THC and migraines: study shows THC may help

A recent study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology examined the use of cannabinoids as a treatment for migraines in female rats. It showed that THC could reduce migraine-related pain.

Migraines affect nearly 7 million people in France (181% of women and 61% of men). An estimated 18 million workdays are lost each year due to migraines.

The study, led by Dr. Ram Kandasamy, a specialist in neuroscience, examined the medical efficacy of the most well-known cannabinoid by administering precise doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to female rats suffering from migraine-like pain, at specific times.

The experimental methodology involved administering 0.32 mg/kg of THC at various time points following an injection of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), which is intended to mimic the effects of migraine. The results were measured, in particular, by the rats’ activity on a running wheel. Only unstressed rats run on it for long periods of time.

The study’s findings highlight two key points:

• THC reduces migraine-related pain when administered at the correct dose (0.32 mg/kg) and at the right time. When administered 90 minutes after an AITC injection, the same dose is ineffective.
• The anti-migraine effects of THC are mediated by CB1 receptors in the brain

This study was, of course, conducted on an animal model and would need to be confirmed in a human model. In June of this year, an Italian study had conducted the study on 127 people. During this two-phase study, 43.51% of the participants reported a reduction in the severity of their migraines after using cannabinoids.