Cannabis is not just like an ordinary plant that we see every day. It is best known for its mind-altering and medicinal properties.
The recreational uses of cannabis include stress relief, enjoyment, and stimulation.
Whereas, its medicinal uses include easing the symptoms of pain, headache, insomnia, anxiety, reducing inflammation, improve sleep, and reducing the intensity of joint pain.
The legalization and its medicinal, as well as recreational uses, have been a controversy for ages.
More than half of the U.S. states have legalized medical marijuana, but still, it is used to treat only two rare forms of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Despite marijuana being considered Schedule I drug, 85% of the Americans are in support of legalizing the use of marijuana.
The controversy of legalizing cannabis and marijuana lies around the psychoactive effects it offers. THC and CBD are two of the most important compounds that are found in cannabis.
THC (which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol) is the compound whose concentration determines the amount of high that the cannabis strain offers.
CBD helps in alleviating symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, stress, and migraine. Despite these medical benefits, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has still not declared cannabis as a medicinal drug. Why?
The FDA requires carefully conducted clinical trials in hundreds or maybe thousands of human subjects to verify the medicinal advantages of a substance.
As far as migraines are concerned, the cannabinoids of marijuana bind with the receptors in the body and calm down the pain signals.
We will see what types of migraines are there, and what the different THC strains are that can help ease the pain.
Let’s get started.
How Can THC Strains Help With Migraines?
People often relate a severe headache to a migraine. But migraine is different, it is a neurological disease, and there are different subtypes of migraine.
Let’s first have a brief look at what different types of migraine are followed by the role THC/ cannabis can play.
Migraine with Aura
This is, in fact, a complicated type of migraine. About a quarter of people who unfortunately experience migraine, also experience Aura.
It is a series of visual and sensory changes that range from seeing zig-zag patterns, black dots, inability to speak clearly, or a tinging numbness on one side of the body.
Migraine without Aura
This is a more common type of Aura. It can also be challenging to diagnose as the symptoms are similar to the other subtypes of migraine.
You feel a pulsing or throbbing pain on one side of the head. Phonophobia, photophobia, nausea, and vomit are also symptoms of this type.
Hemiplegic Migraine
If the migraine feels more like a stroke, it is probably a hemiplegic migraine. This type of migraine develops weakness on one side of the body.
Visual aura symptoms and “pins and needles” sensation is also often felt. It can last for a few hours to a few days.
Retinal Migraine
If the headache is causing you to lose sight in one eye, it is a retinal migraine. It is most common in the childbearing years of women.
The blindness is although reversible, but it can last for a few minutes to months. It can also be a symptom of a more serious issue.
Everyone suffers from mild headaches, but migraines can be unbearable. They can happen for several reasons, and many are still unknown to doctors and physicians.
Recent studies have shown that marijuana treats migraine pain better than a medication prescription.
The active compounds that are found in cannabis/marijuana effectively help in reducing the frequency of acute migraine pain as compared to prescription migraine meds.
The side effects are also a lot lesser as compared to medication prescription.
The studies also showed that the THC-CBD drug proved to be very effective against migraine pain, cutting it down by 43%.
Can THC/ Cannabis Play A Role?
Millions of people around the globe suffer from migraines. This creates a significant loss in workplace productivity and, of course, immense pain and discomfort for the victim.
As mentioned above, one way to ease this pain is to smoke marijuana/cannabis.
Certain marijuana strains are very effective against migraine pains. The human body naturally produces endocannabinoids.
These endocannabinoids have corresponding receptors in the brain and throughout the body. Some components of cannabis work as agonists i.e., they can bind with the receptors and produce a biological response.
The THC-CBD concentration levels also affect how fast and effectively the strain will work against the pain.
Cannabis strains have over 100 different types of terpenes. Each strain has its pros and cons. Some are used to increase focus, and some provide relaxing and soothing effects.
Myrcene is a terpene that is found in relaxing strains like blue dreams and granddaddy purple. It also helps in easing migraine pain.
