The Best Autoflower Cannabis Strains For Migraine and Headache Relief
- 1. Can cannabis relieve migraines?
- 2. Can cannabis reduce cluster headaches?
- 3. The top 3 autoflowering strains to cure headaches
- 3. a. Purple punch auto
- 3. b. West coast og auto
- 3. c. Gorilla cookies auto
- 4. Cannabis for migraine relief: in conclusion
Are you looking for a safe alternative to cure your headaches or migraines instead of relying on store-bought medicine? Cannabis can help.
There are numerous studies that support weed’s use for migraines and headaches. In fact, Cannabis Sativa L. was historically prescribed by doctors in the Western pharmacopeia as a headache relief treatment up until its prohibition in the mid-twentieth century.
Data shows that medical marijuana has helped people relieve their headaches or migraines for hundreds of years, but researchers have only been able to understand the science behind why in the last few decades. Various studies have been conducted to prove that cannabis has the potential to cure some types of headaches. Apart from smoking flower the traditional way, through combustion, scientists have also researched the efficacy of vaping cannabis to cure migraines.
Migraines are common– it’s the leading cause of disability worldwide. It’s estimated that 1 billion people suffer from migraine syndromes each year. Many people take over-the-counter medicines, most commonly analgesics or pain relievers, and carry on with their lives. Although such medicines help reduce a headache or a migraine temporarily, the side effects in the long term can be dangerous. Some analgesics and pain reducers have been found to have risky side effects including heart problems and damage to internal organs. Cannabis has never been found to have as high risk of side effects.
In this article, we will explore the top 3 best autoflowering strains that work like a charm to relieve people of headaches and migraines. If headaches or any other type of pain is really bothering you, start with these potent and highly effective strains to see if they work for you, too.
1. Can Cannabis Relieve Migraines?
Consumers demand a natural cure that could make your pain go away, with less harmful side effects. That’s where medical marijuana steps in. If you’ve ever smoked or ingested cannabis, you probably know by now that it helps relieve pain. Patient testimonials display that it truly works, and now there is data to back up these claims. In one study published in the Journal of Pain, researchers found headaches and migraines were reduced by nearly 50% after consuming weed. Data found that 88.1% of patients reported a reduction in migraine severity with inhaled cannabis over the course of 16 months.
It isn’t the only study where cannabis showed positive results for reducing headaches. The objective of the study was very clear: to unearth the effects of cannabis on migraine headaches. There isn’t a lot of evidence when it comes to cannabis because many countries have purposefully banned research on cannabis due to its prohibition. However, there are more reliable peer-reviewed studies coming out every day showing the efficacy of cannabis for pain relief.
This study conducted by the Skaggs School at the University of Colorado shows that cannabinoids have therapeutic effects on the nervous system. A total of 121 people participated in the study and the results showed that about 85% had fewer migraines every month. Some people even claimed that cannabis helped them prevent headaches. Our body and brain contain cannabinoid receptors that affect how the body perceives pain. Cannabis seems to work mainly because cannabinoids found in the plant are able to deliver benefits to those endocannabinoid receptors in the body.
Once you ingest or smoke cannabis, by edibles, or by smoking or vaping, it offers calming as well as anti-inflammatory effects. Cannabinoids have also been found to relieve anxiety, nausea, muscle spasms, and chronic pain. There are reports stating that there are more than a hundred cannabinoids present in the plant, but nobody knows the exact number. Most experts estimate there are over 100 cannabinoids and 300 non-cannabinoid chemicals in cannabis.
Out of all the cannabinoids, THC and CBD have garnered the most attention. While THC – Tetrahydrocannabinol – does relieve pain and several other issues, it is psychoactive. However, CBD – Cannabidiol – doesn’t produce any psychoactive effects and also helps with several illnesses. It is legal to use CBD in many locations around the world where THC has been prohibited. But, this doesn’t mean that strains with a lot of THC are bad for your health– the research was frozen for a century. It’s important for both CBD and THC to work together to be effective. This is called the entourage effect.
2. Can Cannabis Reduce Cluster Headaches?
A cluster headache is different from a migraine. While people suffering from migraines report that they feel pain due to photosensitivity or auditory issues, the pain comes and goes away after a while. In fact, migraines may seem mild compared to the pain level reported in patients with cluster headaches. Most patients describe cluster headaches as a stabbing or searing pain in the head, generally around the eye. Typically, it occurs only on one side of the head. They aren’t as common as migraines either with only 0.1% of the population affected.
Many people also refer to cluster headaches as “suicide headaches” because of the pain involved. While some people suffer due to it on a daily basis, others report that it occurs once a month. Another difference between migraines and cluster headaches is the location of the pain. Cluster headaches come back in a specific region whereas migraines can be felt at different locations.
Cluster headaches often come in series or clusters and you can also feel nasal congestion and eye-watering. Sometimes, your eye may swell up too. Depending on the patient, it can last for days, weeks, months, and even more than a year in some cases. Whether you’re suffering once or daily, cannabis can help. How can cannabis help relieve cluster headaches? The answer lies again in our body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a system that has the ability to interact with the cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. The endocannabinoid system doesn’t always offer a ‘high’ effect, but it serves several purposes like reducing inflammation and pain on a cellular level.
The hypothalamus is one region of the body where the endocannabinoid receptors can be found. Cluster headaches are known to occur due to a malfunctioning of the hypothalamus
region. Since studies show that stimulating the hypothalamus can reduce cluster headaches, research on cannabis in this area can be vitally important. As THC and CBD work with these endocannabinoid receptors, smoking or vaping cannabis can help.
For those looking to reduce pain, here are the top 3 autoflowering strains for headache relief.
3. The Top 3 Autoflowering Strains to Cure Headaches
Purple Punch Auto
Purple Punch Auto is known for its high THC content which extends from 17% up to 24%. Generally, Indica varieties are preferred to reduce pain, and that’s definitely the case with this marvelous autoflowering cultivar as it contains around 85% Indica-dominant genetics. Purple Punch is a powerful Indica-dominant hybrid strain for headache relief.
This autoflowering version of the extremely popular strain works amazingly well due to its unique, hand-picked terpene profile. Terpenes are the essential oils present in the cannabis plant. Every cannabis plant contains terpenes. For example, Limonene is not only effective in boosting your energy, but it also helps you relax and elevates your moods.
It is also the terpene that produces zesty, citrus aromas that play with your taste buds. Limonene is known to enhance the effects of smoking, and since this strain is a mixture of different tastes including berry and tart with a little cedar in between, you can expect to be blown away.
Purple Punch Auto contains very little Sativa, so the sedative effects are potent. You can count on this strain to reduce your pain. It also doesn’t possess a lot of CBD, but remember that the THC will make up for it. Most people report that this strain is a must in their medicinal cabinets. Starting from its profusion of colors during its growth to the multitude of illnesses it reduces, this strain has certainly earned a well-deserved name for itself.
West Coast OG Auto
The original OG Kush genetics does not need an introduction because it’s a favorite among many recreational and medical cannabis users. The famous OG Kush was combined with our special autoflower genetics and the result is a mind-boggling strain that can rock your world. Growers and consumers have found the West Coast OG Auto by Fast Buds to help aid in headache relief.
It’s an Indica-dominant strain but the effects of its Sativa lineage offer an uplifting effect. After a while, the Sativa effects fade away but the Indica kicks in dramatically. You will be forced to sit back on the couch, but you won’t sleep right away. Instead, you might giggle and feel its euphoric effects. Users prefer West Coast OG Auto because of the pain relief it provides.
Apart from clearing your headache, this strain has also been found effective in treating Epilepsy, Glaucoma, and back pain. West Coast OG Auto contains an exceptional amount of THC, up to 21%, but you don’t have to worry much about the psychoactive effects because you’ll be too busy laughing. It also contains a good amount of CBD, so medical marijuana users need not be disappointed.
The best part of using the West Coast OG Auto is that you can feel the pain slowly reduce. If the pain becomes unbearable, retreat to a dark, quiet corner and smoke this strain in peace. Edibles and concentrates made with an OG are also wonderful for migraine relief.
Gorilla Cookies Auto
Gorilla Cookies Auto is named after its world-renowned parents. The crystals or trichomes look like stars as the plant finishes its flowering phase, which in combination with its very high levels of THC that go up to 28.5%, you can rely on this strain to aid most problems including headaches and nausea.
Gorilla Cookies Auto is particularly useful for medical marijuana users as it contains Pinene – a terpene that enhances your focus and induces relaxation. Pinene helps with stress, anxiety, and fatigue too. Don’t rely on your sleeping pills if you’re battling insomnia because this strain that tastes like pine and citrus can actually help.
4. Cannabis for Migraine Relief: In Conclusion
Data has found that cannabis works for migraines and headache relief. The best way to cure your pain is to grow these strains yourself if they aren’t available in dispensaries. Most legal dispensaries carry good cannabis flower selection, but may not be exactly what you’re looking for. In order to find the right strain to help you deal with any type of symptom or condition you’re dealing with, it takes time and research to find the right strain for you.
Make sure to gather as much information such as cannabinoid content and terpene profile of the strain as everyone is different. If you live in a cannabis-legal state, try talking to your physician. They will be able to inform you if cannabis for migraines is right for you. If your doctor is simply not interested in prescribing cannabis, and isn’t up-to-date on the latest research regarding cannabis and migraines, it might be time to move on to a cannabis specialist doctor.
Keep in mind that cannabis affects different people in different ways. A strain that works for someone may not be as effective for pain relief for others. The goal is to experiment as much as you can until you find the ideal strain for migraine and headache relief.
