The mechanisms that cause migraines are not fully understood, which is one reason why they’re so tough to treat. And many of the current drug regimens are slow to take effect, are not effective at all for up to 40 percent of users, or are designed for related conditions, such as high blood pressure rather than migraines themselves. Another issue: Migraines can recur frequently, making treating them with strong opioids and painkillers concerning and potentially dangerous. Retinal migraines, on the other hand, are characterized by visual disturbances in just one eye, decreased vision, and temporary vision loss. These symptoms precipitate from electrical activity directly in the retina. Retinal migraines are less common, but they are more serious and in rare cases can result in permanent vision loss. If you experience migraines accompanied by visual disruptions, especially when in only one eye, consult with your primary care physician and consider seeing an ophthalmologist. They can help you rule out other more serious conditions and help you manage symptoms. Therefore, low levels of endocannabinoids may result in decreased pain tolerance. Chronically low cannabinoid levels, also known as clinical endocannabinoid deficiency3 (CED), is believed to play a role in causing hyperalgesia conditions like migraines, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. In fact, a study4 looking at the endocannabinoid anandamide found that those who suffered from migraines had significantly less anandamide in their cerebrospinal fluid than those who did not experience migraines. Meaning: Low endocannabinoid levels could be the root of your migraine pain. Additionally, cannabinoids (or the lack of) may play a role in the auras that precede migraines. Auras are believed to be caused by cortical spreading depression5 (CSD), a wave of electrophysiological hyperactivity, brought on by glutamate overstimulation. Essentially, the neurotransmitter glutamate fires too many times, exciting the neurons and causing abnormal electrical activity to dissipate across the brain. One of the roles of cannabinoids in the brain is to suppress glutamate signaling6 to ensure this buildup doesn’t occur. When cannabinoids are low, this system can fail, leading to the generation of auras and potentially triggering a migraine. Cannabis has actually been used medicinally to treat pain and migraines since at least the sixth century1, but due to regulations and an association with marijuana, clinical studies of hemp-derived products have been limited. There have been some small, but promising, studies on humans and animals testing the efficacy of hemp oil for pain management8 in the past few decades. In one study, CBD oil, a cannabinoid derived from hemp oil, was found to be more effective than a common migraine medication at preventing attacks, and it led to fewer side effects. As cannabis and hemp become more widely accepted, we expect to see a lot more studies confirming its therapeutic powers. The endocannabinoid system and hemp oil could be an important piece of the puzzle of conquering migraines and ending those frightening auras. Not sure if you have a migraine? Check out this guide to the 5 types of headaches and what to do about each. McDonough has developed & lead nutrition education programming in schools. She’s covered a wide range of topics as a health & nutrition reporter from the rise in the use of psychedelics for depression to the frustrating trend in shorter doctors’ appointments and the connection between diet and disease.
