Does Weed Help With Migraines? Relief & Benefits
This post is part of our Best Dispensary in Los Angeles series, sponsored by Project Cannabis.
Those who have ever experienced a migraine can attest that they are most certainly not the business. Perhaps the worst part of a migraine is not understanding the source that provoked it, because–truth be told–migraines can be triggered from a variety of things, including medications, drinking certain beverages–such as caffeine or booze, nicotine, as well as sensory overload and excessive stimulation.
That’s right, your evening red wine might be the culprit for your head throbbing, and if you have heightened sensitivities, then potent smells, bright lights, and certain foods can be a major threat to your head health. But that’s not all! Changes in your environment, hormones, and diet, as well as intensified levels of stress and tension can all possibly be the culprit for migraines. But how does one mediate such a miserable sensation once the headache sets in and the pulsing gets strong?
Trying everything from cold compresses on the forehead, to guzzling down electrolytes or munching on ginger chews, or closing the eyes and slipping into a nice guided meditation are all great ways to tackle negative symptoms, but they don’t always cure migraines. It can feel frustrating to try a ton of holistic remedies to no avail. If you’ve stumbled across this article because you’re curious to know–Does weed help with migraines? Well, we have some great news for you. It does!
Let’s learn more, shall we?
Table of Contents
How Does Weed Help With Migraines?
When we have over stimulation due to light and auditory sensitivities, our neurological signals rapid fire to the brain. Luckily, there have been tons of studies indicating that weed helps slow down such neurological signals, thus providing relief for migraines. Because migraines have an unpredictable duration–lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days–having a healing remedy readily accessible for immediate and long-lasting relief is essential.
Other unwanted manifestations of migraines such as nausea and vomiting are manageable with consumption of cannabis. The use of cannabis can help reduce frequent headaches and restore a sense of calm in the body and mind. Sounds like the ideal recipe to knock migraines out of the park!
Is Smoking the Only Way to Use Weed to Treat Migraines?
Does smoking weed help with migraines? Well, yes, of course! In fact, there are quite a few different forms of consuming marijuana for migraine relief, ranging from edibles, vape, oils, creams, to fresh flower. Edibles can occasionally trigger nausea, but we won’t rule that out for migraine relief as everybody responds differently.
How long your migraines typically last will also play a role in what form of cannabis you decide to go with to treat your symptoms. For quick relief, smoking weed is the way to go, though the duration of its effects won’t last as long as a topical or tincture, which can last up to 7 or 8 hours. Applying a THC and CBD infused topical to your skin on your frontal lobes on either side of your forehead, as well as behind the neck and ears might help with throbbing sensations for a longer duration.
Can CBD Be Used to Treat Migraines?
CBD can be used to treat migraines, and is a fabulous choice for those who prefer non-psychoactive remedies for migraine treatment. In fact, CBD oil has been considered an excellent remedy for migraine due to its ability to relieve pain, more specifically neurologic pain.
CBD for migraine relief compares to THC for pain relief, however if you are experiencing nausea and motion sickness, THC is a better bet. Individually, CBD can help treat migraines, as it contains loads more anti-inflammatory properties than the over the counter pain reliever aspirin. CBD paired with THC work harder and stronger together to diminish pain, so it is worth considering looking into products that have a solid THC to CBD ratio.
Best Strains for Migraines
Does weed help with migraines is no longer the question, the question now becomes, what strains are the best for treating migraines? As we’ve discussed in our article about the healing properties of weed when it comes to nausea, terpenes play a major factor in the healthful benefits of weed. Specific terpenes have influence over the brain and body. Terpenes are the aromatic oil found in the cannabis plant that give it a characteristic smell and flavor profile.
If you are feeling nausea as a side effect of migraines, you’ll want to look out for terpenes that embody a distinguished peppery quality, such as myrcene and limonene. These terpenes can serve as an effective way to treat migraines, as it helps reduce inflammation and acts as a natural pain reliever. These types of terpenes, namely myrcene, can be found in strains such as OG Kush, Blue Dream and Pineapple Express, which are all hybrids.
Limonene-rich sativa strains include Durban Poison, Lemon Haze, and Jack the Ripper. Indica strains that contain limonene terpenes include Berry White. Northern Lights is an indica dominant strain that is known to alleviate symptoms associated with migraines, such as pulsing sensations and intense headaches. Purple Kush is a pure indica strain that is also said to have balancing effects that help combat migraines. Harlequin is a sativa leading strain that possesses potent CBD attributes, which is highly effective in migraine relief.
As always, consult with your budtender regarding limonene and myrcene-rich weed products and other terpenes known to aid with headaches, head throbbing, nausea, and over stimulation.
Is Sativa or Indica Better tor Migraines?
Symptom management for migraines via cannabis comes down to terpenes and strain. Much like with nausea, indica is widely known to help migraines due to its calming and sedative characteristics. That being said, patients who have been treated for headaches and migraines with diverse marijuana strains have experienced more positive effects with hybrid strains as well as specific sativa strains with a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD.
Fortunately for those who have experienced a migraine, there have been plenty of studies to support that cannabis use is associated with migraine symptom reduction, in addition to fewer headaches and better quality of sleep. It is worth consulting with a budtender and testing out a few different weed products with varying levels of CBD and THC to understand what is best suited for your particular needs.
How to Purchase Marijuana
Now that your burning question “does weed help with migraines” is answered and you know what strains might be well-suited to conquer your migraine, it’s time to make way to a weed shop and cop the perfect healing remedy–weed!
Weed can be purchased at any Los Angeles Cannabis Dispensary so long as you are 21 and over with a valid form of ID, or carry a medical marijuana card. Our favorite among all the LA weed shops is Project Cannabis, due to the fact that their selection is high-quality and plentiful. Their storefront makes buying medicine fun! Now what are you waiting for–go free yourself from the burdens of migraines and get relief today! The best part is that you get to choose from a ton of brands at different price points, and certain products such as edibles might even double as a little snack or sweet treat.
Key Takeaways on Weed and Migraines
No more wondering– “Does weed help with chronic migraines?” The answer is yes! As we have discussed, determining whether to go with indica or sativa for migraines is something your budtender can help you with, depending on the specific symptoms you are experiencing. If you are feeling nausea and dizziness as your primary side effect, you might side with indica, and if you are feeling head pain and intensified sensitivity to light and sound, you might side with sativa.
- Several studies show weed has a positive effect on migraine reduction
- Terpenes with a peppery aroma–including myrcene and limonene–tend to help with nausea relief
- OG Kush is a popular strain that many sufferers of migraines swear by
- Combined, THC and CBD can be a powerful remedy for migraine relief
- Indica is better for nausea, sativa is better for pain and sensory overload
So there you have it, marijuana can be a fantastic solution to help alleviate symptoms of a migraine, given the right dosage, strain, and method. We hope you find the relief you seek and stop nasty migraines once and for all!
