Over the past years, Cannabidiol or CBD have conquered the U.S. CBD is an active ingredient from the Cannabis plant, it’s a chemical that claims to reduce inflammation and chronic pains, and so people suffering from migraines quickly notice this. The truth is, CBD products are now everywhere in the online market readily available for people who badly need it.
How does CBD help with migraines?
According to Doctor Stephen Silberstein, CBD doesn’t have psychoactive effects and properties.
He says, “It works locally, and even if taken orally, it won’t produce intoxication.”
As of now, there’s no definite evidence on the effects of CBD for migraines because there isn’t any formal study or research about it. However, using CBD for migraines could be a possible and relevant choice for people suffering from some other pains associated with migraines like muscle and joint pains.
Dr. Silberstein said, “If you have a lot of neck pain or soreness, it is perfectly reasonable to use CBD oil. It may even prevent nausea and vomiting.”
Though it is clear that CBD is different from marijuana, still it is not yet legalized in all 50 U.S states. So, experiencing one adverse effect of using CBD is perhaps the legit consequence of taking CBD for migraines in a state or country not allowed by law. You can visit Americans for Safe Access to know if CBD is legal in your state.
The absence of regulation
For individuals who are suffering from migraine and wants to treat it with CBD for migraines, Dr. Silberstein emphasized the importance of ensuring the use of only pure products. For states where CBD is legal, you can easily find safe and genuine products. You can also refer to the local dispensaries to determine the quality and origin of the CBD product.
Dr. Silberstein is discouraging people from getting CBD for migraines in states or countries where CBD use is illegal or unregulated. Mainly because illegal CBD oil might have synthetic THC that is absolutely bad for patients with migraines. Aside from that, there are some legal implications towards people who are purchasing it on a place where it is prohibited, that’s why it is very vital to talk with your doctor and to go through your state and local laws.
Talk to your healthcare provider
Before you start any migraine treatment, it’s a must to talk to your physician first and to be honest and open about all your plans. When you have a solid doctor-patient bond, you can quickly establish trust and easily figure out the best treatment plan that could suit your lifestyle.
Dr. Silberstein added, “These drugs do interact with the body.”
“If you’re getting funny symptoms and you’re taking something that the doctor doesn’t know about, how’s he going to help you?”
He also added a statement about being cautious about using CBD oil, especially in adolescents, because of the possibility of affecting brain development.
“In general, it should be avoided by adolescents until more research has been conducted,” he said.
What is the right CBD dosage for migraines?
When it comes to CBD for migraines, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all dosage because there’s no adequate research about using CBD for migraines to uncover the exact dose for a typical migraine sufferer. Correspondingly, the dosage of CBD for migraines matters on the unique needs of the patient’s endocannabinoid system.
With all that taken into account, the suggested dosage for a full-spectrum CBD extract is about 15mg to 100mg daily for migraine relief and prevention. Actually, there is an approach to uncover the correct dosage of CBD for migraines, yet there are things that you must know first because there also exists plenty of methods to screw this up.
In a few migraine studies, they weren’t able to identify a precise dosage of CBD for migraines. In a study shown at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology, they discovered that giving an 18mg of CBD combined with 3mg of THC every day is as effective as taking amitriptyline- a prominent prescription drug for migraine. The CBD reduced the pain caused by migraines by 43%. The only issue with the said study is the 38mg of THC, which is terrible for migraine patients because of the psychoactive effects. According to research done in 2018 and issued by Washington University, the dangerous side effects coming from THC could increase migraines and oxidative stress.
Does CBD help with migraines?
The truth is, no migraine medication is 100% guaranteed to be effective. Cannabinoids are working by promoting a person’s endocannabinoid system that is in charge of managing the overall health, and that takes time. Typically, migraine studies that assess the natural supplements provide the patients around three months to check if the treatment does work, and this is just enough time to see if CBD for migraines suits you. However, some lucky people experience quick relief. It is good to know that cannabinoids really takes time to work on preventing migraine, so you have to consider doing some additional measures which help the endocannabinoid system.
Undeniably, there is a lot of research and studies that have been done, and most of them have found that CBD is truly helpful in both pain relief and migraine prevention. No wonder, a lot of people are continuously using it for over centuries to manage their migraine or headache.
Bottom line
Increasing your awareness about the types and the symptoms of migraine is very important to find out the best treatment plan that works well for you. As mentioned, you have to speak with your healthcare provider and be honest with him so that he can help you in this health journey. Read online reviews and testimonials from other patients suffering migraine, and this will also help you find the best CBD for migraine that suits your lifestyle and your needs.