CBD Oil for Migraines: What Does the Research Say?
39 million people in the United States experience migraines on a regular basis.
With that many people suffering, it is important that there are treatment options that are effective and easy to access.
CBD oil for migraines may be a viable solution, but how can you know if it will work for you?
If you want to learn about using CBD oil for your migraines, you should check out more information below and see whether it may be what you’re looking for.
What is a Migraine?
Before you can know if CBD oil may help your migraines, you need to be sure that what you experience actually is a migraine rather than another uncomfortable problem.
Migraines cause serious pain that is usually throbbing or pulsing in the head. It may be on both sides of the head or just on one side. Generally, the symptoms that accompany this pain are nausea, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, or blind spots.
The amount of time the migraine may last will vary between a couple of hours to days. At times, the pain may be severe enough to prohibit your regular activities.
Some people get visual flashes before they get a migraine and this is known as a warning symptom. Another warning symptom may be tingling sensations in part of the face, arm, or leg.
Why Do Migraines Happen?
Migraines are not entirely understood. For this reason, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why someone may experience them.
Genetic and environmental elements seem to play a part in the onset of this condition.
Some of the things that may trigger migraines for certain individuals include:
- Stress
- Sleep changes
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Hormones
- Salty foods
- Weather change
- Food additives
- Physical exertion
- Bright lights
- Strong smells
It is important to keep in mind that some people may have a stronger disposition toward getting a migraine than others. There are several risk factors, including weight, gender, genetics, and medications, that can influence your likelihood of getting migraines.
CBD Oil for Migraines
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil may help people that suffer from migraines based on studies that show it is effective in certain areas of the body. It could be a promising treatment option.
CBD is not the same as THC, which is the psychoactive cannabinoid that comes from marijuana.
THC is the part of the marijuana plant that gets people “high”. While using CBD, individuals do not get those effects because it is not the same part of the plant.
Many of the studies that have been conducted on the effective role have used the entire marijuana plant, which has different effects than the CBD oil would. While CBD comes from this plant, it is only one compound of many that the marijuana plant offers.
In 2017, however, there was a literature review conducted indicating that CBD could have a positive impact on migraines. More research is still needed in this area.
Regardless, CBD has been shown as an effective option for pain relief and reducing inflammation. Because of this, people are seeing it as a viable, natural remedy to help migraines.
If you experience symptoms along with the migraine that you find debilitating, such as nausea or specific muscle pain, CBD may a viable option to treat those issues as well.
For people that have migraines and have not been able to find a treatment that works, CBD oil may be worth your consideration.
Tips Before You Buy
You may want to try CBD oil, but you need to be sure it is pure and you know what you are getting.
One of the ways you can know if CBD oil is pure is by checking out reviews from other buyers.
You also should know where the hemp was sourced. This can help you determine what else may be in the CBD oil that isn’t supposed to be, especially if the hemp was not grown organically.
You do not want to ingest anything that may have been exposed to toxic substances, like pesticides or heavy metals. You may also want to find out how the CBD was extracted to determine how safe it is to put in your body.
Although it is easier to buy the cheapest option, that doesn’t make it the best idea. Cheaper CBD oils generally are not as pure, will have been exposed to other substances through growth or extraction, and may not be grown in the United States. Therefore, it may not be as safe for you to use.
Lastly, know the concentration of CBD in the oil you purchase. A good option will have 250mg to 1,000mg per fluid ounce. This ensures you are going to get the benefits from the oil rather than not having enough for your body to react.
Interested in Trying CBD Oil?
CBD oil is gaining popularity around the world and for good reason.
As fewer people start to associate it with illegal drugs, especially now that marijuana is starting to become legalized more locally in the United States, more people see the benefits they can gain with CBD use.
Due to the variety of ways it helps individuals with specific issues they may face, people keep wanting to give it a try and see if it works for them as well.
If you want to try CBD oil for migraines, you should check out our beginners’ guide to find out more about CBD, how it works, and if it is a good option for you.
