The Best Strains for Migraine Relief

Have you ever had a migraine? Not a bad headache - a true migraine. If you have, you know how painful and disruptive they can be. Migraines are awful, overly-intense headaches that can completely derail your day and make the most basic activities nearly impossible to complete. Fortunately, we have some good news. Cannabis, amongst its many other medical benefits, has been found to help alleviate the symptoms associated with a migraine. If you're looking for alternative ways to fight your migraines, this article is for you.

Migraines and Cannabis - How It Works

If we're going to understand cannabis and migraines better, we need to first know what a migraine is. Migraines are a type of headache that can result in pulsing pain, nausea, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, and while the causes of migraines are not yet fully understood, some common triggers include hormonal changes, stress, overstimulation, sleeping changes, and weather.

Studies show that these symptoms associated with migraines are vastly improved with cannabis use. In a study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain, the majority of individuals treating headaches with cannabis reported to experience the pain relief provided. This is not surprising since cannabis, which is known to have a plethora of medicinal applications, is likely best known for its capacity to alleviate chronic pain. This is true of both THC-heavy marijuana and CBD products. CBD has also been found to alleviate many side effects or minimize the intensity of migraines.

The Best Terpenes for Pain Relief (Especially Headaches and Migraines)

A significant aspect of cannabis (both CBD and THC dominant strains) are terpenes. Cannabis is comprised of over 400 chemical compounds, the most prolific and impactful of which are cannabinoids and terpenes. The terpenes most commonly associated with pain relief are myrcene, pinene, linalool, limonene, caryophyllene, and humulene. In our list of best strains of migraines below, you'll likely find at least one of these terpenes in each.

The Best Marijuana Strains for Migraines

White Widow

This hybrid's exact origins are unknown, and it's mostly thought to have come from a Brazilian Sativa and a South Indian Indica hybrid. Its name comes from the white trichomes that bloom around its buds, providing a prolific, euphoric head high and a slight body high. It has a fruity flavor with earthy, piney notes on the nose. It's great for treating muscle pains and stress-induced anxiety - which means it's thought to be an incredible strain for relieving headaches and even migraines.

Blue Dream

A Sativa-dominant hybrid from Northern California, a cross between the Blueberry and Haze, Blue Dream boasts the intensity of an Indica with an enjoyable, uplifting high associated with Sativas. It offers a wonderful head high with a slight body buzz, and it's known for a very sweet, berry smell with candied, sugary flavors. With terpenes like myrcene, pinene, and limonene all present, it makes our list and is potentially the best strain for migraines.

OG Kush

Rumored to have come from Northern California, with OG standing for "Ocean Grown" (others believe it stands for "Original Gangsta), most OG Kush today comes from a mix of Chemdawg, Lemon Thai, and Pakistani Kush. Its strength gives a relaxing head high and euphoric sensation and tastes and smells like earthy, rich pine. This Indica-heavy hybrid features the limonene and myrcene terpenes, so it boasts compounds and effects that help alleviate headaches and migraines.

ACDC

This low-THC, high-CBD hybrid is a variation of Cannatonic and produces hardly any psychoactive effects. Without any intoxicating effects, it can provide a focused mental state, making it one of the best CBD strains for migraines. It's a favorite among medical cannabis users for its ability to relieve pain and anxiety, which includes headaches and migraines. It has a woody, sometimes citrusy aroma and flavor and has a heavy myrcene terpenes count.

Harlequin

Providing a clear-headed, alert, mild high, this Sativa boasts a high CBD percentage that is very popular for medicinal purposes. It is a descendant of Colombian Gold, a Nepali Indica, and a Thai and Swiss landrace strain. It has a fruity mango flavor with an earthy-sweet aroma. It is an excellent strain for alleviating headaches because of its high CBD makeup and heavy myrcene terpene count.

Stephen Hawking Kush

This minty Indica-dominant hybrid strain is often known as SHK. It comes from the Great Minds series from Alphakronik Genes and is clearly, named after the famous scientist Dr. Stephen Hawking. It's a mix of Harle-Tsu and Sin City Kush and offers vibrant cherry flavors with a minty, berry aroma. This strain provides a soothing, relaxing high known to alleviate pain and suppress nausea, a common side effect of intense migraines.

God's Gift

The product of Granddaddy Purple and OG Kush, this Indica-dominant hybrid has been around since the mid-2000s. It's known for its sweet, purple-fruit flavor, aroma, and frosty nugs that pack a moderate THC count. It's high in limonene count and offers a heavy body high that helps with stress, anxiety, and pain - all of which help explain why this is one of the best strains for migraines.

AK-47

This Sativa-dominant hybrid is known for its hard-hitting, energizing high that results in a talkative, enjoyable headspace. It is a mix of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and Afghani varietals and has exceptionally dark, resinous violet buds with red-haired buds. It's heavy in myrcene, which makes it one of the great strains for headaches and migraines, and it has a very skunky flavor commonly associated with cannabis.

Northern Lights

This legendary Indica is popular in both recreational and medical circles. It is believed to come from the popular strain, Afghani, and is thought to come from Amsterdam in the 1980s. Its high THC content provides a full-body high with deep relaxation and euphoric effects and is known to relieve pain, insomnia, headaches, and migraines with a rich aroma of earthy pine and skunky moss. Its primary terpenes are myrcene and pinene, making it one of the best strains for headaches.

Green Crack

This potent Sativa was initially named "Green Cush" and is known for its energetic, almost trippy high. It's a cross between Skunk #1 and an Afghani landrace Indica and provides a heavy mental buzz for fighting stress and fatigue. It has a bright citrus scent and tastes spicy and earthy. Its primary terpenes are linalool, pinene, and myrcene, making it a great strain for alleviating the side effects of migraines.

Do you use cannabis for migraine relief? Please let us know what strains you use and how they help. Comment below!