If you sometimes suffer from headaches, you probably know how much they can limit your everyday life. In particular, people who struggle with migraine attacks are often unable to pursue their jobs and leisure activities.
Of course, there are medications for different types of headaches. But many of them have severe side effects or cannot be taken for certain reasons. The active ingredient CBD in a certain dosage could represent an alternative to conventional headache and migraine remedies. Although everyone reacts differently to the health-promoting cannabinoid, there are now enough positive reports.
We explain to you which types of headaches CBD could help and how it works.
What types of headaches are there?
Treating headaches is not always easy. After all, there are several forms, which in turn can have numerous causes - from stress and lack of sleep to poor nutrition and alcohol consumption to changes in the weather.
A basic distinction is made between primary and secondary headaches. The latter arise as a result of an accident or an illness (e.g. viral infections, high blood pressure). Headaches caused by taking other medications also fall into this category.
Primary headaches, which this article is about, do not have a specific cause. In medicine they are treated as a separate clinical picture and are divided into the following types:
- Tension headaches
- migraine
- Cluster headache
Tension headaches
This is the most common type of headache that most people experience at some point. Even if they are unpleasant, tension headaches can usually be tolerated relatively well. They are usually limited to a dull or pressing pain that subsides after a few hours. There are no other symptoms such as the nausea or dizziness typical of migraines. Tension headaches are also characterized by the fact that they affect both sides of the head, but only a specific region (e.g. temples or forehead).
migraine
Migraines, the second most common form of headache, affect approximately 7% of men and 13% of women. The female gender has to struggle with this condition much more often. In fact, women experience it particularly often before, during, or after their period.
A migraine is far worse than normal tension headaches and manifests itself as severe pain on one side of the head. Those affected often describe this as throbbing or pulsating. A migraine is also characterized by several accompanying symptoms such as the so-called “aura”. This describes the impairment of vision, which usually occurs shortly before the migraine itself. While some people's vision suddenly becomes blurry, others affected notice flashes of light and have dizziness or an unpleasant tingling feeling on the skin.
Other side effects include sensitivity to light and noise. Many also experience nausea, which is exacerbated by even the slightest movements. Most migraine sufferers therefore have to lie down and retreat to a dark room during an attack. The duration of the attack can vary between 4 – 72 hours.
Cluster headache
This form of headache is the least common and - as the only form - more common in men than women. It is also the worst type of primary headache. Cluster headaches are characterized by episodic attacks that often only last between a few minutes and a few hours, but often return. Sometimes those affected have several episodes per day, and sometimes the headaches only come back after a few months. This is where the name cluster comes from. Cluster headaches most often begin with a stabbing, one-sided pain behind the eye. Side effects include watery, red eyes and a stuffy nose.
Why is CBD worthwhile for headaches?
There are a variety of medications for headaches. Conventional tension headaches are treated with painkillers based on ibuprofen, paracetamol or acetylsalicylic acid. Stronger medications (e.g. triptans), which often require a prescription, are usually used to treat migraines.
However, many of these medicines have significant side effects - especially when taken for a long time, which is why they are only recommended for occasional use. However, this is not feasible for many sufferers who regularly suffer from pain episodes. And while ibuprofen, for example, can have an impact on the stomach if used frequently, this is still one of the more harmless side effects. Worse are preparations for migraines, which can cause, among other things, dizziness, fatigue and - ironically - headaches. For this reason, migraine medications have been criticized for some time.
But it's not just because of the side effects that those affected are always looking for alternative means to reduce the pain. There are also cases in which conventional medications reach their limits and do not provide the relief needed to get back to everyday life. In addition, some headache patients are not allowed to take the usual preparations - for example because of certain previous illnesses or interactions with other medicines.
For these reasons, those affected regularly look for alternatives. Many also consciously research herbal remedies that they expect to be better tolerated and have fewer side effects.
How does CBD work for headaches?
CBD is one such herbal alternative. The cannabinoid from the hemp plant has already significantly relieved headaches for many sufferers. They report a clear decrease in pain intensity. In addition, many reports show that CBD can temporarily help with migraines and cluster headaches.
The herbal active ingredient achieves this effect by acting on several points.
- CBD has a pain-relieving effect.
One of CBD's greatest strengths is the inhibition and relief of pain. This happens through its influence on the body's own cannabinoid anandamide. This is responsible, among other things, for the perception of pain. Researchers suspect that CBD ensures that less anandamide is broken down by our metabolism. This indirect influence is very likely to help headaches feel less intense.
- CBD has an anti-inflammatory effect.
In addition to its pain-relieving properties, CBD is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties. And this is exactly where you can start. In the case of migraines, the origin of which is still not completely known despite intensive research, inflammation is often suspected as the cause.
- CBD has a positive influence on serotonin levels.
It's not just inflammation that can cause severe headaches. An imbalance in the hormone serotonin is also suspected to be one of the main causes. This is released in its function as a messenger substance to fulfill various functions in the body. If too much serotonin is released due to certain situations, this leads to an expansion of the cerebral vessels. The result is, among other things, severe headaches.
CBD has the ability to bind to the messenger serotonin. Unlike most cannabinoids, it does not bind to the receptors of the body's endocannabinoid system. To do this, it reacts with serotonin and inhibits its release. It can prevent and relieve migraine attacks.
More about the endocannabinoid system:
