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Handling Potential Migraine Symptoms with CBD

CBD for Migraines

There are headaches, and then there are migraines.  Every migraine sufferer knows that the two are very different, although they’re often referred to as the same thing.  One thing that makes migraines unique is that they’re unbelievably debilitating and can come with a wide host of symptoms aside from typical headache pain.

One major issue with migraines is that the medical community does not offer many options to the sufferer.  This is especially upsetting for those who suffer from frequent migraines, as many people find that they experience them at least once a month.  It goes without saying that migraine sufferers are more than desperate for a treatment option that consistently works, although options are limited at the time.

Today, we’ll be discussing the research surrounding CBD and migraines.  Many studies have been performed recently in order to determine whether or not this plant-based compound is capable of providing relief to those who suffer from migraines, regardless of the severity and frequency.  This can help you decide whether or not you wish to start a CBD regimen in order to alleviate migraine symptoms while also reducing their frequency.

What Exactly Defines Having Migraine?

A migraine is a type of headache that is known to be more debilitating than most.  The pain that it causes is extremely severe and can interrupt one’s ability to go on with their daily routines.  Most people who experience a migraine have no choice but to lay in a dark room until it goes away.  Migraines tend to produce a throbbing pain that wraps around the head, and often, one side of the head feels worse than the other.

Why Do Migraines Even Occur?

It’s hard to determine an exact cause for migraines, as there as so many contributing factors.  We now know that chronic stress is a very popular contributing factor, as excess cortisol levels can lead to inflammation in this area of the head.  People may also experience migraines due to food allergies, injuries, hormonal imbalances, alcohol consumption, high sugar consumption, excess caffeine, withdrawal from certain drugs and underlying illnesses.  Women who suffer from migraines often find that they become more severe during the PMS stage of their cycle.

Symptoms Associated with a Migraine

The leading symptom of a migraine is severe pain, but other symptoms typically accompany it.  Common symptoms include:

  • Lightheadedness
  • Fainting
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • A loss of appetite
  • Vomiting,
  • Lack of coordination
  • Seeing auras in one’s peripheral vision

How’s a Migraine Treated?

There are a few reasons why migraines are so difficult to treat.  One reason is because migraines can have a number of causes and determining the underlying causes can be challenging.  Also, migraines are, by nature, unpredictable, so it’s hard to prevent them. 

Those who experience frequent migraines will likely be told to take a pain medication as needed or daily by a doctor in order to prevent them from occurring.  Depending on the severity of the pain, they may be prescribed a prescription medication, or told to take an over-the-counter drug.  Sometimes, opioid drugs are prescribed, but this is becoming less and less common due to the addictive nature of these types of drugs.

Can Migraines Be Harmful in the Long-Term?

Migraines themselves aren’t harmful in the long-term in terms of putting a person’s life in danger, but they do come with complications.  For one thing, frequent migraines can interfere with a person’s quality of life and cause mood problems.  Additionally, migraines can indicate an underlying illness that requires medical attention.  And, migraines can be unpredictable which makes them dangerous.  For instance, if someone experiences a sudden migraine while driving, it can impair their driving abilities.

Could CBD Potentially Alleviate Migraine Symptoms?

CBD is a chemical compound that’s native to the hemp plant.  CBD is unique in that it has many properties associated with pain relief, according to studies.  Additionally, CBD works directly with the body’s endocannabinoid system that is responsible for the regulation of bodily processes, including pain levels, hormone levels and inflammation levels throughout the body.  The endocannabinoid system consists of cannabinoid receptors that exist throughout the body, including areas that are affected by migraines.  CBD gives these receptors cannabinoids so that they may regulate the processes associated with their corresponding locations. 

According to one study, taking CBD for migraines is nothing new.  For centuries, people have been using CBD as a natural way to alleviate the pain associated with migraines.

Now, science has shown us that CBD contains analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties in high volumes.  Analgesics and anti-inflammatories are known pain relievers.

Other research has found that CBD may alleviate stress and anxiety, and we know that stress and anxiety can contribute to migraines.

What to Know About Taking CBD When Dealing with a Migraine

Many migraine sufferers use CBD on a regular basis.  CBD can be taken two ways: as needed or daily.  It seems that daily use is best for preventative care, as CBD accumulates in the body and becomes more potentially effective with each dose. 

Before taking CBD for migraines, tell your doctor as they will want to know what you are taking, and may be able to offer suggestions so that your treatment is more effective.  Also, it’s imperative that you opt for a high-quality CBD product from a trusted company.  Look for lab results on a company’s website to make sure that the CBD is pure, potent and high in quality.

Those dealing with more severe symptoms will likely benefit from a higher potency, as higher potency levels provide the body with more properties found within CBD’s compounds.  Choose the administration method that works best for you depending on your needs. 

