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Best CBD Oil for Migraines: Clinical Trials, Efficiency, and Usage of CBD for Headaches
Today, millions of people across the globe have to live with chronic headaches and migraines. In the US alone, chronic migraines affect over 15% of local people. There are many drugs for headaches. However, traditional painkillers cause plenty of side effects. What is more, people often develop tolerance to these drugs. As a result, standard pain treatment fails to become a suitable long-term option. Due to this, many people with migraines opt for alternative remedies, such as CBD.
CBD is a component found in hemp and marijuana plants. It is known for a wide array of beneficial properties, and lots of people use it to treat various conditions, such as:
- Seizures
- CBD for Inflammation
- Inflammation-based skin conditions
- Autoimmune diseases
- High blood pressure
- Sleep disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
Besides plenty of benefits, CBD does not involve as many side effects as traditional medication. Thus, a combination of safety and efficiency has made cannabidiol a preferable treatment for the ailments mentioned above. However, can CBD really help with severe headaches? Read further to find out more about CBD’s effects and recent clinical trials on CBD for headaches.
CBD Oil for Migraines & Headaches: Does It Work?
Migraine Symptoms
A migraine is a severe pain condition that involves the following symptoms:
- Throbbing, nagging, and pulsating pain, usually on one side of your head. Sometimes, the unbearable pain covers the entire head
- Sensory disorders
- Nausea
- Vomiting
A headache may not loosen its grip for hours and even days, thus dramatically decreasing a person’s life quality and productivity. What is more, women suffer from migraines more often than men.
Migraines and Headache Mechanisms
What causes migraines? Researchers have still not found the exact mechanisms triggering this condition. However, studies show that migraines may result from an abnormality in the brain function caused by a TRESK gene mutation. This gene regulates potassium (K+) ion channels that excite nerve cells. When corrupted, TRESK causes nerve cells to respond to irritants much more intensively.
Also, a recent study of 2020 has shown that migraine development is connected with hypersensitivity in the visual cortex (the brain area responsible for receiving and processing optical signals). It might also be the answer to why people with migraines experience the “aura” effect and intolerance to light.
There are also factors significantly contributing to migraine development:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption
- Sleep deprivation and sleep disorders
- Different food additives and spices
- Hormonal changes. A drop in estrogen and progestin in women can cause migraines. Thus, women can experience severe headaches before and during the period as well as when taking oral contraceptives.
- Physical activity. Increased physical activity (including sex) may cause migraine attacks.
Due to many triggers, a migraine is one of the three most frequent neurological conditions. What is more, limiting such a wide range of provocative migraine factors is virtually impossible. On top of that, there is still no cure for this condition. These aspects force researchers to investigate and test new treatment options for people with migraines.
The Best CBD Oil for Migraines and Headache: Top Picks 2020
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1. Endoca Hemp Oil CAPSULES (STRONG)
Recommended
Endoca Hemp Oil CAPSULES (STRONG)CBD Type: Full-spectrumCBD Potency: 1500mgSize: 30 capsulesFeatures:- Easy-to-swallow capsules
- Each capsule contains 50 mg of CBD
- No more than 0.2% THC
- No GMO, Vegan
- Lab-tested
Features:- Easy-to-swallow capsules
- Each capsule contains 50 mg of CBD
- No more than 0.2% THC
- No GMO, Vegan
- Lab-tested
Price range: €114.86Endoca has been producing high-quality CBD for ten years. This company became a leading CBD producer due to advanced CO2 extraction technologies and exceptionally ecological hemp. Naturally cultivated in Northern Europe, Endoca’s cannabis is free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Additionally, clean air, rich soil, and mild climate create an ideal environment for growing hemp of premium quality. Indeed, the Northern European hemp is considered the best in the world so far.
Endoca’s full-spectrum hemp oil capsules can become an efficient addition to your migraine and headache treatment. A compact jar contains 30 capsules with 1500 mg of CBD in total. Also, Endoca contains omega-3, 6, and vitamin E for better absorption. The full-spectrum formula ensures the highest CBD efficiency.
