Millions of Americans suffer from migraines. The painful headaches include more symptoms than a regular headache like sensitivity to light, sound, and smell, facial numbness, stiff neck and neck pain, visual disturbances, throbbing pain on one side of your head, pins and needles sensation in your arms and legs, and more. Migraines are caused by a variety of factors such as hormone changes, genetics, barometric pressure, dehydration, stress, and exhaustion.

While there are many medications and treatments for migraines, both prescription and OTC, many are turning to CBD to ease their migraine symptoms.

Can CBD help migraines?

Cannabis has been used for thousands of years to treat headaches. Recent research shows that cannabis may help with migraines. CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that reduce pain in conditions like arthritis. The cannabinoid shows promise in helping with migraines by working in a similarly.

A study published in 2017 found that marijuana is helpful in easing migraine symptoms. While the effects of CBD on migraines have not been studied, the pain reducing and anti-inflammatory properties may help with the headache disorder.

There have been many studies on the effects of THC,  the cannabinoid that creates a high and migraines. Another 2017 found that a combination of THC and CBD reduced migraine attacks in participants by 40.0 percent. The combo of cannabinoids also reduced pain associated with the attacks by 43.5 percent.

As CBD and THC are similar cannabinoids, CBD does show promise in helping with migraines.

According to a study published in Frontiers in Pharmacy, many advocate for the use of CBD to help reduce migraine pain. Pinja Leimuranta, of the University of Eastern Finland and lead author of the study said, “Cannabinoids—due to their anticonvulsive, analgesic, antiemetic, and anti-inflammatory effects— present a promising class of compounds for both acute [short-term, severe] and prophylactic [preventative] treatment of migraine pain.”

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Emily Stringer

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