  • CBD Tinctures: Tend to act within thirty minutes and can last for a couple of hours.
  • Vape Oils:  work within minutes, and are short-lived, but can provide more potent effects. 
  • Edibles: last for several hours but may require one to two hours before the effects are felt within the body.
  • Topicals: Can provide fast, long-lasting effects, but may not be as potent.

We suggest starting with the recommended dosage for two weeks.  From there, you may increase it as needed.

Safe to Say Migraine Sufferers Deserve Relief from this Almost Crippling Condition

If you decide to take CBD when dealing with a migraine, use the guide above to go about it in the right manner.  And, feel free to check out all of the fascinating studies regarding CBD and pain, as they are abundant.

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CBD Terminology 101: Words All Users Should Know

CBD terms

New to the world of CBD? Eager to get started making this cannabinoid part of your daily regimen?  Well, if there’s one thing that we can tell you, it’s that the CBD market of today is highly diverse and extensive.  Now, this is a good thing, because it means that there’s tons of variety, ensuring that you can find the perfect product for your highly specific needs.  But it also means that newbies can feel overwhelmed due to the large amount of terminology that must be learned in order to know what you’re buying.

The Major Words on the CBD Streets

We’ve made a list of all of the important CBD-related terms that you must learn in order to pick out the perfect products for your needs.  By learning these terms, you’ll have no trouble finetuning your hemp experience for the best possible results.

  • Hemp: A member of the cannabis family, and it is cousins with marijuana – yes, the federally illegal, psychoactive plant that makes people feel high.  Hemp is unique in that it’s low in THC, so it doesn’t get a person high.  Hemp is also a highly useful plant that can be turned into rope, paper, clothing and so much more.  But, today, we’re talking about hemp because it’s the plant from which CBD is derived.  Hemp is naturally high in CBD, and so it’s used to produce commercial CBD products.
  • Cannabinoid: Hemp contains many cannabinoids, which are plant compounds native to cannabis.  Cannabinoids are unique in that they work directly with our body’s endocannabinoid system which is in charge of homeostasis.  Therefore, consuming cannabinoids gives the endocannabinoid system what it needs to ensure that every bodily system is functioning properly.
  • CBD: One of the cannabinoids native to hemp, and it’s the one that’s most abundant in hemp.  CBD has been widely studied for its many potential benefits and therapeutic properties, and it’s become an entire industry. 
  • THC: Another cannabinoid that’s found in both hemp and marijuana.  In marijuana, THC is very abundant.  However, hemp only contains about 0.3 percent THC.  This is not nearly a high enough amount to deliver psychoactive effects.  This is why hemp will never get a user high.
  • Terpene: Terpenes are another class of compounds found in the hemp plant, as well as every other plant in existence.  Terpenes determine the color, flavor and aroma of a plant.  They also have unique properties within themselves, such as anti-inflammatory properties and anti-anxiety properties.
  • Strain: Different hemp plants belong to different strains, and a strain refers to the unique chemical composition of a particular plant.  Some strains, for instance, have higher levels of limonene, a terpene known to potentially relieve pain, and higher levels of CBN, a cannabinoid known to potentially promote sleep.  Meanwhile, other strains may have higher levels of other compounds. 
  • Indica: Strains are categorized into three classes, with Indica being one of them.  Indica strains are associated with sleepiness and calmness and may relieve pain.
  • Sativa: These strains are known to be more energizing and cerebral.
  • Hybrid: Halfway between Indica and sativa strains and may provide benefits associated with both.
  • Full Spectrum: There are three types of hemp extracts, which refer to the way in which the hemp compounds were extracted from the plant material.  Full spectrum extract contains every compound, including THC, CBD and terpenes.  Bear in mind that in full spectrum extract, there is only about 0.3 percent, below the legal limit, and not enough to make a person feel high. It’s believed that full spectrum extract provides the entourage effect, an effect in which the plant compounds multiply each other’s effectiveness when taken “as nature intended.
  • Broad Spectrum: contains every plant compound except for THC.
  • CBD Isolate: Contains only CBD and no other compounds.
  • Strength: Refers to the number of milligrams of CBD in a particular product.  It determines how much CBD the user will be consuming per dose. 
  • Dosage Level: Quantity of the CBD product that can be taken orally.
  • Tincture: An oral product that is poured beneath the tongue and absorbed through the sublingual tissue in order to act fairly quickly.
  • Vape Oil: Another term for a CBD-infused e-liquid.  It can be flavored or unflavored and is placed into a cartridge and vaped using a compatible device.
  • Edibles: Any CBD-infused edible product, such as a gummy, that is consumed via the digestive tract.
  • Topicals: Creams, lotions, balms, etc. that can be applied to the skin

Learning is CBD Power

As you can see, the CBD market doesn’t need to be that intimidating after all.  By simply knowing the right terms, you can find the right products and have a very positive CBD experience.  Study this guide so that you can know exactly what to buy when you’re ready to go shopping for CBD products at Hemp CBD Oil Store.