Migraines and headaches does CBD help?

When talking about the therapeutic effects of CBD, it’s often the cannabinoid’s analgesic effect that is mentioned.

Headaches seem to be one of the most common sources of pain among in people, so it would make sense then that CBD for migraines is an obvious therapeutic target.

Migraines and headaches are a bit of a medical mystery but it is usually credited to dysfunctional brainstem centres.

So far, the only treatment for headaches and migraines have been painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, as well as Triptans that constrict the blood vessels and block pain pathways in the brain.

Have you ever considered that there could be a better way to treat headaches and migraines? Read on…

Cannabis – a long history of treating headaches

CBD oil for headaches is not as recent a therapy as you’d suppose.

The cannabis plant is mentioned as a treatment for headaches in ancient texts dating back thousands of years, though its use only became commonplace in the west during the 19th century when it was prescribed by many doctors as a tincture.

However, all that changed when it was prohibited in the 1930s, and since then, many people consider the cannabis plant’s capacity to quell headaches has merely become a welcome side effect of its recreational use.

These days, aside from the multitude anecdotal reports relating to medical cannabis and hemp oil for headaches, the conclusive clinical evidence is lacking.

Nonetheless, what scientists know is that when it comes to CBD oil for headache disorders such as migraines, the endocannabinoid system is inherently linked.

Migraines and the Endocannabinoid System

One theory posited about a possible contributing cause of migraines is a dysregulation in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) – the body’s complex network of receptors and cannabis-like chemicals that act to modulate pain, the immune system, mood, sleep, appetite and memory.

Scientists have observed several ECS mechanisms that may have an implication in migraine attacks.

Anandamide (AEA) one of the prime endocannabinoids in the body, is both analgesic and has been found to potentiate the serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. Studies also suggest that endocannabinoids inhibit the trigeminovascular system.

But perhaps the clearest indication of endocannabinoid dysfunction contributing to migraines is a study carried out in 2007 at the University of Perugia and published in the Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Researchers measured endocannabinoid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with chronic migraines finding significantly lower amounts Anandamide, concluding that this “may reflect an impairment of the endocannabinoid system in these patients, which may contribute to chronic head pain.”

Are migraines a sign of Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency?

This link between lower levels of endocannabinoids in migraine patients has contributed to the formulation of what has been termed Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency, a theory developed by Neurologist and Cannabinoid Researcher Dr Ethan Russo.

Based on the idea that many brain disorders are associated with a lack of certain neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, Russo has suggested that “a comparable deficiency in endocannabinoid levels might manifest similarly in certain disorders that display predictable clinical features as sequelae of this deficiency.”

In an interview with project CBD, he said: “If you don’t have enough endocannabinoids you have pain where there shouldn’t be any pain. You would be sick, that is nauseated. You would have a lowered seizure threshold and just a whole litany of other problems.”

Russo says that this deficiency can be addressed by introducing plant cannabinoids, which act much like those found in the body by stimulating the endocannabinoid receptors.

While CB1 agonists such as Marinol and Nabilone have been tested for migraines, Russo suggests that the ECS needs a “gentle nudge” rather than the “forceful shove” given by these synthetic variants.

He suggests small doses of whole plant cannabis, which contain “additional synergistic and buffering components, such as CBD and cannabis terpenoids.”

So how can CBD for migraines be of any help?

CBD oil for migraines

Russo in particular singles out CBD (Cannabidiol) as bringing balance to the endocannabinoid system.

In his interview with Martin Lee from Project CBD he says, “cannabidiol is an endocannabinoid modulator, in other words, when given chronically it actually increases the gain of the system…. So, if there’s too much activity in a system, homeostasis requires that it be brought back down. If there’s too little, it’s got to come up. That’s what cannabidiol can do as a promoter of endocannabinoid tone.”

Scientists are still unsure exactly how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system because unlike the psychoactive cannabinoid THC, it doesn’t bind directly with any of the endocannabinoid receptors.

Instead, it activates many other non-endocannabinoid receptors, some of which are implicated in the development and treatment of migraines, such as the 5-HT1A serotonin and TRPV-1 receptors, the latter mediating pain perception.

One other possible explanation is CBD’s role as a fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor.

This enzyme breaks down anandamide in the body, so by inhibiting its production scientists theorize that it could lead to higher levels of the pain-relieving endocannabinoid; and this would potentially be of benefit to migraine sufferers.

Certainly, some migraine patients are finding that when using CBD for headaches or migraines it has helped reduce incidences of attacks.

Claire from the UK has had migraines and daily headaches for twenty years, she was prescribed Triptans with varying efficacy.

She decided to give CBD oil for headaches a try, and so far the results look promising.

Lack of clinical evidence

Right now there has been no gold standard, double-blind, placebo clinical studies published to back up any anecdotal accounts suggesting CBD or indeed cannabis in general as effective treatments for headaches and migraines.

Although one placebo-controlled study assessing the safety and efficacy of the synthetic THC medication Dronabinol for migraines has been conducted, the results are still pending.

Currently, the largest study to take place was done on a retrospective basis. Published in 2016 it found that out of 121 participants diagnosed with migraines and prescribed medical cannabis by a doctor, 103 saw the frequency of their migraines reduced by half.

However, little was known about the varieties of medical cannabis used, with the authors highlighting that future studies should be far more wide-ranging and explore the cause-and-effect relationship and the use of different strains, formulations, and doses of marijuana to better understand the effects of medical marijuana on migraine headache treatment.

Can CBD actually GIVE you a headache?

Does CBD help with headaches, or does it produce them?

Many of those who have tried taking CBD have actually noted getting persistent headaches and even migraines.

So how can CBD cause headaches when research suggests the opposite.

One cause is quite simple.

Those who have reported getting headaches after taking CBD oil noted that the CBD oil that they had bought was of low quality and that the ingredients used in the production of some CBD oils included ethanol, and other kinds of alcohols, as well as preservatives and other harsh chemicals.

One of the most important things to note when buying CBD oil for migraines or any other kind of ailment is to get the best quality product on the market.

One CBD user eventually admitted that their headaches may have been due to the original oil they had bought which they said: “it was cheap crap — and that a LOT of it is”.

After buying high-quality CBD, they said: “the difference was phenomenal. No hangerover-y headache. Lots of relief.”

How to use CBD for your head pain

There are many different ways how to apply CBD oil for headaches.

Whether you’re taking CBD for tension headaches, migraines or general headaches, there are a plethora of administration methods to use and products to try.

One of the simplest and most effective ways of using CBD is with the sublingual method.

This requires you to place a few drops of CBD oil underneath your tongue, where it then permeates the thin membrane there and makes its way to where it is needed.

The sublingual method isn’t the only method to choose from.

Many others may be just as effective for you, so make sure you do your research when looking for CBD products online on sites like Trustpilot, which gives real, in-depth and unbiased customer reviews.