Migraine and Cannabis

Egyptian papyrus which describes therapy of migraine by bandaging a clay crocodile with herbs stuffed into its mouth to the head of the patient.

Egyptian papyrus which describes therapy for migraine.
Bandaging a clay crocodile (with 'herbs' stuffed into its mouth) to the head of the patient.
Public domain | Wikimedia Commons

The earliest mention of medical cannabis is in the Atharva Veda of India, dated to between 1400 and 2000 BC. The Atharva Veda referred to a sacred grass, bhang.

In the fourth and third centuries BC, Ayurvedic mixtures called Rasachandrika vati and Mahalakshmivilasa rasa, which contained cannabis, were used for diseases of the head including neuralgic headaches, haemicrania etc. Use of opium and cannabis in the traditional systems of medicine in India.
Shri C. DWARAKANATH
Adviser in Indigenous Systems of Medicine, Government of India, Ministry of health, New Delhi .
UNODC

In 1915, Sir William Osler, the father of modern medicine, stated of migraine treatment (Osler and McCrae, 1915), ‘Cannabis indica is probably the most satisfactory remedy. Seguin recommends a prolonged course’. Cannabis for migraine treatment: the once and future prescription? An historical and scientific review.
Russo E.
Pain. 1998 May;76(1-2):3-8. Review.
PMID: 9696453

If we fast forward ninety years, we see that what is old is starting to become new again..

An article that may offer new insight into this old theme by suggesting that that the endocannabinoid system may be dysfunctional in chronic migraine, is;
Endocannabinoids in chronic migraine: CSF findings suggest a system failure. Endocannabinoids in chronic migraine: CSF findings suggest a system failure.
Sarchielli P, Pini LA, Coppola F, Rossi C, Baldi A, Mancini ML, Calabresi P.
Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007 Jun;32(6):1384-90. Epub 2006 Nov 22. Erratum in: Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007 Jun;32(6):1432.
PMID: 17119542 | Full article from Nature.com

Another study that detailed a similar reasoning and approach is from Dr. Ethan Russo;
Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD):
Can this Concept Explain Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis in Migraine, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other Treatment-Resistant Conditions? Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD): can this concept explain therapeutic benefits of cannabis in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and other treatment-resistant conditions?
Russo EB.
Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2004 Feb-Apr;25(1-2):31-9. Review.
PMID: 15159679

Most recently, Dr. Russo's reasoning was confirmed by Smith and Wagner in their 2014 paper;
Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD) revisited: can this concept explain the therapeutic benefits of cannabis in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and other treatment-resistant conditions? Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD) revisited: can this concept explain the therapeutic benefits of cannabis in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and other treatment-resistant conditions?
Smith SC, Wagner MS.
Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2014;35(3):198-201. Review.
PMID: 24977967

Articles and editorials

The Independent:
Up in smoke: 'Cannabis gave me my life back'

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Migraine and Cannabis

Further reading

Articles and editorials