Does CBD oil work against migraines?
Migraines can have many different causes. Anyone who has ever had a migraine attack knows how severe this type of headache can be. It can even significantly reduce the quality of life, especially if the migraine strikes again and again. The majority of patients initially want to try to combat the acute pain with natural remedies, for example with CBD oil.
But can CBD help with migraines? CBD has a relaxing, stress-reducing and pain-relieving effect. The positive effect of CBD on serotonin levels means that headaches and migraines can be alleviated.
In this article, you will learn important information about how CBD can help against migraines. We also reveal how migraines occur and how you can prevent severe headaches.
How CBD works against migraine attacks
The effect of CBD on migraines is due to its connection with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is responsible for maintaining balance in the body and regulates sleep behavior, pain perception and messenger metabolism, among other things.
The clinical study at UCLA San Diego showed that regular intake or use of CBD oil can alleviate and even prevent acute migraine attacks.
In the following, we would like to present six relevant effects of CBD against migraine based on this study:
1. Reduction of pain: CBD can prevent the transmission of pain impulses, which means CBD can effectively help with headaches and migraine attacks.
2. Reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks: The antispasmodic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoids reduce migraine attacks. A study by Front Pharmacol showed that the positive effect reduced the frequency of migraine attacks in around 40.4% of participants.
3. Regulation of serotonin levels: Serotonin plays a major role in the development of migraines. With migraines, there is a shift in the balance between the serotonin level in the body and that in the brain. This in turn leads to migraine attacks. CBD helps to restore the balance of serotonin levels in the brain and body.
4. Prevention of stress: Stress is one of the most common triggers of migraines. CBD can inhibit the transmission of stress impulses. This means that those affected feel more calm and serene after using CBD - the risk of suffering a migraine attack is reduced.
5. Promoting blood circulation: During a headache or migraine phase, many areas of the brain are less well supplied with blood. The blood vessels in the brain gradually constrict. The result is a circulatory disorder. CBD can open blood vessels and thus enable better blood flow.
6. Improving sleep patterns: Sleep is essential for the body to regenerate and recover. A disturbed sleep rhythm can promote the development of migraine attacks. CBD promotes healthy sleep and can help the body to recover.
Can CBD be used to prevent migraines?
The exact causes of migraines are still not fully understood. However, the most common triggers are:
● Disruption of the serotonin balance
● Stress
● Circulatory disorder
● Sleep disorder
This is where CBD comes into play
This is precisely where CBD can have a positive influence on the treatment of migraines. Thanks to its relaxing, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving effects, high-quality cannabidiol oil can have a preventative effect.
How can CBD be used to treat migraines?
A study on the dosage of CBD for migraines was published at the 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Amsterdam.
The optimal dosage is one of the most important prerequisites for safe use and a good effect. However, as there is no general "prescription" for the dose of CBD against migraines, you should always leave the correct dosage to your doctor.
This is the only way to ensure that you neither suffer from an overdose, nor that you feel no effect from the CBD at all.
Advantages of CBD compared to conventional treatment methods
If you go to the doctor with a migraine, you will usually be prescribed various medications. Most of them come with a warning about the following side effects:
● Construction pain
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● Diarrhea
● Itching
● Dizziness
● Drowsiness
● Sensory disturbances
● Increase in blood pressure
● Hot flushes
● Shortness of breath
If you compare these side effects with those of CBD, the latter prove to be negligible.
CBD has almost no possible side effects. Should you nevertheless experience nausea, loss of appetite or abdominal pain, these symptoms usually subside after a short time. As CBD has no psychoactive effect, you don't need to worry about getting high.
However, as it can interact with conventional medication, you should always ask your doctor whether cannabidiol is suitable for you before using CBD.
What are the known risks of using CBD?
The following factor makes the use of CBD risky:
Defective products
Problems usually occur after ingesting CBD that has been contaminated during cultivation or extraction. This includes the following contaminants: Heavy metals, pesticides, organic solvents such as propane, microbial contaminants such as bacteria or molds.
For this reason, you should only use high-quality CBD oil. At Raworganics, we only offer cannabidiol products in high-quality form, so you can be sure that you are only getting the best quality when using a CBD product.
What is a migraine?
