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CBD Oil For Headaches: Treating A Common Nuisance
Headaches! Does the thought of the word just give you a headache? Headaches are one of life’s pesky problems that we have all had and can do without. I don’t think anybody wakes up in the morning and thinks “Gee, I wish I had a headache today”. Recent studies such as this one cited by Forbes (which we’ll discuss below) suggest that CBD oil may be more effective than some prescriptions at treating headaches.
Headaches can range in severity and duration. Sometimes they can just be a little annoyance or the more dreaded and severe migraine. Getting through the day with one of these can be quite the hassle. So how good is CBD oil for headaches? Let’s find out together.
What Causes a Headache
Much speculation exists regarding the root causes of headaches, with different reasons cited of each type (primary and secondary headaches). A according to one of the nation’s premier research hospitals, Mayo clinic:
A primary headache is caused by overactivity of or problems with pain-sensitive structures in your head. A primary headache isn’t a symptom of an underlying disease.
Chemical activity in your brain, the nerves or blood vessels surrounding your skull, or the muscles of your head and neck (or some combination of these factors) can play a role in primary headaches. Some people may also carry genes that make them more likely to develop such headaches.
and also according to the Mayo Clinic:
A secondary headache is a symptom of a disease that can activate the pain-sensitive nerves of the head. Any number of conditions — varying greatly in severity — may cause secondary headaches.
A secondary headache is not something you should try to self diagnose. It’s probably best to see a doctor for secondary headaches.
What Kinds of Headaches there are
You may have been suffering from headaches for a while and not realize that there are different types of headaches. Let’s cover the major types:
A Cluster headache is a painful headache where the pain is usually felt near the eyes. This headache can last for weeks or maybe even months.
Migraine headaches are severe headaches. As a result of the severity you may experience nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light and sound.
Tension headaches are the most common headache in which you experience a tightening sensation around your head.
Chronic headaches as the name implies are headaches that you get quite frequently, almost daily.
My Experience With Headaches and Using CBD Oil
From as long as I can remember, I would suffer from chronic headaches and on occasion would get migraine headaches. I would try to wait these headaches out but the pain would become unbearable, affecting my ability to function during the day. One of my old solutions was to take an anti-inflammatory at any sight of the problem. I simply didn’t want to deal with these headaches.
It seemed great since it was effective, but nonetheless the headaches would come back. The anti-inflammatories were not a long term treatment to headaches as I would still get recurring chronic headaches. Plus after doing some research, I realized that these temporary cures are not advised for long term use because they damage the liver.
More recently, I developed extreme anxiety and decided to try out CBD oil as a remedy. After taking it for a month it dawned on me that my headaches were reduced and I had not been running to the medicine pantry for my common cures. Even more time lapsed and I continued taking CBD oil daily and had stopped getting headaches all together. Wow! This was great.
How CBD Combats Headaches
Though research on the effectiveness of CBD oil at treating headaches is sparse, there nevertheless exists a few studies proving the efficacy of CBD oil at treating headaches.
According to healthline:
Research on the use of CBD oil for migraines is limited. This is due in part to its regulated nature and obstacles with cannabis legalization. Still, some laboratory studies have suggested that CBD oil may help all forms of chronic and acute pain. This includes migraines. -healthline
Prominent among these is the study which we referenced earlier. The findings of this study were recently reported at the 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology.
The study revealed that CBD is surprisingly effective at treating migraine pain, even more so than most prescription medications, with fewer side effects! It was carried out on 127 patients who all suffered migraines. The patients were split into two groups: one was given pills that contained CBD-THC, whereas the other group was given 25mg of amitriptyline (an antidepressant medication commonly used to treat migraines). Those who received 200mg dose pills of the CBD-THC medication experienced less frequent headaches and less pain (43.5% less) than those who received the amitriptyline.
The side-effects experienced by those taking the CBD-THC medication were also better. They reported less stomach and muscle pains than those taking the traditional medications.
Another study published in the Journal of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research in 2017 sought to research the effect of oral cannabis on patients suffering from medication overuse headaches. 26 Participants were split into 2 groups: one was given ibuprofen (a common anti-inflammatory used to treat headaches), whereas the other was given a nabilone-cannabis combination. The groups underwent these treatment for eight weeks at a time, with an eight week break in between the two treatments in order to gauge the long term effects of the medications.
The study found that patients who took the cannabis-nabilone combination experienced less pain and a better quality of life compared to those only taking ibuprofen.
A third study funded by the US NIH (National Institute of Health) and published in the journal Future Medicinal Chemistry studied the effects of cannabinoids such as CBD on our body’s inflammatory response. The study showed that cannabinoids can act on the ECS (endocannabinoid system) to suppress the inflammatory response. More importantly, it was shown that cannabinoids can suppress inflammation in tissues with acute inflammation such as those that lead to the onset of headaches and migraines.
You may be wondering how CBD exerts its effects. Although it is not fully understood yet, scientists know is that we have an intricate endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis (a balance) in our body. The body naturally produces endocannabinoids that interact with receptors in this system by binding to them. When the body doesn’t produce enough endocannabinoids, that balance is thrown off, causing issues in the body such as headaches.
When you take CBD you reintroduce these missing cannabinoids back into your system. These cannabinoids can then circulate throughout the body and bind to their respective receptors, restoring the balance. Moreover, CBD is naturally anti-inflammatory, which is also good for headaches because – as mentioned previously – most headaches are accompanied by inflammation in certain tissues. The result is a potent combination that can combat headaches effectively.
From my personal experience, I’ve noticed that CBD works best when you take it consistently for at least two weeks for it to build in your system rather than only a few times.
CBD and Headaches: Final Thoughts
I was surprised at just how well CBD worked for my headaches. After continuous use of CBD, I was able to function much better during the day without the constant annoyance of a headache. I would suggest giving it a try if you too feel that you get persistent headaches that trouble you. Make sure that you try it for an extended period of time to allow it to build up in your system and not just once. Also, some tips I have picked up during my research into headaches which can help in reducing headaches include:
- staying hydrated
- avoiding alcohol
- reducing stress
- getting some solid sleep
- avoiding loud music
- eating healthy
Remember to also consult a doctor if your headache is severe and won’t go away as it may be indicative of a more serious underlying condition that CBD alone may not resolve. Hope you all stay headache free.
I’ve been avidly using CBD to deal with my anxiety, and have been fortunate to do so successfully. I started this blog to share my experience and knowledge with as many people as possible.