Later, in April 2018, a review on the relationship between cannabis and migraine, published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, provided an update on the state of research. The review, conducted by researchers from the Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland, summarized the current knowledge and presented new hypotheses on the role of cannabinoids in controlling the mechanisms underlying migraine pain.
According to the study, cannabinoids - due to their anticonvulsant, analgesic, antiemetic, and anti-inflammatory effects - represent a promising class of compounds for both acute and prophylactic treatment of migraine pain.
Their effectiveness in alleviating migraine pain lies in their interaction with our endocannabinoid system and its characteristic CB1 and CB2 receptors. Given the rapid changes in the legal status of cannabis, research on (endo)cannabinoids is now experiencing renewed energy.
The abundance of CB1 receptors in the brain makes them a perfect target for migraine treatment by blocking both peripheral and central nociceptive traffic: nociception is the sensory process that detects and conveys pain signals and sensations. CB2 receptors in immune cells, on the other hand, play a role in reducing the inflammatory component associated with severe forms of migraine.
CBD and headaches: a further study
A study on cannabinoids and migraine suggests that the cannabinoids found in medical cannabis can be considered as an effective and safe option for providing relief from migraines in adults. The main objective of the study was to evaluate whether medical cannabis was effective and safe in reducing migraine symptoms. To conduct the study, researchers searched for relevant studies across various scientific databases.
They examined a total of 12 publications involving 1,980 participants in Italy and the United States. The review of the data showed that the use of medical cannabis led to a significant reduction in nausea and vomiting associated with migraine after six months of treatment. They found a decrease in both the number of migraine days per month after 30 days of use and the frequency of migraine attacks.
Medical cannabis was also considered 51% more effective than non-cannabis medications. Compared to amitriptyline, another drug used to treat migraines, some patients experienced a complete cessation of migraine attacks with the use of medical cannabis and a reduction in attack frequency.
Furthermore, CBD is known to be a safe cannabinoid with well-tolerated side effects.
Several studies on CBD and pain confirm the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving capabilities of cannabidiol, which, although not a drug, manages to have particularly beneficial effects on pain mechanisms.