Some people suffer from migraines once or twice a year. Others have to deal with severe headaches several times a month. In many cases, it is a one-sided headache, although it can also spread to the other side of the head. The pain is usually described as throbbing, pulsating and/or stabbing.
The severe headaches are only part of the migraine. Migraines are often accompanied by the following symptoms:
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● Sensitivity to light and noise
● Perceptual disorders
For many sufferers, an aura precedes the migraine attack. This manifests itself in the perception of flashing or shimmering lights. Sometimes there is also a blind spot with a light border.
For many migraine patients, an attack is heralded by other symptoms:
● Euphoria
● Irritability
● extreme mood swings
● Digestive problems
● Loss of appetite or food cravings
● Frequent yawning
Self-help for a migraine attack
In addition to CBD, there are other ways to help yourself during a migraine attack. We present the five most effective methods.
1. Peppermint oil: Apply a little peppermint oil to the pain points on the temples or forehead during a migraine attack. The menthol it contains activates the skin's cold sensors, which relaxes the scalp and muscles. A study by the Kiel Pain Clinic was able to prove the positive effect of peppermint oil on migraines.
2. Cold or heat therapy: A cold washcloth on the neck, temples or forehead can alleviate the symptoms of a migraine attack. You can also run cold water briefly over your heador wrists. Some people prefer heat for migraines. You can relax for about 15 minutes in a bathtub with a water temperature of 38 degrees Celsius to relieve migraines.
3. Relaxation exercises: Try to switch off. After all, stress is one of the main triggers for migraines. Try relaxation exercises such as autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation. Yoga and meditation can also help you to relax a little.
4. Retreat to a dark room: You should retreat to a darkened room at the first signs of a migraine attack. Allow yourself to rest and protect yourself from stimuli such as noise or light.
5. Ginger: Ginger is a tried and tested household remedy for nausea. If you take it in good time, it can also help with migraines. Grate a centimeter of peeled ginger root and drink it with a fruit juice.
Effectively prevent migraine attacks
Migraine attacks cannot be completely avoided, but there are methods you can use to prevent migraine attacks. So that you can lead a pain-free life again, we would like to give you a few preventative tips along the way:
● Sleep hygiene: Make sure you get enough sleep. Always go to bed at the same time and banish cell phones and televisions from your bedroom. The light from modern screens has a high blue component, which has a negative effect on the hormone melatonin.
● Fluid intake: You should drink at least two liters of fluid a day. This does not necessarily have to be water - unsweetened tea and fruit spritzers are also permitted.
● Be careful when eating: Caution is advised with food that contains flavor enhancers, histamine or glutamate, as these ingredients increase the risk of a migraine attack.
● Avoid stress: Easier said than done! However, the most common trigger of a migraine attack is stress. You should therefore avoid it as much as possible.
● Integrate relaxation into everyday life: Take enough time to relax. It doesn't matter whether you lie on the couch, watch a movie or make yourself comfortable in the bathtub. The main thing is that your body comes to rest and you can really relax.
● Exercise: Sufficient exercise also helps to prevent migraine attacks. Take a short walk every day or, if possible, cycle to work. Smaller, regular activities, especially in the fresh air, can help prevent migraines.
When should you see a doctor?
You should definitely see a doctor quickly if you experience a sudden headache that comes out of the blue. Without the usual warning signs or aura. In this case, it may be due to bleeding in the brain, which must be treated immediately by a doctor.
It is also advisable to see a doctor if migraine attacks become more frequent and the tried and tested methods of pain relief suddenly no longer help.
A doctor should be consulted as soon as possible in the event of impaired consciousness and changes in character.
Conclusion: CBD - a promising and natural option for combating migraines
Taking CBD for migraines can be useful. However, you should always bear in mind that it is not a miracle cure. It cannot be denied that stress-reducing and relaxation-promoting methods can reduce and prevent migraine attacks. CBD is an excellent companion here, as cannabidiol has precisely these properties.
If you mainly consider the many side effects of other medications, CBD is a real, promising and, above all, natural alternative. The only important thing is that you make sure it is a high-quality cannabidiol product.
With other self-help methods and preventive measures in combination with CBD, migraines can be excellently controlled so that you can soon lead a pain-free and migraine-free life again.