Discounts are available, you can receive up to 15% off when purchasing in bulk. The suggested daily dose includes 1-2 capsules on an empty stomach. -
2. CBD Essence Hemp Capsules
CBD Essence Hemp CapsulesCBD Type: Full-spectrumCBD Potency: 35mg/CapsuleSize: 30 capsulesFeatures:- Easy One-Step Serving
- Neutral Taste
- Laboratory Certified
Features:- Easy One-Step Serving
- Neutral Taste
- Laboratory Certified
Price range: $79.00This entry to the brand store is one of the most popular. It’s fairly easy to get lost in the variety that they offer on capsules and pills. It’s sometimes complicated to measure out the right CBD dose of the oils via a dropper. For those lazy CBD fans, the brand offers capsules and pills that contain the purest cannabidiol that can be taken conveniently on the go anywhere you want. Organic manufacturing with the utilization of liposome technology offers bioavailable secured consumption. You can get the options from 10 to 120 capsules that are price-ranged from $29 to $226. -
3. Charlotte’s Web PEPPERMINT HEMP-INFUSED ROLL-ON WITH CBD
Charlotte’s Web PEPPERMINT HEMP-INFUSED ROLL-ON WITH CBDCBD Type: Full-spectrumCBD Potency: 100mgSize: 10mlFeatures:- Vegan and gluten-free
- Lab-tested
- Contains less than 0.3% THC
- Free of allergens
- No GMO, artificial colorants, and additives
Features:- Vegan and gluten-free
- Lab-tested
- Contains less than 0.3% THC
- Free of allergens
- No GMO, artificial colorants, and additives
Price range: $14.99Including a topical product in your headache treatment is always a good idea. Charlotte’s Web offers a top-notch quality Peppermint Hemp-Infused Roll-On with CBD for targeted relief. It has a convenient 10-ml container suitable for transportation.Also, you can get 10% discount for subscription purchases
As for dosing, you can apply a thin layer on the target area. Avoid contact with the eyes. -
4. Elixinol Daily Balance
Elixinol Daily BalanceCBD Type: Full-spectrumCBD Potency: 133mg-4000mgSize: 8-120mlFeatures:- Includes a marked dropper
- Natural and cinnamint flavors
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- GMO-free
- Vegan-friendly
Features:- Includes a marked dropper
- Natural and cinnamint flavors
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- GMO-free
- Vegan-friendly
Price range: $11.99 - $219.99Elixinol is one of the oldest CBD manufacturers on the market. This company has been producing CBD products of exceptional quality for over 25 years from American-grown hemp. Elixinol focuses on natural production and purity. So, buying its products, you will enjoy CBD free of chemicals and harmful additives. Elixinol uses American-grown hemp and applies CO2 extraction technology to get the purest CBD with the highest potencies.
Elixinol’s Daily Balance Tincture is a suitable and affordable option for stress relief and headache treatment. With a full-spectrum formula, Daily Balance will bring you maximum benefit. It suggests a wide selection of potencies and sizes. You can choose between 8-120 ml bottles with 133-4,000 mg of CBD
As for usage, Elixinol suggests taking a 0.5 dropper twice a day. -
5. CBDistillery Full Spectrum CBD Oil Tincture - 1000mg
CBDistillery Full Spectrum CBD Oil Tincture - 1000mgCBD Type: Full-spectrumCBD Potency: 500mg-5000mgSize:Features:- A 30-ml bottle with a convenient dropper
- Suitable for transportation and outdoor use
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Lab-tested with less than 0.3% THC
- No GMO
Features:- A 30-ml bottle with a convenient dropper
- Suitable for transportation and outdoor use
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Lab-tested with less than 0.3% THC
- No GMO
Price range: $35 - $240CBDistillery is a leading CBD manufacturer located in Colorado. Due to organic CBD production, American hemp of premium quality, and advanced extraction technology, CBDistillery is a reasonable option for your migraine treatment. Thus, CBDistilery’s Full Spectrum Oil Tincture can become your primary remedy for headaches and migraines.
CBDistillery suggests taking 30-60 mg of cannabidiol per day sublingually. Each item contains 500/1,000/2,500/5,000 mg of full-spectrum CBD. The product is on sale: You can get $10 off on a one-time purchase and 20% off plus free shipping on subscription purchases.
Does CBD Oil Help Migraines?
