Nearly everyone who’s used medical cannabis can relate to its ability to soothe headaches. From easing stress and tight forehead muscles to reducing body pain, cannabis naturally lends itself to being a headache cure. Yet, surprisingly, no clinical tests are being performed at this time to treat migraine patients with medical cannabis.
In other words, while some doctors are already prescribing cannabis for recurring headaches, no extensive clinical studies on actual humans are being conducted on cannabis and migraines. As readers may guess, this may have something to do with the difficulty of getting approval for human studies involving cannabis. In any case, the situation is now remarkably unusual; medical cannabis dispensaries sometimes have more access to medical information than physicians.
The Role of Physicians and Dispensaries in Cannabis Treatment
Specifically, as a general physician, you may have the opportunity to prescribe medicinal cannabis to a number of patients, with only a handful of those seeking treatment for headaches. On top of that, after the prescription for medical marijuana, you can’t track what cannabis was used, how potent it was, where it came from, etc.
A large part of the treatment data is inherently unknown by the physician, and getting patients to carefully record and report that data is difficult, further reducing the number of people who could realistically be involved in a study. In fact, busy, time-strapped patients may not even return after successfully treating their problems. Contrast this situation with that of a dispensary. At a medical cannabis dispensary, providers can keep a file on each patient, using purchases to record average usage and potency. Patients also continue to come in even after successful treatment.
Why Dispensaries are a Valuable Source of Patient Data
Medical cannabis providers, such as Cornerstone, really delve into patients’ needs by surveying their medical conditions on the first visit. This means dispensaries can differentiate between groups of patients, such as “headache” patients vs. “arthritis” patients. In addition, dispensaries literally have thousands of medical marijuana patients to pull data from. As a result, it’s no wonder that dispensaries often understand much more about what helps specific types of patients than many doctors.
Case Study: University of Colorado and Gedde Whole Health
For this reason, in order to conduct one of the first clinical studies of using cannabis to treat migraines, researchers at the University of Colorado decided to pair with Gedde Whole Health, a private medical practice specializing in prescribing medical cannabis for various conditions.
Although partnering with a dispensary may have actually provided more data, partnering with a cannabis-centric medical practice still allowed access to a much greater number of patients than would have been possible in a traditional medical practice and made the study more likely to be observed by the medical community. For example, in this particular study, 121 adults with a primary diagnosis of “migraine headache” were identified and prescribed cannabis at the clinic. These same patients were later evaluated at follow-up visits to record any changes in their migraine symptoms.
Impressive Results and Notable Aspects
The results fit with anecdotal knowledge of cannabis: 85.1% reported a decrease in the frequency of migraine headaches, and the total migraine frequency per month decreased from 10.4 to 4.6. When asked to address the effects of cannabis specifically, twelve percent specifically credited cannabis with the ability to end headaches on the spot, and ultimately 40% of patients reported positive benefits in regard to their headaches. Few reported negative effects, and most of those negative effects centered on sleep or difficulty controlling dose intensity (with edible users).
Potential Limitations of the Study and Future Outlook
Of course, a few weaknesses exist with this method of observation. First, again, the only members who can be included are the ones who returned for a follow up visit, meaning that inevitably the data could be skewed, as explained above. Secondly, 50% of these patients were recorded to already be taking traditional migraine pharmaceuticals at the same time.
With this scenario, it’s truly impossible to know what cannabis was responsible for alone. Finally, the frequency and amount of cannabis use were not considered. Perhaps a threshold dose exists for effects, and users who reported no effect did not meet that threshold.
FAQs
What is the difference between a chronic migraine and a headache?
Chronic migraine is a recurrent headache disorder characterized by moderate to severe headaches that may last from four hours to several days. Other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound, often accompany headaches. In contrast, a headache is an isolated incident of mild to moderate pain in the head or neck area. It is usually not as severe or long-lasting as a migraine.
How can medical cannabis help in relieving migraine pain?
Medical cannabis contains cannabinoids, which have been found to interact with the endocannabinoid system in the human body. This system plays a role in modulating pain. Therefore, medical cannabis may potentially help to relieve pain, including headache pain and chronic pain associated with conditions like migraines.
Can medical marijuana be used for treating migraine attacks?
Yes, medical marijuana can potentially be used for treating migraine attacks. Some states have included migraines in their state medical marijuana laws as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana use. However, treatment should be done under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
Are there any side effects of using cannabis for migraine treatment?
Like any other medical treatment, using cannabis for migraine can have side effects. These can include drowsiness, dizziness, and cognitive changes. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment regimen.
Can cannabis use replace prescription medication for migraines?
It’s important to note that while medical cannabis use may provide relief for some migraine sufferers, they should not replace prescription medication without the guidance of a healthcare provider. In addition, medical cannabis should be considered part of a comprehensive migraine treatment plan rather than a standalone solution for symptom relief.
What are the different ways to use cannabis for treating migraines?
There are several methods to use cannabis for treating migraines, including vaping, smoking, oral ingestion (like capsules and edibles), sublingual sprays, and topical applications. The ideal method depends on the individual’s preferences, specific medical conditions, and advice from a healthcare provider. It’s also important to consider the various marijuana strains, as they may have different effects.