We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

HospiMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News AI Critical Care Surgical Techniques Patient Care Health IT Point of Care Business Focus

Cannabis Reduces Headache and Migraine Severity by Half

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 02 Dec 2019
Inhaled cannabis significantly reduces self-reported headache and migraine severity, according to a new study.

Researchers at Washington State University (WSU; Spokane, WA, USA) conducted a study that analyzed archival data from Strainprint, a smartphone app that allows patients to track their symptoms before and after consumption of medical cannabis purchased from Canadian producers and distributors. The data analyzed was submitted by more than 1,300 patients, who used the app in 12,293 sessions to track changes in headache severity before and after cannabis use, and another 653 who used the app over 7,441 sessions to track changes in migraine severity.

Image: Smoking cannabis can alleviate headaches and migraine (Photo courtesy of Corbis)
Image: Smoking cannabis can alleviate headaches and migraine (Photo courtesy of Corbis)

The results showed a 47.3% reduction in headache severity and a 49.6% reduction in migraine ratings following cannabis use. Men reported larger headache reductions than women, and use of concentrates (such as cannabis oil), produced a larger reduction in headache severity ratings than cannabis flower. No significant difference in pain reduction was seen among strains that were higher or lower in levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), suggesting that other cannabinoids (or even terpenes), may promote headache and migraine relief. The study was published on November 9, 2019, in The Journal of Pain.

“I suspect there are some slight overestimates of effectiveness. My hope is that this research will motivate researchers to take on the difficult work of conducting placebo-controlled trials,” said lead author Carrie Cuttler, PhD, of the WSU Translational Addiction Research Center. “In the meantime, this at least gives medical cannabis patients and their doctors a little more information about what they might expect from using cannabis to manage these conditions.”

Cannabis, also known as Marijuana, is composed of dried buds and leaves of varieties of the Cannabis sativa plant. The two most active components in marijuana are THC and CBD, but there are over 100 cannabinoids in the plants themselves. THC seems to cause the euphoria reported by users, and helps relieve pain and nausea and reduce inflammation. CBD can help treat seizures, reduce anxiety and paranoia, and counteract the THC high.

Related Links:
Washington State University


Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Gold Member
Real-Time Diagnostics Onscreen Viewer
GEMweb Live
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
Forceps
BiClamp LAP

Latest Critical Care News

Super Permeable Wearable Electronics Enable Long-Term Biosignal Monitoring

New Hydrogel Features Enhanced Capabilities for Treating Aneurysms and Halting Progression

New AI Tool Predicts Medical Events to Support Clinical Decision-Making in Healthcare Settings