CBD Oil for Migraine
Migraine Headache & CBD Hemp oil may be an option for pain relief. Authors of a study from 2012 suggest that Hemp oil can help to relieve some types of chronic pain. However, the study did not relate specifically to headaches or migraines. Results of a 2016 study indicate that medical marijuana may reduce the frequency of migraine headaches
Severe headaches are exhausting to endure and last long from 5 to 72 hours. By this time, the treatment of headaches and migraines have been painkillers including, Triptans, paracetamol, or ibuprofen.
Although painkillers help in alleviating the symptoms of migraines by blocking the pain pathways and constricting the blood vessels, due to their side effects people want some other ways of getting rid of severe migraines. This reason is where Hemp oil makes its way to the top of the list.
Although research on Hemp oil is insufficient, recent studies portrayed that migraines may occur due to the deficiency of endocannabinoids and odd inflammatory response.
Also, many laboratory studies proved that Hemp oil could efficiently treat all acute and chronic migraines. Hemp oil has been showing some significant benefits for an extensive range of medical conditions most importantly migraines.
Due to the pervasiveness and debilitating effects of migraine headaches, there’s been a lot of clinical research studies aimed at trying to find an effective treatment to minimize the frequency of migraines and alleviate the pain.
Medical experts currently consider the pain from a migraine headache the result of intense stimulation to sensory nerves—a response to inflammatory agents that are released when a migraine occurs. This would explain why powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents, such as Hemp oil, may be effective in the treatment of migraines.
Hemp oil has gotten a lot of attention recently for its powerful pain-relieving properties, particularly since it is getting legalized in many states: 30, to be exact. In addition, in June of 2018, the FDA approved Hemp for the very first time for a new seizure medication called Epidiolex (cannabidiol) [Hemp] oral
Research
According to a study published in Frontiers in Pharmacy, while there are many experts who advocate for the use of Hemp oil for Migraine, there is still not enough evidence to prove that treatment will Hemp oil will be completely effective for alleviating migraine headaches.
The researchers add that given time, as the legalities around medical marijuana and Hemp oil change, there will be a lot more research that may be able to prove that Hemp oil works well enough and consistently enough to treat migraines.
“Cannabinoids—due to their anticonvulsive, analgesic, antiemetic, and anti-inflammatory effects —present a promising class of compounds for both acute [short-term, severe] and prophylactic [preventative] treatment of migraine pain,” explained lead study author, Pinja Leimuranta, at A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland. Although the researchers in the study say that we are not completely there yet, they add that Hemp oil can “absolutely help relieve some symptoms related to migraines.”
The Migraine Centers of America has shared several other studies about the promising use of Hemp oil to treat migraines. A few examples include:
- A survey conducted in 2015 by Care by Design found that 100 percent of those who suffered from migraines got some relief from Hemp oil, but 37 percent exhibited a decrease in energy levels.
- A 2016 study, published in Pharmacotherapy, revealed evidence that the frequency of migraines was reduced from nearly 10 per month to only approximately four per month in a group of marijuana users.
- In 2017, a review was published that exhibited a history of effective cannabinoid treatment for the reduction of frequency and treatment of pain caused by migraine headaches.
Previous research studies have shown that Hemp oil, unlike THC, does not cause a euphoric high or psychotropic effects, and is typically less controversial and safer for medicinal use. Hemp oil has been shown, in a limited number of studies, to be effective in the treatment of many disorders, including diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and migraines.
A recent study discovered that the type of cannabis that Hemp is composed of is very well tolerated and safe in humans. The researchers who conducted the study reported that when the type of cannabis with THC was given to study subjects, there was an increased heart rate, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms noted; but, when Hemp oil—lacking THC—was given, there were no side effects (including psychotic symptoms).
Hemp Oil for Treating Migraines – How It Works?
Inside our body and brain, there are different cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2, WIN and anandamide receptor).
These Cannabinoid receptors consist of intra-and extracellular loops, and seven folded transmembrane helices that affect pain signals.
To activate the Cannabinoid receptors for modulating neural transmission, endocannabinoids, or endogenous cannabinoids play a vital role.
These different endocannabinoids are present in lesser amounts in the tissues and brain and actively participate to regulate various cerebral functions such as mood, pain, perception, appetite, and memory.
The dysfunction or lower level of endocannabinoids leads to migraine headaches. The deficiency of endocannabinoids can be addressed by introducing the cannabinoids in the body.
