Thyroid-Related Headaches And CBD: A New Solution To An Old Problem

Study after study is finding that not only does CBD oil help with headaches, but also pain related to inflammation and anxiety.

It’s often said that there is nothing like the exhaustion of a thyroid condition. The endocrine system, when not in working order, can wreak havoc on many functions within the body. Functions like:

In fact, according to the American Thyroid Association, the complex relationship between thyroid disease, body weight, and metabolism is being studied more and more. With so many bodily functions relying on one teeny gland, the function of the thyroid is paramount to your well-being — mind, body, and spirit.

A 2018 study published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology researched cannabis use for self-medication in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and found that, “10.2% of patients reported using it for migraine headache symptoms…with low doses tending to alleviate migraine while higher doses even triggering headaches. These findings call for creating a highly specific prescription for individual patients, which might be required for a safe and successful treatment plan.”

To put it plainly, cannabis works but needs to be personalized to help alleviate symptoms in a way that’s personal and efficient.

Thyroid replacement medication and CBD

Many who have lost a thyroid due to cancer or other diseases know the juggle of ensuring that the proper dose of thyroid medication and regulation is present in their body. But often with thyroid replacement therapy comes the dreaded headaches and the soul-crushing, vomit-inducing migraines that accompany thyroid issues.

And even those not on thyroid replacement medicine experience severe migraines. In fact, the International Headache Society estimates 30% of individuals with an underactive thyroid (also known as hypothyroidism) experience headaches, while Mayo Clinic also states that hyperthyroidism, (or an overactive thyroid) can cause migraines as well. So, what’s a headache sufferer to do?

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Patients who experience thyroid-based headaches also face other thyroid-related complications like anxiety, inflammation, and joint pain. With CBD available on the market in almost every state, study after study is finding that not only does CBD oil help with headaches but pain related to inflammation and anxiety as well, especially since they stimulate the endocannabinoid system.

Understanding the Endocannabinoid System

Often called a network of receptors or sensors, the endocannabinoid system regulates the body’s environment. The receptors communicate internally from the brain to the nervous system about pain, heat, cold, and other stimulants. Cannabis and CBD oil contains cannabinoids that directly help the endocannabinoid system by heightening the function of the receptors, often enhancing natural levels of cannabinoids. Think of it this way: Your body has serotonin and other reactions to stimulation that it creates naturally. Cannabis and CBD oil mimic what your body already creates to give it a little extra “oomph.”

By utilizing CBD oil or cannabis during a headache, the pain isn’t being “numbed” as much as it’s being “managed” by giving the body exactly what it already produces. That’s why medication like pain killers, which block the pain, tend to not work in long periods of use. Cannabis and CBD jump-start the body’s own reaction system to remind it to do what it knows best: Thrive.