A migraine headache is never a pleasant experience. It brings discomfort by causing a throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation. While not always the case, this is typically felt on one side of the head. A migraine usually comes with nausea and vomiting. Those experiencing migraines are normally sensitive to light and noise. These episodes can stay with an individual anywhere from hours to a number of days. This pain can be entirely disruptive throwing off your entire daily routine.

Before a migraine sets in, there is usually a sign that it is about to come. It usually begins in what is called the aura stage. This includes symptoms such as visual disturbances like flashes of light or blind spots. This stage can also include a tingling feeling on a side of your head or in your limbs.

 

There are traditional medications that are used for treating migraines. These help to relieve the pain, however, there is mounting research that is paving the way for a non-traditional form of treatment. Medical Doctors are using and recommending medical marijuana for use in tackling migraine headaches.

 

Symptoms of A Migraine Headache

Migraines do not only begin when one is introduced to the major stressors of adulthood responsibility. On the contrary, migraines often start as early as childhood. They also can develop in childhood, adolescence, or even early adulthood. Migraines can develop through four different stages. These stages are prodrome, aura, attach and post-drome. Please note that not all individuals struggling with migraines must experience all of these stages.

 

Prodrome

This phase typically begins as early as two days before the migraine sets in. You will experience changes that will prompt you that a migraine is coming. The symptoms of this stage include:

• Constipation
• Mood swings
• Uncontrollable food cravings
• A stiff feeling in the neck
• An unjustifiable increase in thirst and urination
• An increase in the frequency of yawns

 

Aura

The arrival of the aura stage varies. The aura can occur during a migraine or before it sets in. The signs of this stage are usually easily noticed by sight but not in all cases. The signs of aura typically begin gradually. It then grows in severity over a few minutes. The symptoms of the aura phase can last up to 1 hour.

 

Migraine aura signs include:

• Visual phenomena wherein the patient sees a number of shapes or bright and fluctuating light
• Temporary loss of sight
• A feeling of pins and needles in your limbs
• Numbness or unjustifiable feelings of weakness
• Difficulty in verbal communication
• Auditory hallucination
• Jerking or other uncontrollable movements

 

Attacks

This phase can last from 4 hours to 3 days if no action is taken to control it. The frequency of migraine headaches is not the same across patients. One individual suffering from migraines might experience them very rarely while another may have them on a weekly basis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At this stage, the migraine fully sets in and you may experience the following:

• Pain on a side of your head or on both sides of your head
• Throbbing or pulsating pain
• Sensitivity to all stimulus perceived by your five senses
• Nausea and possibly vomiting

 

Migraine attacks often leave patients feeling weak, dazzled, and turned out. There are some instances where people who experience a migraine feels overjoyed. However, when most individuals are recovering from an attack, a random jerk of their head can cause the pain the reappear for a short time. Migraines are clearly not a pleasant thing to experience. Can medical marijuana doctors use marijuana to treat individuals struggling with migraine headaches?

 

Can Medical Marijuana Treat Migraine Headaches?

Traditional drugs for the purposes of treating migraine headaches often bring about some amount of relief for some patients. Unfortunately, this is not true for all who experience migraine headaches. One of the greatest downfalls of this traditional medication is that they come with a host of negative side effects. You can smoke, vape or use edibles for immediate relief or use capsules or patches for steady relief. Be prepared to wait 2 hrs for on set of action when administering orally. Due to piling research, marijuana doctors and researchers are coming to have more faith in medical marijuana as an effective treatment for migraines.

 

In November of 2019, the established Journal of Pain featured a study on the use of cannabis in treating migraine. This study postulated that marijuana could effectively address migraine headaches. They discovered that marijuana could cut the severity of a migraine headache in half. They also reported that the patient can develop a tolerance to the treatment over time. On the other hand, it was confirmed that the use of marijuana as a treatment for legal card holders does not increase the severity of your headaches over time. It was also discovered that concentrated forms of marijuana were more effective than the flower.

 

In addition to this research, the Neurology released a study in 2019 that provides some more evidence in support of the use of medical marijuana in treating migraine. The study featured 279 migraine patients who were given marijuana as a treatment for their migraine. 88.3% of those tested reported that their case improved after using marijuana. More than 50% of the group also reported a reduction in the number of headaches that they experienced while being treated with marijuana. Another 38.3% of the patients experienced better sleep and 50% were able to decrease their intake of opioid medication.

 

These two published studies bring solid proof that medical marijuana is effective in treating migraine headaches. Other studies that investigate this subject report that the best form of administration is oral. Therefore, you will find most medical marijuana doctors recommending this mode of consumption.

 

Keep in mind that in order for you to acquire marijuana in one of the more than 30 states that permit medical marijuana use, you will have to get a medical marijuana card. Your medical marijuana doctor will be able to walk you through this process and grant the relevant authorization. All Natural MD.