Cannabis Helps Reduce Severity Of Migraines And Headaches

 

According to a study, self-reported headache severity was reduced by 47.3% and migraine severity was reduced by 49.6% with cannabis that was inhaled. This is the first study to make use of a large amount of data from migraine and headache patients making use of cannabis in real time.^[1] Prior research has used data from the recollection of patients’ past cannabis use. There has been one clinical trial which indicated that cannabis was superior to ibuprofen for alleviating headache, but a synthetic cannabinoid drug called nabilone was used. Although a substantial number of people report using cannabis for migraine and headache, surprisingly little research has addressed the topic.

 

Archived data from the Strainprint app was analysed, an app which allows the tracking of symptoms before and after patients have used medical cannabis. Over 1,300 patients submitted information who had made use of the app more than 12,200 times for tracking headache changes from before to after using cannabis, as well as another 653 patients who had made use of the app more than 7,400 times for tracking changes of the severity of migraine.

The researchers made use of an ecologically valid approach by looking at actual patients medicating in their own environments making use of whole plant cannabis. Because of the large amount of data, the researchers could more accurately and appropriately generalize to the greater population of patients making use of cannabis for managing these conditions.

No evidence was seen of cannabis causing “overuse headache,” a side effect of conventional treatments that can make headaches worse over time. Patients did however use larger doses of cannabis over time, which indicates they could be developing a tolerance to the cannabis.

A small but significant gender difference was found with men reporting 90.0% more sessions that involved headache reduction compared to 89.1% reported by women. It was also noted that making use of cannabis concentrates, such as cannabis oil, resulted in a larger reduction in the severity rating of headaches than making use of cannabis flower.

No significant difference in the reduction of pain was found between strains of cannabis that were lower or higher in cannabidiol (CBD) levels and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels, the two most commonly researched cannabis chemical constituents, also known as cannabinoids. Because cannabis consists of more than 100 cannabinoids, the result suggests that different cannabinoids or other constituents like terpenes could be playing a central role in the relief of migraine and headache.

The limitations of the Strainprint study were that it relied on a self-selected group of individuals who may have already anticipated that cannabis will alleviate symptoms, and it wasn’t possible to implement a placebo control group.

Acknowledgement: https://www.shape-able.com/

Image via: ShapeAble

Alison – a remarkable woman, a remarkable story!

Alison Botha

'Like an apparition, conjured out of the darkness, a young man with light blond hair pushed his face into the car. I immediately spotted the knife. It was a long, thin weapon, almost like a letter opener, with a tapering blade. It felt cold and spiny as he pressed it to my neck. When he spoke his voice, which was quiet and controlled, sounded as though it emanated from a distant planet. But every word thudded into my skull.

"Move over or I'll kill you," he whispered.'

And so began Alison's nightmare journey with the two callous killers who were to rape her, stab her so many times doctors could not count the wounds, slit her throat 16 times and leave her for dead in a filthy clearing miles from the city of Port Elizabeth which was her home. 

But Alison defied death. And more than that, she denied her attackers the satisfaction of destroying her life. The courage which allowed her to move beyond severe physical and emotional trauma and to turn a devastating experience into something life-affirming and strong, is an inspiration to people everywhere.

Alison led a quiet life in Port Elizabeth, until this one fatal night in December 1994 everything changed. Alison became a household name overnight with national newspaper, radio and television coverage of this remarkable lady who continues to inspire, motivate and enthuse all those who listen to her unbelievable story and the lessons we can learn from it.

Having had her throat slit 16 times and uncountable stab wounds in the abdomen, Alison held her head up with one hand, and, holding her intestines in with the other, she crawled to the road where she collapsed.  She was found by a young medical student and after waiting two hours for an ambulance, was taken to hospital.  On arrival, no one ever believed that a person with such severe wounds could possibly live!  But she did!  Alison is no ordinary lady, she not only has an exceptional will to live, but she has an unbelievable attitude towards life and everyone can learn from her.

The fact that Alison survived has been acclaimed a medical miracle, but the fact that she has chosen not to be bitter, but to learn from her experience and share her lessons with everyone she can, is more of a miracle. Alison believes that it is her choice as to how she sees this experience and she has chosen to learn from it.  After an interview, she is quoted as saying, ‘If I could go back in time and somehow have prevented what happened to me, I’m not sure that I would, because it took that traumatic experience for me to realize my personal power and what I’m really capable of doing. 

Through the experience, I am now empowered to help so many people.

Her story is inspirational and her message powerful.  

Danie