Medical marijuana has been legalized in some countries and the ratio of its components Tetrahydrocannabinol(THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are regulated to achieve consistency. It is used for therapeutic effect in patients and more research is being done to see if it can also be used for curative purposes of other health conditions.
It helps to relieve migraines in the following ways:
Reduces migraines frequency
Studies reveal that smoking medical marijuana can reduce the frequency of attacks by migraines by about 50%. Patients who used it recorded a decrease in migraines attacks at the end of every month. CBD contributes towards a calming effect in patients and this eventually culminates to a reduction in the occurrence of migraines.
Alleviate migraines pain
Smoking medical marijuana is very efficient for chronic pain and migraines is one of them. It increases one’s ability to endure migraine pain by relieving them and increasing pain threshold. The CBD component in it reduces the patient’s pain intensity by about 50%. Moreover it is an anti-inflammatory that counteracts inflammation in the brain. It’s analgesic effect also reduces pain without inducing a loss of other sensations.
Slows neurological signals
When smoking medical marijuana, it slows down the speed at which nerve impulses are fired in the brain. This means that the pain caused by migraines reaches the brain very slowly so that one feels at ease. The component THC also lowers pressure of blood and this helps to counteract problems caused by restriction of flow of blood in the brain which triggers migraines.
Endocannabinoid system control
The endocannabinoid system in our bodies have receptors for appetite, memory and pain that receive cannabinoids like those found in medical marijuana. The receptors are very minute locks on cell surfaces that require agonists as keys to unlock them. THC and CBD found in medical marijuana are agonists which attach to the cells and transmit a message instructing the cells on what to do. Medical marijuana renews the level of cannabinoids in the body and cause an end to the discomfort caused by migraines
Careful use
Inasmuch as medical marijuana helps to relieve migraines, it’s use should be controlled. The THC component in it may cause psychoactive effects or intoxication. Different individuals also respond differently when using it to relieve migraines. It is therefore imperative that a doctor’s prescription be taken to identify what will lead to the best outcome in the correct dosage and timing.
In close, medical marijuana can serve as an acute and preventive drug for migraines. It should also be noted that it’s aim is not to produce a psychoactive effect that keeps away pain as it may be taken casually. The THC component in it that causes psychoactive outcome is in small amounts compared to CBD whose effect is much more needed here. In other words, CBD helps to lessen the psychotropic effects caused by THC.