Photo by Krakenimages.com / Adobe Stock Photo
Some cannabinoids like THC and CBD have been identified to have anticonvulsant, antiemetic, and antioxidant properties. Along many other positive benefits. The point being: yes, they can potentially help control nausea, headaches, and other symptoms of a migraine.
First, we’ll have to kick things off by defining what the heck a migraine is at first. From a personal standpoint, I’m more than quite susceptible to headaches. Growing up, as a teenager I thought these were called migraines. It was only until I met my current girlfriend that I came upon the knowledge that “oh, they aren’t, I’m just whiny and pretty much a wimp”.
Because let me tell you, if what I got were migraines then what this girl gets are straight up alien viruses (I don’t even know if alien viruses are thing or not, but that’s what came to mind, so please bear with me).
The point is:
Migraines are way more than just your regular headache. They usually start with a sharp relentless headache, but they could evolve into more serious symptoms like fever, nausea, and vomiting.
The way my girlfriend describes them is a searing pain that becomes so strong it starts to make her feel nauseous. In her case migraines are supposed to be triggered by a condition where her white blood cell count is low (or something like that) and if she doesn’t eat something every couple of hours the headache starts getting worse and worse.
But not all migraines are symptoms of the same condition. The truth is, that the origin of migraines can vary and is typically referred to as a neurological condition or brain disorder. Which I know sounds way serious, but neurological conditions can mean a wide variety of things including a simple headache.
The mystery lies around what triggers a migraine. For some it might be a genetic condition but for most of us it’s likely to be triggered by causes as simple as bad dieting, dehydration, or exposure to direct sunlight.
This is where cannabinoids come in. Some cannabinoids like THC and CBD have been identified to have anticonvulsant, antiemetic, and antioxidant properties. Along many other positive benefits. The point being: yes, they can potentially help control nausea, headaches, and even potentially combat neurodegenerative disorders.
Although I strongly suggest consulting with a licensed physician beforehand as every condition acts differently in different subjects and you are likely to not benefit from cannabinoids if not prescribed by a professional. Yep, I’m covering my butt.
Headaches and migraines can be a bit tricky to treat with high THC strains. Because THC can have overwhelming mind effects that may leave you feeling dizzy or fogged up, they might have an adverse effect on your migraine.
Not to mention that migraines don’t necessarily limit themselves to a powerful headache, sometimes they are accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
That said:
Steering clear of THC could be a good decision. Especially if your tolerance to THC is not very high.
CBG is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the symptoms of a strong migraine. That is what makes this incredibly rare and artistically crafted Sour G CBG strain by Botany Farms a top pick on the list.
With 13.5% CBG on a Sativa flower, you’re not only getting the best of the best for your migraine, but you’re also purchasing an incredibly rare find that doesn’t last long on the shelves. Sour G puts you in a relaxed state of mind without making you lose focus on your responsibilities.
So, here’s the thing; I love THC, there’s no substance more fun or more flexible in my opinion. I can take THC just lounging at home with my homies and girlfriend, or I can take it at a full-blown party where socializing is more than necessary. If I choose my strains right, I’m likely to have a good time in both scenarios.
But when it comes to migraines, I try to be a bit more careful with my non-professional prescriptions of THC. However, recently I started consuming CBD flower and found that my chances of overwhelming my system when suffering from intense headaches are way lower.
Botany Farm’s Sour Space Candy is what does it for me. A high CBD content that tallies all the way up to 18.8%, in the form of flower which makes it just the perfect fit for my anxious @ss. A craft hybrid engineered to help you unwind and relax when a migraine kicks in and all you want to do is hop in bed and close your eyes.
Although we’ve hinted that THC can be detrimental to a migraine, it has to be said that this only stands if your tolerance to THC is not able to stand the amount of THC consumed.
Personally, we’ve found that when put to use, high THC levels can actually be quite useful in getting rid of migraines. Let’s put it like this; if your concentration is focused on an activity you enjoy, the likeness of you powering through an unbearable migraine will increase.
LAKE GRADE LSD is a high-THC, Sativa-dominant hybrid crafted for daytime use and social activities. The lemony-citrus aromas and flavors of this LakeGrade work of art are soothing all by themselves.
The truth of a good ‘migraine-strain’ is that it gets it done for you. Although 23% THC might be a bit too much for some people, for others (like yours truly), its sounds like something that might just come in handy.
