Top 6 Best CBD Products for Migraine Relief
CBD is a hot topic in the migraine community. Many people wonder if it can actually be used to stop a migraine or prevent a migraine from starting. Not to mention all of the health benefits that people are raving about.
With marijuana becoming legalized in many states across the United States, more and more people are interested in these products and they are becoming more widely available. As the availability of these products continues to grow, it is crucial that we understand if this is something that can actually help lessen your migraine attacks and what products can be trusted.
What is CBD?
In cannabis, also known as marijuana, there are two well known chemical compounds and those are cannabinoids (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD accounts for about 40% of cannabis and can be extracted from the plant. CBD does not have any psychoactive or components to make you “high.” CBD is also commonly extracted from Hemp seeds. THC is the major psychoactive component found in cannabis. This is the ingredient that makes you “high” because it causes a higher than normal release of dopamine to be released into the bloodstream. Since CBD is extracted from cannabis, the CBD must be less than 0.3% THC.
Does CBD Help with Migraine?
CBD has many health benefits. One of these is that it helps to lower anxiety. Studies have shown that CBD helps you to feel more relaxed. It does this by altering the brain’s response to serotonin, which is a chemical linked to mental health. This helps you to feel relaxed, focused, and an increased level of happiness.
In a similar way, it can also help to reduce insomnia and help you to get a good night's rest. It does this by creating a calming effect on the nervous system, making it easier for you to fall asleep.
Moreover, CBD is very nutrient dense and some may even call it a “super food.” This is because it contains important nutrients like vitamin B, beta carotene, calcium, magnesium, and essential fatty acids.
Now let’s get to the best part, CBD helps with pain relief. It is not entirely known how CBD can help with pain relief, but researchers believe that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This response creates anti-inflammatory and pain relieving effects that help with pain management.
There is limited research done on CBD’s effectiveness with migraine. This is partly due to federal and state regulations of CBD and THC. Many studies that have been done test both CBD and THC effects on migraine. However, a survey was conducted by Axon and 86% of the participants reported a decrease in the number of headaches and migraine attacks per month after using CBD for 30 days. Specifically, those with chronic migraines saw a 33% reduction in migraine days per month.
More research still needs to be done and this study has its limitations, but this is a good start in the right direction. This study raises awareness about the need for more effective studies to be done on pain relief for migraine sufferers everywhere.
Click here to learn more!
How much CBD do you take?
Just like anything you are starting new, you will want to go SLOW.
There are some common side effects of CBD to look out for, especially when trying it for the first time. It can cause dry mouth, nausea, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal issues including nausea and diarrhea.
Dosages for CBD seem to vary widely in the studies and normally range from 100-1000mg per day. However, the form that you take CBD in, could affect the dosage. Thankfully, many products that contain CBD online have dosing instructions. Remember, start with a low dose and if it well tolerated, than you can increase to get the desired affects.
Ways to Take CBD
There are numerous ways to take CBD and incorporate it into your lifestyle.
This is the fastest way to enjoy the effects of CBD. By inhaling CBD, either through smoking or vaping, this goes straight to your lungs and hits your bloodstream fast. *To note, smoking and vaping can pose its own health and cancer risks.
Topical Application
Topical application of CBD includes ointments, lotions, creams, and balms. This works great for muscle tension and pain relief. It can even be massaged onto your temples during a migraine and is also great to apply to you neck muscles if you experience a lot of muscle tension there.
Ingestion (Edibles)
This is one of the most popular ways to ingest CBD. The most common edibles are gummies and lollipops. They are not only tasty, but can be taken discreetly. An important thing to note when taking edibles, is to be aware of how much you are ingesting and it may take an hour or so to kick in. The best advice is to take a set quantity and wait an hour or two before ingesting more.
This is another fast way to ingest CBD and comes in a variety of oils and tinctures. It is easy to take as you just apply a few drops under the tongue and hold it for about 30 seconds before swallowing. Taking CBD sublingually makes it easy to figure out the best dose for yourself and the effects last 3-6 hours.
Best CBD Products for Migraine
1. Blue Key: CBD Oil
This is by far my favorite CBD oil. What I love about this one is that it does not have any added flavoring to it. It is the natural flavoring of the CBD, which is an earthy taste. The nice thing about it not being artificially flavored, is that it has no added ingredients which could be a potential migraine trigger. The only other ingredients in the CBD oil are omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and MCT oil, which all have anti-inflammatory properties. But, if you prefer it to have a flavor, Blue Key offers additional CBD oils that are flavored with essential oils. What I love about Blue Key brand in general is that they derive their CBD from hemp that is grown with the highest standards. You can always expect great quality from them!
2. Axon: CBD Oil for Migraine
Axon is another amazing CBD oil. This one is designed specifically for migraine patients! This product is, also, made with the best ingredients and has no added flavors or colors. They made this CBD so it is a higher concentrate, which is perfect for migraine patients. Always remember to start slow and work your way up to the recommended dose.
3. Colorado Botanicals CBD Gummies
These gummies are the cleanest on the market! Many gummies on the market are full of artificial ingredients and gelatin, all of which are major migraine triggers. These gummies come in orange and strawberry flavored and are vegan and non-GMO. They also contain other amazing qualities besides just CBD. They have Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA) and Cannabidivarin (CBDV), both of which have additional anti-inflammatory properties, aiding even more with pain relief.
4. Forest Remedies: CBD Soft Gel
This is another clean CBD product that is a soft gel. Soft gels are nice because they can be taken discretely and are great for on the go. This product contains MCT oil and the soft gel is made from Non-GMO Cassava Root Starch, Purified Water, and Vegetable Glycerin. The CBD itself is extracted from hemp that is organically grown and farmed, without the use of pesticides. They are, also, environmentally conscious and have no more plastic packaging.
5. Moon Mother: CBD Muscle Balm
This is an amazing CBD balm that is made from a women owned brand! Balms are perfect for sore and tense muscles. People with migraine tend to get tight muscles in the back of their head and upper back. This can be a migraine trigger, so getting these muscles relaxed could help with more migraine free days. Moon Mother has created a formula, made from all organic and plant-based ingredients. Once applied, you will feel a heating and cooling sensation, which directly targets to release tension and relax the muscles by increasing blood flow to the area.
6. Social CBD: Rest CBD Body Lotion
CBD lotion is a great thing to add to your nighttime routine. This lotion contains CBD, magnesium, and arnica to help support relaxation and has shea butter, coconut, and argan oil for the best moisturizer. It even has the soothing aroma of lavender, chamomile, and bergamot.
Overall, CBD is a great option to have in your migraine toolkit. It can be taken as needed for migraine relief and it can also be taken daily to prevent migraines. I, personally, take CBD as needed for anxiety. Anxiety and stress are two huge migraine triggers for me! When I feel like I am anxious, I take CBD oil and within 30 minutes I already feel calmer. This is a great tool I can use to raise my migraine threshold.
