Migraines spur untold misery on a daily basis. You can often wake up from a deep sleep with a throbbing on the side of your head that hurts so bad it feels like someone has taken a sledgehammer to your temple.

You flip on your bedside light to fumble for migraine medication but the light from the lamp is like a strobe light penetrating your eyeballs. As you sit up, you are probably overcome with nausea and you might even have to rush to the bathroom to vomit.

Imagine, in the US alone, 39 million people of all ages have to deal with this life-altering pain. Even if they turn to prescription meds, there are still side effects. Interestingly, there is actually a natural way you can find relief: cannabidiol (CBD) which is an active ingredient in the Cannabis sativa plant.

Using CBD to Treat a Migraine

You are probably shaking your head at the thought of using a known marijuana plant cannabinoid. After all, you have to function in daily life and you sure can’t do it in a mind-altered state. Everyone knows that weed gets you high, right? That is the classic response when someone says to try marijuana to reduce the frequency of painful migraine attacks. However, you’ll be ecstatic to find out that unlike the cannabinoid THC, the second most prominent chemical CBD causes no euphoria, but it effectively reduces inflammation.

Inflammation and Migraines

Migraines are puzzling and continue to boggle even modern researches. However, most will agree that the condition arises when blood vessels in the brain dilate. The irritation causes inflammation with leads to even further discomfort. Luckily, CBD reduces inflammation to not only prevent the migraine but also reduce the throbbing when one strikes.

Treating Headache Pain With Weed

For thousands of years, people have turned to marijuana to treat a bevy of physical problems. It’s one of the most popular holistic medications available. The ancient Chinese and even Egyptians regularly turned to the plant for assistance. Mid-century medical experts also recognized its benefits. Weed was listed in the Pharmacopoeia until government officials demonized it as causing what they referred to as ‘reefer madness’ in order to obtain funding for their so-called ‘war on drugs’ and keep their government agencies lucrative after alcohol prohibition ended. One of the historic uses for weed by holistic health practitioners has been the treatment of headache pain.

Nausea and Vomiting Caused by the Headache

One of the most unpleasant aspects of a migraine attack is nausea and vomiting. Many people can deal with the one-sided pain but the upset stomach is another matter. You cannot function or work if you are constantly throwing up. An extreme attack leaves you virtually bedridden and incapable of enjoying life or making a living. However, marijuana has always been a crucial aid in nausea and vomiting. In the early days when researchers first became enlightened about the plant, it was discovered that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy found instant relief from chemo-induced nausea and vomiting after they would light up a joint and take a few rips. Well, the same thing can happen with migraine vomiting and CBD. Cannabidiol can be vaped or used as an oil tincture that is placed under the tongue for rapid absorption.

Trying CBD to Treat a Migraine

CBD has few (if any) significant side effects. In the US, the Trump administration approved the use of any CBD product that has been derived from industrial hemp so it is perfectly legal to purchase and use the cannabinoid in all states. If you deal with reoccurring migraines, then you have two options for using CBD. You can take it every morning with your coffee or right before bed in the form of an oil, edible, or tablet as a preventative. If you are in the middle of a full-blown migraine, then you can inhale CBD with a vape or even rub it on your temples or neck region as a lotion or cream.

CBD has become a fantastic way to prevent and cope with migraine pain. As a holistic substance, it offers a much-needed relief that pharmaceuticals do not render without a long list of dangerous, unpleasant, and addictive side effects.