Hemp inhibits the uptake and enzymatic degradation of anandamide via FAAH and regulates many metabolic pathways, elevating anandamide extracellular concentrations.
By maintaining a higher level of anandamide in the body would potentially reduce the feelings of the pain.
Cannabinoids usually bind to the periaqueductal gray matter that modulates pain transmission. The area of the brain associated with severe headaches consists of higher levels of the endocannabinoid receptor CB1.
Also, Hemp helps in preventing the metabolism of anandamide that ultimately reduces the regulation of pain. Being an anti-inflammatory compound, it reduces pain in the body and diminishes other immune-system responses.
Hemp oil is available in various forms including, vape oils, capsules, and drops. Patients using Hemp oils showed improvement in their rate of migraine attacks. Reported by the community members, Hemp oil available in drops is the most popular form for personal use.
Should You Use It?
Anyone considering the use of Hemp oil for migraines should consult with their healthcare provider before taking it, because the FDA has not yet approved Hemp to specifically treat migraines, safety and efficacy is considered controversial.
Hemp oil for migraines is available in multiple forms. Most effective forms are ingestion or vaping. One of the most effective and simplest ways of using it is the sublingual method.
The sublingual method requires placing a few drops of Hemp oil beneath your tongue, and then it diffuses through the thin membrane and moves to the place where it is needed and shows beneficial effects.
Also, it causes almost no side-effects. You can even eat a Hemp infused treat or tablets of Hemp oil. If you are at home and you don’t have to go anywhere, and you are suffering from a severe migraine, then you can use the vaping method of Hemp oil.
The Hemp oil vaping method can be very useful in treating migraines because of the inhaling process or vaping transport the compounds directly into the bloodstream much rapidly than any other method.
REFERENCES
- Akerman, S., Holland, P.R., Lasalandra, M.P. and Goadsby, P.J. (2013, September). Endocannabinoids in the brainstem modulate dural trigeminovascular nociceptive traffic via CB1 and “triptan” receptors: implications in migraine. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(37), 14869-77. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3771033/.
- Greco, R., Gasperi, V., Maccarrone, M., and Tassorelli, C. (2010, July). The endocannabinoid system and migraine. Experimental Neurology, 224(1), 85-91. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014488610001159.
- Greco, R., Mangione, A.S., Sandrini, G., Nappi, G. and Tassorelli, C. (2014, March). Activation of CB2 receptors as a potential therapeutic target for migraine: evaluation in an animal model. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 15, 14. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3995520/.
- Greco, R., Mangione, A.S., Sandrini, G., Maccarrone, M., Nappi, G. and Tassorelli, C. (2011). Effects of anandamide in migraine: data from an animal model. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 12(2), 177-83. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3072518/.
- McGeeney, B.E. (2013). Cannabinoids and hallucinogens for headache. Headache, 53(3), 447-58. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/head.12025/full.
- Migraine (2013, June 4). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/basics/definition/con-20026358.
- NINDS Migraine Information Page. (n.d.) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/migraine/migraine.htm.
- Rhyne, D.N., Anderson, S.L., Gedde, M., and Borgelt, L.M. (2016, January 9). Effects of Medical Marijuana on Migraine Headache Frequency in an Adult Population. Pharmacotherapy, DOI: 10.1002/phar.1673. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/phar.1673/full.
- Russo, E.B. (1998, May). Cannabis for migraine treatment: the once and future prescription? A historical and scientific review. Pain, 76(1-2), 3-8. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/pain/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=1998&issue=05000&article=00002&type=abstract.
- Russo, E.B. (2001). Hemp for Headache: An In-Depth Historical and Scientific Review of Cannabis in Migraine Treatment. Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, 1(2), Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J175v01n02_04.
- Wilsey, B., Marcotte, T., Deutsch, R., Gouaux, B., Sakai, S., and Donaghe, H. (2013, February). Low-dose vaporized cannabis significantly improves neuropathic pain. The Journal of Pain, 14(2), 136-48. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3566631/.
Disclaimer: This website contains general information about Hemp oil and possible health benefits. The information is not advice and is not a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. You must not rely on the information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. FDA Disclosure: Hemp products are not approved by the FDA for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease. While we publish and refer to currently available research on cannabidiol, terpenoids and other properties of hemp-derived cannabis oils, it is important to note: None of the products or information available on this website are intended to be a treatment protocol for any disease state. The information presented is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. The FDA would want us to remind you: You should always seek the advice of a physician before adding any supplements to your diet.
