CBD For Migraines

Many people with migraines suffer from debilitating headaches that can cause disruptions to their day to day lives. Finding a way to treat these headaches without prescription medications can be hard. However, people are now looking at CBD for migraines as an alternative treatment option.

What are Migraines

Migraines are headaches that can cause severe pain on one, or both, sides of the head. The pain can be moderate or severe, and is generally accompanied by other symptoms such as sensitivity to light, nausea and fatigue.

According to the American Migraine Association, some migraine sufferers will experience an aura a day or two before the migraine actually begins. Auras are usually visual and can appear as flashes of light, bright spots, blind spots, vision loss or blurred vision. The aura usually occurs before the pain of the migraine begins. People may also experience numbness in their face, difficulty speaking, and/or a pins and needle sensation in the arms and legs.

CBD for Migraines

The main symptom of a migraine is pain. CBD oil has become known for its ability to reduce and alleviate pain and lower pain perception.

One way that CBD may help those experiencing migraine pain is to directly decrease pain perception by interacting with cannabinoid receptors, particularly receptors called CB2 receptors. It seems that CBD is able to reduce pain by influencing the way that certain stimuli affect pain receptors so that people do not perceive pain the way they would without CBD.

Dr. Stephen Silberstein, the director of the Headache Center at Jefferson University Hospital, spoke with the American Migraine Foundation about the use of CBD for migraines. In addition to helping with the headache pain, Dr. Silberstein says CBD may help with neck pain and nausea.

“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,” Dr. Silberstein said.

Like always, you should consult your physician before starting a new treatment method or if you have any questions or concerns.

Ways to Take CBD

It’s important to understand the pros and cons of each application method, especially regarding CBD bioavailability — the rate at which CBD enters your bloodstream.

1) Sublingual Application. This involves using a dropper to place the oil under your tongue. Sublingual administration of CBD works by exposing the sublingual gland, a vein found under the tongue, to the CBD product. Leave the CBD oil under your tongue for 60-90 seconds until it’s absorbed. This allows CBD to enter the bloodstream more directly than if it were swallowed and subjected to the digestive system.

CBD edibles, like caramels, chocolates, or other candies, also work by way of sublingual application. When the candy is sucked on or allowed to melt in your mouth, CBD makes its way into the bloodstream through the sublingual gland.

2) Topical Application. Full spectrum CBD applied through use of products like CBD lotions and creams is particularly favorable for exercise recovery, athletes, and those managing conditions caused by inflammation, like arthritis. CBD lotions and creams do not enter the bloodstream; instead they interact with receptors in the skin to relieve pain in the area they’re applied.

For this reason, they’re beneficial for those subject to drug testing, because the THC never reaches your bloodstream and therefore won’t flag a drug screening.

3) Oral Application: CBD can be taken orally by way of CBD capsules, much like your standard medication. CBD capsules are a convenient way to monitor dosage and avoid the taste and texture of CBD oils, which some people find unfavorable.

However, like all substances ingested orally, CBD capsules will not take effect immediately, because they have to travel through our digestive systems before entering our blood circulation.

In addition, because capsules are subject to our metabolisms and digestive systems, they will be broken down in a way that lowers their bioavailability.

Research into the bioavailability of CBD suggests that products taken orally are associated with a bioavailability of less than 20%. What this means is, in order to attain the same level of relief, the concentration or dose of CBD products taken orally needs to be higher than what would be required if you took your CBD sublingually, for example.