Headaches are the worst common ailment that there is. They happen frequently, yet are debilitating. Concentrating on any task is much more difficult with a headache, and if it is a migraine, you may not be able to handle any light or sound for days. Concentration isn’t even an option. There are several different types of headache:
- Cluster Headache
- Migraine Headache
- Tension Headache
- Sinus Headache
Not understanding the underlying cause of your headache makes treatment like throwing darts at a board. And even when you have it pinpointed, many treatments simply do not work. Headache sufferers often turn to opioids for relief from their headache pain, but with the current opioid epidemic, many would like to have a safer option than playing with fire. What about using CBD cream for headaches?
A recent study has found that migraine sufferers do find relief by using CBD. When cannabis became a schedule 1 banned substance in 1970 it made it nearly impossible to perform placebo controlled studies on the treatment of headaches. However, cannabis was a popular headache remedy in the 1800s and remained a viable treatment until it was prohibited in 1937. The evidence is far from perfect, but medical reports from this period are largely positive. Patients experienced a decrease in frequency and intensity of headaches. The reports also praised the safety of long term use as well as other positive effects on nausea and anxiety. In some cases, a chronic headache was cured after discontinuing treatment with cannabis. Once again, we have no results from modern placebo controlled studies, but the data available indicates that cannabis can be an effective treatment for headaches for some individuals.
Where to Put CBD For Headaches?
CBD has been found to relieve pain and inflammation in numerous studies, and many believe that it is effective in treating their headaches. However, it is important to determine what type of headache you are suffering from before choosing a CBD product. Many of our customers have found that applying our Anti-Aging Moisturizer on their temples, jaw, neck, shoulders, and any other areas affected by the headache to alleviate tension headache pain. Neck and jaw injuries often cause headaches. Do not forget to tend to these areas if this is true for you. Others who are treating severe headaches such as migraine find relief by applying the moisturizer in addition to taking some of our Full Spectrum Tincture. Remember that every individual is different, and reacts differently to CBD. An intense migraine may subside by rubbing CBD moisturizer onto your temples, or with a few drops of a tincture, or you may need both. The massive differences in individual biology require some trial and error with the method of application, (lotion vs tincture vs both), and the dosage. For more information on figuring out your CBD dosage, please refer to our CBD Dosing Guidelines.
The mechanism behind CBD is our body’s natural endocannabinoid system. When you use a topical CBD, it is absorbed through the skin and fits just like a key into your cannabinoid receptors, unlocking the anti-inflammatory and pain relieving effects. If you take CBD orally, it passes through your digestive system and is metabolized by your liver, then enters your bloodstream and is dispersed to cannabinoid receptors throughout your body. These anti-inflammatory effects take place in the nerves that cause headache, and provide relief for many. In addition to treating an existing headache, some take CBD daily as a preventative measure for their recurring headaches.
CBD for Migraines
Modern medicines for migraine are targeting a peptide called CGRP, or its receptor. This same peptide has an increased expression in arthritic mice. Although a thorough study on the effects of CBD on CGRP has not been published yet, there is evidence of CBD being effective against arthritis. Some believe that CBD discharges CGRP from its receptor, therefore relieving migraine and arthritis pain. This effect is very promising for chronic pain sufferers as more studies are published. Those who have been using cannabis to relieve migraines and other headaches can’t wait to say I told you so.