Like CBG, Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that comes in handy when trying to avoid overwhelming highs.
Cherry Blossom is an Indica-dominant strain carefully crafted by CBD experts Botany Farms.
With nearly 11% CBD content, this dark cherry-scented flower delivers just the right amount of relaxing vibes needed to close your eyes for a bit, unwind, or maybe enjoy the sunset at the end of a hectic day.
Indica strains are already notorious for their unwinding powers, but Cherry Blossom by Botany Farms goes one step further in a laborious attempt to exploit the analgesic powers of CBD in flower format.
CBD is known to have incredible effects linked to pain relief and muscle relaxation. Which sounds like something that’s right up the alley of a strong migraine.
Photo by Mark / Adobe Stock Photo
You’ll notice that in most of this list we’re going ‘full sedative’ and it’s not by art of coincidence. Migraines have always seemed to me to be a strange sort of symptom. It makes me feel like I want to sleep, but it won’t allow me to fall asleep either. So, I’m dropping OG Kush on this list because of its high 20% THC content that provides a heavy body and mind high.
The strain is said to support long-term pain reduction, but I take it for its immediate effect. With OG Kush you’ll be able to socialize a get a few laughs in before it drops you on your butt because it is a hybrid, but in my personal experience I find myself having trouble to stay awake after a couple of hours.
Photo by jonathan / Adobe Stock Photo
Here’s one of my ‘go-tos’ for pretty much anything nighttime related. A powerful blend between OG Kush and Northern Lights (two legendary strains I may say). Although strongly sedative, Northern Kush makes me stay awake for a couple of hours before I can actually go to sleep. I don’t know if that’s my anxiety being stubborn or just the way the strain acts.
The point is; Northern Kush is a great nighttime strain and if you feel a migraine kicking in it’s practically designed to help you relax and forget. THC levels oscillate somewhere around 15% to 20%, but it is a rather rare find of a strain so the exact THC content will vary.
Photo by Marshall Pittman / Adobe Stock Photo
Not too much to say here that we haven’t already said in the item above, but I’ll make a run for it. THC content lies somewhere around the 16% mark with this classic Indica dominant strain. Best left for nighttime use, Northern Lights is said to have made its first appearance in the Seattle area and later somehow made its way to the streets of Amsterdam.
Commonly used to induce relaxation, Northern Lights is a safe choice for migraines that need a little dozing off. It’s said to help with depression, stress, and negative moods, which would make sense for migraines, since they are a common symptom of the above conditions.
Photo by Mark / Adobe Stock Photo
Another bedtime strain that you’ll likely recognize. A strain that has been popularized by Snoop Dogg in random T.V. shows and scattered Snoop weed comments (which there are plenty of). But the fact that Snoop vouches for it should tell you that it’s a pretty strong flower.
Purple Kush should be left for nighttime use because it allows you to relax into a sleepy state, and there is nothing better than sound sleep to get rid of a migraine. Although, if you have time to sleep during the day and can’t seem to function with that migraine going, then go for it.
Purple Kush holds around 20% THC content, which would explain the intensity of the high you’ll get. There is also a slight chance that Purple Kush keeps you up if your dose is too large. But this happens with many different strains, not just Purple Kush, and is a feature of cannabinoids commonly known as the biphasic effect.
I know we’re both thinking about Seth Rogen right now, which is probably not an amazing thought to have if you’re trying to get rid of a migraine (not to bash on Seth though, I actually love most of his movies).
The fact is the Pineapple Express is not just extremely delicious of flavor and scent. It’s also a strain that’s famously known to carry analgesic properties, helping consumers cope with chronic pain in general.
I like to use Pineapple Express when I feel like a creative boost is in order or when I’m watching a movie with the fellas. Don’t expect a ton of drowsiness, rather be ready to feel relaxed and giggly.
I’ve left Harlequin for the end, not because I don’t like it enough, but because the truth is I haven’t actually tried this strain myself. However, it does have a reputation as a pain relief strain, which I attribute to it’s high CBD content. You’ll still find large enough levels of THC in it to get you high, but not high enough to be overwhelming. CBD is commonly attributed more analgesic effects than THC, so it might make sense to give this one a whirl next time your head feels like exploding.
enter your email below to get insider updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Latest