It is worth mentioning that there are still not enough studies dedicated to CBD effects against migraines and severe headaches. However, plenty of clinical trials confirm CBD’s anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and sedative properties. Due to this, CBD is a promising treatment for cluster headaches, migraines, and other chronic neurological conditions. Let us find out what researchers say about the CBD’s efficiency for headaches:
CBD Pain-Relieving Properties
Several studies prove that CBD has evident anti-nociceptive (pain-relieving) properties. Studies have shown that phytocannabinoids target pain receptors in sensory neurons, neutralizing pain signals perceived as migraine pain. CBD soothes hyperexcited nerves and neutralizes local neuroinflammation. Due to this, cannabidiol can become an efficient treatment for migraines.
Migraine Attack Prevention
Besides neutralizing pain, CBD can also prevent migraine attacks. A study of 2017 showed that patients treated with CBD experienced migraine symptoms relief and reported a reduction of attack frequency. Thus, the patients had an average migraine frequency at 10.4 before the CBD treatment. At the end of the trial, they reported symptoms’ frequency at 4.6, thus experiencing a 55.7% reduction of migraines.
Reduction of Inflammation
A 2019 study concludes that inflammation can significantly contribute to chronic migraine development, although this condition is not directly associated with inflammation. Due to the ability to reduce inflammation, CBD for headaches works efficiently.
By binding to the TRPV1 receptor (regulating pain responses), CBD provides a strong analgesic effect and prevents pro-inflammatory markers from release. Therefore, cannabidiol can neutralize inflammation-associated factors that contribute to migraine development.
What You Should Consider Before Using CBD for Migraines
How to Select Suitable CBD Oil for Migraines?
If you are a newbie to CBD, choosing the right CBD product might be complicated for you. To avoid poor-quality products, you should pay attention to the following aspects while choosing your CBD oil for headaches:
- Always check third-party laboratory test results to make sure your CBD product does not contain harmful additions or excessive THC concentration. Usually, you can follow the lab results from official brands’ websites.
- Check for CBD content. If you are just starting, it is better to buy products containing low CBD amounts to determine whether cannabidiol suits you.
- Pay attention to hemp origin and extraction technologies. It is better to stick to brands that use hemp cultivated in the US, Western and Northern Europe. It is due to far more reliable cannabis regulation. Also, opt for brands that use CO2 extraction since it allows producing the purest and most potent CBD oil.
- Avoid brands that use hyperbolized claims. Always read CBD oil reviews and researches, and not all of its properties are well-studied. Thus, it is better to avoid CBD brands that claim to cure cancer, AIDS, and other hardly treatable conditions.
Best CBD Dosage for Migraines & Suggested Use
First, it is worth saying that CBD treatment is highly flexible, and no approach will fit everyone. You should adjust your daily CBD oil dosage according to your body weight and the severity of your symptoms.
Thus, a person with a mild headache can experience relief with only 5 mg of CBD per day. But this amount may be insufficient for a person with acute throbbing pain in the entire head. The same thing concerns weight. The heavier you have, the more CBD you will require to achieve relief and vice versa.
Nonetheless, it is better not to take enormous CBD amounts to achieve fast results. First, you should check whether you have any allergic reactions. For this, start with 10-12 mg of CBD per day and gradually increase CBD intake if you experience no relief. What about the time of the day? Should you take CBD oil for migraines in the morning, during the day, or before bed? There is no exact answer to this question as well. It depends on your goals.
Studies show that low CBD doses promote wakefulness when taken in the morning, while high doses provoke sleepiness. Thus, if you need to stay fresh during the day, but your condition requires high doses, it is better to take CBD before bed. Finally, you should always consult your practitioner before taking CBD.
CBD Dosage Calculator
- None - Mild
- Medium
- Severe
- < 45
- 46-86
- 86 - 150
- 151-240
- >240
- <45
- 46 – 85
- 86 – 150
- 151-240
- >240
- <45
- 46-85
- 86-150
- 151-240
- >240
Risks and Side Effects
Is CBD similar to weed? Indeed, many people feel afraid of developing a cannabidiol addiction. But in fact, CBD does not impact your brain function, unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active ingredient of marijuana). Therefore, you cannot develop CBD addiction, nor can you get “high” while taking CBD. What is more, cannabidiol is extracted from industrial hemp (the cannabis strain containing low amounts of THC but high CBD concentrations).
