Author’s Bio: Rachel H. had always experienced headaches whenever she lay down after getting a trauma. After evaluation, the doctor found one of her nerves had an impact injury. CBD was one of the pain relievers she used, and it worked almost instantly. Rachel applied it topically until fully recovered.
Description: CBD is one of the rare substances with countless uses and benefits. It’s used medically, in psychology, oncology, treating diabetes, and so many more. But that is not all; CBD for migraines is also a remedy. But how effective is it? Let us find out.
Getting to the root source of a headache is a nuisance in itself, especially if it appears from thin air. But there are people who battle with these same headaches more often than not, and the medication they take presents side effects. Is there any hope for these people?
Perhaps they could try CBD for migraine treatment and see if it works for them. But what is CBD? And is CBD good for headaches? Read on to find that out, but first, let us look at different headaches and their reasons.
Types of Headaches and Their Causes
To understand how to take CBD oil for headaches, you must first grasp the source and the affected part. Below is a brief explanation of that.
Primary headaches
These kinds of headaches root from the inflammation or swelling of blood vessels, muscle tissue, or nerves in the head or neck region. The types under primary headaches are migraines, tension, hypnic, and cluster.
Migraines usually present as a throbbing pain that may be on either one side of the head or both. Migraines may come with a warning or without. They are characteristic when someone suffers from conditions like asthma or diabetes. They usually have no cure but can be managed by medications, and until recently, by some CBD strains for headaches.
Tension headaches are a centralized pain source at the temples, the back of the neck, or the forehead. They can be mild or very intense, and they recede with physical care such as massage of the afflicted area using a CBD migraine balm or CBD massage oil. Pain medications also do the trick.
A hypnic headache is a sporadic one that occurs within a specific age group of people. It affects people between the ages of 30 to 40 and usually occurs at night. It only lasts for a few minutes, then vanishes. Pain medications generally do nothing for these headaches as it comes with extra effects like runny nose, teary eyes, and sometimes dizziness.
The last kind of primary headaches is the cluster headache that occurs in a cluster. What this means is that they appear one after the other with breaks of calm and no pain. They behave like the hypnic headaches but more frequently through the day and night. They are also accompanied by several effects like droopy lids, enlarged pupil, stuffy nose, or teary eyes. The best treatment for these headaches is before they set in.
Secondary headaches
These are a class of headaches that are fatal since they usually have a causative agent that is dangerous. Some root reasons for secondary headaches are brain tumors, aneurysms, brain or neck injury, or brain infection.
These kinds of headaches appear out of the blues and come in unbearable pain that could hinder you right away. These headaches affect the whole head, and a person cannot really spot the source.
How CBD Can Help with Headaches
The health benefits of CBD, as aforementioned, surpass our expectations. So what exactly is it, and how does it help with headaches?
CBD, Definition, Source, and Uses
CBD is mother nature’s gift to us that grows from the ground up. CBD is one of many constituents found in flora known as the hemp plant. Have you ever heard of the plant called Cannabis Sativa?
Well, the hemp plant is a very close sister to it! Cannabis is mostly known because of its high THC levels used as a recreational drug, but it can be used to treat some psychotic conditions like depression.
The hemp plant, just like cannabis, also contains THC but in smaller quantities. The element that steals the show is CBD, known as cannabinoids in full. CBD has so many uses, including sorting headaches that we are looking into today.
The properties below are precisely how CBD for migraines and headaches work.
CBD has anti-inflammatory properties
CBD is commendable for its anti-swelling properties that can very well aid headaches, mainly primary headaches. What happens is that CBD acts upon the pain receptors in the brain and dampens the pain by bringing down the swelling that might be causing the headache.
When it comes to secondary caused headaches, the anti-inflammatory properties are also beneficial when dealing with inflammation caused by a disease like diabetes.
CBD is a pain reliever
CBD comes in as a pain reliever as it hinders the body from metabolizing a substance called anandamide. When this happens, this substance inevitably increases in volume in the blood, which produces the effect of pain regulation. The higher the anandamide level, the less the pain.
CBD is an anti-stress substance
Most of these headaches mentioned above might be triggered by stress too. CBD being a notable relaxer and mood booster, works hand in hand with the endocannabinoid system to balance out the stress hormone called cortisol. If cortisol is under control, you will experience fewer headaches. For instance, if the tension headaches source is stress, then a CBD oil lotion for headaches might come in handy before the headache’s full intensity kicks in.
