Can I use medical cannabis to treat migraines?
If you’ve ever experienced a migraine, you know how excruciating this neurological disease can be. This painful, and sometimes debilitating condition, affects 39 million people in the U.S. and 1 billion worldwide. More than just a headache, migraines have all kinds of far-reaching consequences — from about $36 billion in lost productivity annually in the U.S. to significantly higher healthcare costs for families with migraine sufferers. Despite all of this, research and treatment of migraines are still underfunded. Medical cannabis is potentially an accessible and effective treatment for migraine sufferers.
According to one literature review, “Cannabis has been long used since ancient times for both medical and recreational use. Past research has shown that cannabis can be indicated for symptom management disorders, including cancer, chronic pain, headaches, migraines, and psychological disorders (anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder).”
Anecdotal and historical evidence aside, a clinical trial done in 2020 found that medical cannabis use “results in long-term reduction of migraine frequency in >60% of treated patients and is associated with less disability and lower antimigraine medication intake. They also point to the MC composition, which may be potentially efficacious in migraine patients.” In other words, migraine sufferers who used medical cannabis regularly saw a significant reduction in the frequency of their attacks and needed to take less medication.
Other studies have shown even more promising results — with just a few caveats. Researchers at the University of New Mexico studied over two years’ worth of data from the Releaf app and found 94% “of users experienced symptom relief within two hours of cannabis use, with an average pain intensity reduction of 3.3. Men reported greater relief than women, and patients younger than 35 tended to improve more than older patients.” Other factors impact the success migraine patients see when using cannabis to treat their affliction. The study found that THC levels above 10% worked best for symptom relief. Still more studies showed that concentrates were more effective than smoked flower.
And we would be remiss not to mention one last surprising piece of information: A high daily oral dose of combined tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) was found to be as effective as a 25 mg daily dose of common migraine medication amitriptyline (chlordiazepoxide).
The verdict on medical cannabis for migraines
After years of being ignored, the evidence for medical cannabis as a safe and effective treatment for many ailments is mounting — and the research is especially compelling for use in treating migraines. Why? The answer seems to lie in terpenes, which give cannabis its flavor and fragrance. According to yet another study, “data suggests that [types of terpenes] pinene and linalool are relevant candidates for further investigation as novel medicines for illnesses, including stroke, ischemia, inflammatory and neuropathic pain (including migraine), cognitive impairment (relevant to Alzheimer's disease and ageing), insomnia, anxiety, and depression.”
Based on this growing mountain of evidence, migraine sufferers looking for alternative forms of relief may find that medical cannabis is right for them. Terpenes seem to inhibit the inflammation that may cause migraines and other neurological issues, making cannabis a promising treatment for many inflammation-related issues.
Recommended cannabis strains for migraine patients
We always recommend asking the professionals at your local dispensary for advice on which strains and products may help you specifically, but here are some of the Cann Cure Cultivation strains migraine patients may want to consider:
Big Smooth (Indica-dominant hybrid)
Black Dog (Indica-dominant hybrid)
Crown Royal (Indica-dominant hybrid)
Florida Cake (Indica-dominant hybrid)
Gorilla Glue (slightly Indica-dominant hybrid)
Incredible Hulk (Sativa-dominant strain)
Mandarin Cookies (Sativa-dominant hybrid)
Pineapple Express (60/40 Sativa/Indica)
Purple Chem Dog (Indica-dominant hybrid)
Training Day (Indica-dominant hybrid)
See also:
Can I use medical cannabis to treat epilepsy?
Can I use medical cannabis to treat back pain?