Thus, CBD is entirely safe from this perspective. Besides, many medical trials show that you can take more than 1,500 mg of CBD dailywithout developing adverse effects. Nonetheless, mild and infrequent side effects can still occur. They include:
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
Therefore, if you experience at least one side effect, you should consult your doctor to adjust CBD intake.
Is CBD Legal?
Any CBD product is legal as long as it contains no more than 0.3% THC, according to the 2018 Farm Bill. Therefore, you can lawfully consume CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC.
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What CBD Products are Best for the Treatment of Migraine?
In fact, no specific CBD product is better or worse for migraine treatment. Fortunately, you can choose the product you consider the most convenient for you. What is more, you can use a combination of different CBD forms for convenience and fast relief. Check what CBD products are available on the market and how you should use them:
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Tinctures
A bottle of CBD tincture is currently the most popular CBD form. The cannabidiol oil goes in bottles with marked droppers for convenient dosing. You can take them sublingually for better absorption and faster results.
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Edibles
These products include CBD gummies, CBD-infused chocolate, cookies, and other snacks. Dosing CBD edibles is usually convenient since each piece contains a fixed CBD amount. However, since taking edibles involves digestion, your body will absorb cannabidiol much slower. Due to this, you will get the desired effect in 1-2 hours after eating any CBD-infused product.
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Capsules
Softgels and capsules are super convenient and calorie-free. They contain a predetermined CBD amount but also have a low absorption rate.
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Topicals
CBD roll-ons and creams are great for targeted applications. They provide focused relief without impacting the entire body.
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Vape Oils and Cigarettes
If you like vaping and smoking, purchasing CBD vape oils and cigarettes is a great chance to make your hobby much healthier. Besides, cannabidiol is absorbed much better when inhaled. Due to this, CBD vape oils and cigarettes have a much higher absorption rate, and you will feel the headache relief within 10-15 minutes.
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Water-Soluble Products
Water-soluble, also named water-compatible CBD, is a novel cannabidiol formulation with the highest absorption rate. CBD brands achieve it by producing CBD nanoemulsions that enable your body to absorb 99-100% of the CBD serving. Thus, you can take CBD-infused beverages and CBD water to benefit from cannabidiol properties to the fullest.
Final Thoughts
Does CBD help headaches and migraines to disappear? Many studies show that it certainly relieves migraine pain. Due to a wide array of beneficial properties, CBD successfully treats migraine symptoms and, most importantly, prevents the development of migraine attacks.
Therefore, CBD can become an efficient addition or even replacement to your current headache treatment. To make your CBD oil for migraines the most efficient, you should opt for certified, lab-tested CBD products manufactured with premium quality hemp. Once you find a reliable CBD product, you will feel the taste of life without headaches and migraines.
FAQ
How to Use CBD Oil for Migraines?
It is better to start with small CBD doses and slowly adjust them to your condition. You can take CBD in the morning, during the day, or before sleep.
How much CBD Oil should I Take for Migraines?
You can start with 10-12 mg of CBD per day if you have mild symptoms. Most CBD brands suggest taking 30-100 mg of cannabidiol per day for headaches and migraines. However, you can always adjust the daily dose according to your condition.
What Kind of CBD Works for Headaches?
Virtually any CBD form soothes headaches. Therefore, you can select the product you consider the most convenient.
How often to Use CBD for Headaches?
You can use CBD two or three times a day to ensure round-the-clock CBD support.
- Headache and migraine – Statistics & Facts | Statista
- Genetics and migraine
- The brain of migraine sufferers is hyper-excitable — ScienceDaily
- Migraine start, course and features over the cycle of combined hormonal contraceptive users with menstrual migraine – temporal relation to bleeding and hormone withdrawal: a prospective diary-based study | The Journal of Headache and Pain | Full Text
- Emerging Role of (Endo)Cannabinoids in Migraine
- The Use of Cannabis for Headache Disorders
- Mechanisms of migraine as a chronic evolutive condition | The Journal of Headache and Pain | Full Text
- An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies
- Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill | FDA
Jamie Taylor
Jamie has more than ten years of experience as a physician assistant. He has always been interested in the healing potential of cannabidiol, especially in its pain relief properties. Jamie considers cannabidiol as a powerful remedy with minimal side effects. He knows how to help users make rational buying decisions based on the unbiased and accurate reviews of CBD products and brands.
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