven most effective upon initial symptoms of an oncoming migraine and are typically combined with caffeine to alleviate pain.
CBD for Migraines
For those who prefer a holistic approach to healing, CBD is an up-and-coming option for migraine pain. While the best way to know for sure if it will have an effect on individual patient’s symptoms is through trial, many online reviews have shown that taking a few drops upon the initial symptoms of a migraine can shorten the length of duration or eliminate the symptoms altogether.
For those who don’t care for the oil directly, CBD Supplements are an option for oral intake without the feeling of oil under the tongue.
While there is no scientific evidence or research to date on the effectiveness of CBD for migraines, it’s not to say that this method has not been effective. It simply hasn’t been studied. Many patients claim sufficient, if not total, results in taking CBD oil at the first signs of a migraine.
CBD has been studied for pain management as well as the relief of symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and sensory sensitivity. Because these are various symptoms of migraine, many patients have seen relief. CBD is studied to be effective in the research of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which was recently discovered in the body. The ECS is responsible for the regulation of sleep, pain, and immune-system functions. When CBD is taken, it enters the ECS and triggers its functioning to act at a higher level in places of deficiency.
The most important aspect of taking CBD for migraines, as with any other migraine relief method, is to take your dosage at the first sign of symptoms. Cutting off a migraine before it sends pain signals throughout the brain is the most effective method of preventing a migraine from reaching unbearable levels. Like any other method of treatment, results will vary. Until it has been more formally researched, it’s important to discuss using CBD oil for migraine with a doctor before use.
Have you used CBD for migraines?
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