Other terpenes like limonene caryophyllene pinene also help in alleviating the symptoms of migraines, inflammation, and anxiety.
The THC-CBC concentration levels affect the medicinal properties of a cannabis strain. CBD diminishes some of the adverse effects of THC.
THC’s ability to activate the CB1 receptor is directly related to the psychoactive effects of cannabis.
CBD can lessen the psychoactive effects of THC, and it changes THC’s ability to activate CB1 receptors. A balanced cannabis strain will get you a different type of high as compared to a THC-dominant strain.
Some common effects of THC include euphoria, short term memory impairment, anxiety, and relaxation.
CBD concentration helps in reducing these adverse effects. The concentration levels of other compounds can also influence the effects of cannabis.
Blue dreams, Sour diesel, and Northern lights are examples of THC-dominant strains.
A high THC and low CBD concentration cannabis strain like OG Khush helps with immediate relief from a migraine, whereas the CBD helps THC to keep the pain under control.
Although, if you are going to use OG Khush, you have to catch the migraine before it reaches its full potential.
If you are planning on buying cannabis, you will find the strains categorized into three different types. We will briefly see how they differ from each other and how they can help with migraines.
Sativa And Its Benefits
These plants have relatively long and thinner leaves, and the plant is typically taller. Sativa strains come with a cerebral feeling.
Due to the high THC and low CBD concentrations, they generally are more psychoactive, euphoric, and uplifting.
They help in alleviating the symptoms of pain, migraine, chronic pain, and insomnia. The high THC concentration helps with immediately easing a migraine. It is advised to use Sativa strains during the day.
Indica And Its Benefits
Indica plants are shorter in length but broader leaves as compared to Sativa. Indica strains are generally relaxing and are associated with bodily sensations.
The CBD concentrations are high as compared to a moderate THC concentration.
A Canadian physician declared cannabis Indica to be the most satisfactory remedy for migraines. Due to its extreme relaxing effects, it is advised to be used in the night.
The use of both Sativa and Indica can help with a migraine. If you have consumed Sativa during the day, avoid using Indica on the same day.
This will increase the THC in your body, and you will have a heavy headache all night. Although you can use CBDs after consuming Sativa, this will allow the CBD to diminish the adverse and psychoactive effects of THC.
This will create a potent Indica inside the body and will knock you out in an hour or so. The CBD will reduce the frequency and severity of migraines and help get rid of it faster.
Knowing the genetics of the plants helps significantly in fighting against migraines.
If the migraine is interrupting your daily life activities, it can be pretty annoying and frustrating.
Using a high THC concentrated cannabis strain can significantly help with reducing the pain instantly.
There are countless THC strains available in the market that provides different levels of high and pain alleviation.
Some only require a couple of puffs to relieve you from the pain. Let us see which THC strains are better in providing you with a quick and long-lasting escape from migraine pain.
Best THC Strains For Migraines
Purple Kush
Purple Kush contains about 17-22% THC and a tiny percentage of 0.07-0.1% CBD. As explained earlier, the high THC ratio helps with easing the pain ASAP.
If you are suffering from migraines, your friends and family will advise you to sleep it off, but what they do not understand is that it’s easier to say than done.
Purple Kush will allow you to sleep and get the much-needed rest. Purple Kush is readily available in the market and is a pure Indica, with broader leaves.
The pleasant numbing sensation and full-body relaxation effects of Purple Kush ensure that you do not stay up all night.
Purple Kush is used when the migraine pain is so bad that the only solution is to relax and wait for it to go away.
Although, it would not have the same effects as other high CBD strains because its power relies on the 17-22% THC that lessens the intensity of the migraine.
Being a pure Indica, it is better to be used at night or when you have time to sleep/relax for a while.
OG Kush
If your migraine pain is not going away and you are tired of trying countless prescriptions, then try OG Kush for quick relief from even the most stubborn migraines.
