Does CBD Relieve Migraines? Here’s What The Research Says

Although migraines are an incredibly common health condition, treatment for them is still lagging behind. Many of us who get migraines have to take time off work to deal with them, sometimes for days at a time.

 

Some migraines respond well to painkillers, while others are harder to treat. Either way, painkillers do come with some dangerous side-effects and it’s ideal to avoid them altogether. With that in mind, could CBD be a good alternative? In this article, we explore the latest research on CBD for headaches and migraines, how it works, and how it could help you.

 

What Are Migraines, Really?

 

Migraines are an extreme type of headache that causes pulsating pain as well as sensitivity to light and noise. In more extreme cases, they can even lead to nausea, vomiting, and partial loss of vision.

 

Scientists currently think that genetics play an important role in determining which people get migraines and which don’t. That being said, research on the root causes of migraines is still limited. We know that some people commonly get them, while many will never experience one in their life.

 

What Can You Do To Treat Migraines?

 

If you are predisposed to getting migraines, they’re more likely to show up when triggered by stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes or alcohol. In that sense, prevention really is the best treatment. Try to adopt a healthy lifestyle, get 8 hours of sleep every night, and fight stress by practicing meditation or yoga.

 

When that’s not enough, doctors commonly prescribe painkillers for migraines, which range from light doses of ibuprofen to prescription-strength triptans or ergots. These drugs can be very effective, but can have serious side-effects when taken on a regular basis.

 

As a way to bypass these side-effects, many people are now replacing painkillers with CBD. While this solution may not work for everyone, it can be effective and is a lot safer than prescription-strength medication.

Can Taking CBD for Headaches Work?

 

CBD acts as a painkiller which can relieve almost any type of pain. However, research does suggest that CBD could be more useful for chronic rather than acute pain.

 

CBD mainly works by targeting the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a vast network of receptors which manage pain, mood, inflammation, appetite, and more. By giving a boost to the ECS, CBD can relieve headache pain. However, it’s more effective when taken on a regular basis, as this gives it a chance to give the ECS a more sustained boost.

 

If your headaches are recurrent, then taking CBD could be a great treatment option.

 

CBD For Migraines—What The Research Shows

 

CBD has many properties which make it ideal for targeting migraine pain and more general headaches. Not only has it been shown to be an effective pain-killer, but it could also help to prevent migraines by fighting stress and insomnia. Let’s take a closer look at each of these properties and the current state of the research on them:

 

CBD As A Painkiller For Migraine Pain

 

Cannabis has been used to fight headaches for hundreds of years. Today, we know that a lot of its pain-relieving properties come from a molecule called cannabidiol, also known as CBD.

 

Current research on CBD shows that it is effective in treating chronic pain, inflammatory pain, and neuropathic pain. When taken in large doses, CBD gives a big boost to the endocannabinoid system—which is directly responsible for pain management.

 

Since migraines cause such extreme pain, you may need to take very high doses of CBD to feel relief. But luckily, smaller doses of CBD also work—particularly as a preventive measure.

 

CBD For Anxiety

 

While CBD may be useful in relieving migraine pain, it also offers a lot of hope in the domain of prevention. As we’ve discussed previously, stress is one of the most common triggers for migraines.

 

Multiple studies have shown that CBD is a great stress-reliever. For example, this study showed that CBD could help with chronic anxiety when taken on a daily basis. Taking CBD regularly can be a great way to keep stress at bay, which makes it ideal for preventing migraines.

 

CBD For Insomnia

 

Second only to stress, lack of sleep is a major trigger for migraines. That’s also something that CBD could help with. CBD has been shown to prevent insomnia and make falling asleep easier. By taking CBD regularly, you could ensure getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night, which takes at least one migraine trigger out of the equation. Renact’s Sleep-specific vaping extract is a great option for that type of use, as it isolates cannabinoids and terpenes in all the right ratios to make falling asleep as easy as possible.

How To Take CBD For Migraines

 

There are two main ways of taking CBD for migraines:

 

• Take a high dose of CBD when you start getting a migraine
• Take lower doses of CBD on a daily basis

 

Both of these methods have pros and cons.

 

Taking high doses of CBD in the midst of a migraine can relieve pain immediately and allow you to recover faster. On the other hand, it may get too expensive (high-strength CBD products are costly). Moreover, taking high doses of CBD when you’re not used to it occasionally causes side-effects such as nausea or dizziness.

 

Taking lower doses of CBD on a daily basis is a great way to prevent migraines. It targets both anxiety and inadequate sleep triggers and gives a sustained boost to the whole endocannabinoid system. It may well be cheaper in the long run as well. Unfortunately, such low doses may not be enough to relieve pain when a migraine comes along.

 

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you are getting high-quality CBD products that have been third-party tested and have the potency you’re looking for. If you’re looking for products that relieve migraine pain instantly, stay away from CBD that you ingest, as it may take much longer to take effect.

 

CBD For Migraines Dosage—Finding The Best Dose For Your Condition

 

For people who want to take CBD as a way to prevent migraines, we recommend a daily dose of 10-25mg of CBD. This CBD for migraines dosage may not seem like a lot, but you have to consider that CBD builds up in your system overtime. If those doses don’t do enough to relieve stress or insomnia, you may consider upping them gradually.

 

For people who want to take CBD to relieve migraine pain, we recommend a much larger dose. Anything from 50mg to 250mg is a good target to aim for—though of course the CBD for migraines dosage will have to take into consideration your pain level, weight, and many more factors.

 

Learning what works best for your body takes time, so try to have patience when finding your ideal dose of CBD. It’s a good idea to keep a journal in which you write down your CBD intake as well as any migraine symptoms that pop up. Overtime, you will be able to see what doses of CBD seem to work best for you—whether they’re preventive or curative.

 

Final Words

 

Dealing with migraines is never easy, especially if you’re looking for natural treatment methods. Fortunately, CBD does have a great track record when it comes to relieving pain, anxiety, and insomnia—making it perfect for preventing and relieving headaches and migraines.

 

To give CBD for migraines a try, order your Renact vape pen today! Our two patented cannabinoids formulations, « Relief » and « Sleep » have all of the brain-active compounds you need to relieve anxiety and insomnia so migraines become a thing of the past.