Migraines are much worse than the typical headaches we all experience at one stage or another during our lifetime. They can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours and they symptoms can be exacerbated when the individual moves about or spends time around noise or light.

Symptoms come in 4 Stages, which include: 

Prodrome (premonitory) stage	Aura (visual symptoms or tingling)	Headache (main attack) stage	Postdrome (recovery) stage
Fatigue	Seeing Bright Spots or Flashing.	Throbbing Pain on the sides of the head	Feeling Tired
Anxiety and Depression	Vision loss or seeing dark spots	Extreme sensitivity to light, sounds, smell	Some people report feeling Euphoria.
Thirst	Pins and Needles in arm or leg.	Nausea and vomiting
Irritability	Inability to speak (anasphasia)	Abdominal Pain or Heartburn
Constipation	Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus)	Loss of Appetite, blurred vision, fainting

 

Typical medication for Migraines 

Doctors will often prescribe pain relievers and preventative medications however a lot of these drugs come with warnings for negative side effects. 

Recently there have been many anecdotal accounts of individuals using CBD to help with managing their migraine symptoms.

What is CBD?

CBD is one of over 113 active compounds found in the cannabis plant however unlike THC it can not Get You High!

Its what’s known as a phytocannabinoid and interacts with our body’s Endocannabinoid system, which is in charge of regulating pain, sleep and mood among other things. It regulates these functions by trying to keep our internal environment in a constant state of balance (homeostasis).

What does the research say about using CBD for Migraines

There is limited research into CBD on its own but there is a fair amount of research on with both THC and CBD. There is a lot of research into using CBD for pain however, which shows a lot of promise.

One study tested 48 people with chronic migraines who received a combination of two compounds. One compound contained 19% THC, while the other contained 9% CBD and virtually no THC. The compounds were administered orally.

When the dose was at 200 mg patients noticed a 55% decrease in the level of pain they were experiencing.

In Phase 2 of the same study it showed that there was a 40.4% reduction in migraine attacksand showed a 43.5% reduction in the intensity of the pain.

CBD for Pain

One study found that CBD was effective at treating many different kinds of pain such as neuropathic and inflammatory pain which may be a result of CBD's ability to help us produce more of the naturally occurring endocannabinoid Anandamide.

Research also suggests that CBD can help regulate levels of inflammation which can play a role in our pain perception and additionally a few studies show that CBD can help us to regulate our sleep also which may be of some use to individuals that suffer from migraines as their sleep can sometimes be impaired. 

Which Type of CBD should I Use?

When it comes to CBD, the form it comes in makes a big difference to how effective it will be. Certain forms of CBD have a higher bioavailability than others meaning they are absorbed into the bloodstream in larger quantities.

Typically, CBD Oil is regarded as one of the safest and most effective ways to incorporate CBD into your routine. The bioavailability of CBD oil is roughly 40% in comparison with edibles which are in-between 4 and 20%.

Other alternatives are available, such as CBD capsules or Topical creams and Edibles so its also about your personal preference. Some consumers who prefer CBD Oil often wish there were better tasting Oils so it can be a good idea to choose a flavoured CBD oil.

Which CBD Oil Should I Buy?

Full Spectrum and Broad Spectrum CBD Oils are the best. Full spectrum oils contain the legal amount of THC whereas Broad Spectrum Oils have either none or trace amounts of THC in them. By having the other cannabinoids it leads to a more effective CBD Oil giving you more of the benefits.

You can buy CBD Isolate which only contain CBD but they are not as effective. For more advice on choosing the right CBD oil for you read our article on our top tips or simply buy a CBD starter pack to try all three different strengths of CBD Oil and find the right one for you.