OG Kush ensures that the irritation goes away in a matter of minutes.
If you are an adult, use at least 1 gm. This strain can be found in nearly every dispensary.
Why is OG Kush so effective?
It is a hybrid strain that contains up to 20% THC, takes the edge off, and helps combat the painful symptoms of a migraine.
The high THC helps with quick relief, and CBD content helps in supporting long-term pain. OG Kush is also reported to have an analgesic effect.
Harlequin
Harlequin has a 5:2 CBD/THC ratio making it a 75% Sativa-dominant hybrid cannabis strain.
The CBD concentration is relatively high as compared to THC. 4-7% THC and CBD 8-16% makes it ideal for producing a feeling of clarity and alertness.
It will allow you to get through the day as the balance between THC and CBD allows effective pain relief without an intense psychoactive effect. It is reported to be non-sedating and relaxing.
Harlequin only produces the most effective results if it is used before the migraine reaches its full potential.
THC and CBD impact will be maximized in this manner, although THC can cause mild euphoria, the CBD helps with minimizing the pain.
Chocolope (D-Line)
Chocolope strain provides clarity, focus, creativeness, energy, and offers euphoric effects. If you are good at recognizing the preemptive impact of migraines, you should go for chocolate.
It is created by intermixing Chocolate Thai and Cannalope Haze.
This strain provides an energy boost as it has an effect of drinking an energy drink. Being an invigorating Sativa strain, it can be used in the daytime to clear out your mind and keep migraine symptoms away.
It further helps in easing symptoms related to PTSD, anxiety, and handling stress.
Northern Lights
Northern lights also have similar effects of Purple Kush because of the high THC concentration.
We all know how painful it gets when you experience a migraine while being exhausted. If you want to ease the pain and relax for a couple of hours, Northern Lights will allow you to fall asleep happily.
A constant supply of Prescription medicines is necessary to ease the symptoms of migraine. If you have a space to grow your cannabis plants, apart from being very easy to grow, Northern Lights might be the best option because of its disease and mould-resistant properties.
Granddaddy Purple
Granddaddy Purple has a THC concentration of 17-23%. This high THC ratio allows the strain to provide the right amount of high that keeps you relaxed on the spot.
A couple of puffs enable the pain to ease in a couple of minutes.
Granddaddy purple will sedate your entire body and will help you escape the worries of daily life. It is said to be a daytime Indica.
Although you might require a little nap, this strain allows one to maintain productivity, relax your pain, and ease migraine pain.
As far as the taste is concerned, a mix of grapes and berries is felt consuming Granddaddy Purple.
Holy Ghost
Holy Ghost is said to be one of the most complex yet effective cannabis strains. It balances the relaxing effects of Sativas and Indicas.
These intermixing genetics allow the body to relax without putting you to sleep and also stimulating the mind with an extremely high.
Apart from curing migraine, it helps reducing stress and depression. You do not have to worry about getting high or stoned; you will feel energized, talkative, and clear-minded.
Being one of the most potent strains in the market, one should be very careful if you are a novice.
Stephen Hawking Kush
We all know who Stephan Hawking was and how brilliant his mind was. The same goes for the strain that has been named after it; SHK has been very effective against migraine pain.
It has a balanced THC-CBD concentration of 5% each.
The balanced 1:1 ratio of the main cannabinoids allows the pain to go away quickly while providing energy and a lower high.
This Indica-dominant strain was developed by pollinating a Harle-Tsu female with a Sin City Kush male.
Apart from easing the migraine pain, it has a delightful taste of vivid cherry and berry flavors that mix with a minty note.
Bottomline
THC strains that help cope with migraine range in different concentrations. In this article, you saw how THC plays an important role against migraine.
We also presented some excellent THC strains in the market that you can purchase right now to ease your misery.
Whichever strain you choose depends more on your personal preference and suitability.
Have you ever tried one of the strains we mentioned?
How was your experience? Let us know in the comments.