CBD helps sort out underlying sources of secondary headaches
This is in direct referral to secondary headaches caused by diabetes. One thing that CBD helps with, thanks to its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, is regulating the use, production, and utilization of insulin in the body. When this balance is struck, the ripple effect is the reduction in the headache frequency. And if you continue treatment using CBD gummy bears for headaches, you might eradicate them altogether.
CBD helps faster healing of muscles and injuries
If the cause of your headache is head or neck injury, CBD might help with that too. CBD molecules help reduce swelling faster, which protects the nearby muscle tissue and blood vessels.
Secondly, it relaxes the muscles receding tension that may hinder healing.
Thirdly, CBD aids sound sleep, and sleep is the time our bodies work best in regenerating all the body systems. While all these happen, you get to heal faster and wade off any kind of headaches brought about by injury to the brain or neck.
CBD helps with sleep
Headaches can be the reason some people cannot get a good night’s sleep. As mentioned in the previous point, CBD can aid sleep, making you get sound sleep since it dampens the pain.
The Best CBD Products For Headaches
CBD topical products
These include roll-ons, CBD migraine balms, and the best CBD massage oil. The answer on how to use CBD balm for headaches is pretty straight forward. Where to put CBD cream for headaches? The best way is to apply the product on the area affected and using your fingertips, massage slowly in a circular motion.
After a while, you will start to feel the relief in both pain and tension of the affected muscles.
Oil tinctures
Oil tinctures come in a small dropper bottle that you use by placing a few drops under your tongue. After a few minutes, the CBD will be sipped into the bloodstream. The effects are usually felt in those few minutes and calm the headaches just as fast.
The best CBD strains for headaches in tincture form are the full-spectrum ones. The full-spectrum includes traces of every constituent of the hemp plant, including THC. But most times, the concentration of THC is lower than 0.3%, so you won’t get high, no need to worry.
For this reason, you get to experience the full entourage effect of the tincture.
CBD edibles
CBD edibles are things like CBD tea, chocolate, pastries, or any other consumable. These are very great options because they are very discrete and can be eaten from anywhere. These are best to take when you anticipate a headache, such as a cluster or hypnic kinds.
Secondary headaches can also be kept away by edibles. Since they take longer to work, you should use CBD for migraines a few hours before the time you usually get a hypnic headache, for instance.
CBD vapes and smokes
Since you need an immediate solution to a throbbing headache, inhaling it through hemp cigarettes or vapes can work pretty well. But while using this method, you have to be aware not to trigger other nasal or respiratory cavity disturbances.
How to Choose the Best CBD Products for Headaches
Visit a doctor
The first thing is to get a comprehensive evaluation from a doctor. The physician has to scan you for any possible underlying causes and give you the go-ahead to use CBD products if you must.
If they discover another issue beyond stress, tension, or injury, a second opinion by a specialist supported by tests and scans are mandatory. If an underlying problem is ruled out, proceed to get CBD for migraines as treatment.
Search for trusted sellers
If you have no idea where to buy a CBD oil for headaches, the first stop should be the internet. Search for shops within your areas and read the reviews given. Be vigilant and thorough in asking around people who might recommend you to a good site using social media platforms.
If you have friends or family, you could ask, the better. All in all, find a seller who sells the real deal. You need to get products you are very sure of.
Once you got the product, read the packaging
Sometimes when you get something new, even medication, it is always wise to read through the instructions that usually come on the packaging to know what kind of CBD product you have and learn about the dosages well enough before using the product.
Use the recommended dosage
A CBD flower for headaches will definitely have a different dosage plan compared to a tincture. And this may be because they might have different CBD concentrations and potency, not forgetting the ingredients and the bioavailability.
That said, you must use the recommended dosage to avoid adverse side effects by overdosing. If the recommended dosage does not act as it should, give it a little more time before taking another one.
Always start small
If you are new to using any CBD product, always start with the lowest dosages and go adding if you must. Starting small initiates your body into getting used to the new supply of CBD into the body.
Use the product for its intended purpose
Do not try ingesting a CBD migraine balm meant for topical application. Or smoke CBD oil for massage in a vape. This might result in poisoning since the elements used in making this product might not be safe when consumed in any way other than the intended. That said, always use the CBD product as prescribed.
Take Away
By now, you can confidently answer the question, what can CBD do for migraines without any hesitation. How to take CBD and how does CBD oil work are all at your fingertips now.
CBD is an impressive substance that has made quite a name of itself, and it is bound to get even better as time goes by. Undoubtedly, there is none other like CBD because of its benefits pan all over the medical industry. With CBD, headaches are nothing to keep you down.
How do you deal with headaches? Share your ideas in the comment section below.
