Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained attention for its potential health benefits, particularly in relieving pain. Understanding how CBD works can help overcome the stigma associated with cannabis-derived products.
What Is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is extracted from the cannabis plant. Many people use this oil to relieve pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Due to restrictions on cannabis use and research, there is limited evidence from human studies to support these benefits. However, as cannabis legalization spreads, research is accelerating and showing promising results.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not produce a euphoric “high” because it does not affect the same receptors as THC.
The human body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that receives and translates signals from cannabinoids. The ECS helps regulate functions such as sleep, immune responses, and pain. When THC enters the body, it affects the brain’s endocannabinoid receptors, producing a “high” by activating the brain’s reward system and releasing dopamine.
CBD, however, influences the body to use its own endocannabinoids more effectively. According to a 2015 study in Neurotherapeutics, CBD affects many other receptor systems in the body and works with other cannabinoids to influence the ECS. For example, CBD can increase levels of anandamide, a compound associated with pain regulation, which can reduce pain perception and improve mood.
CBD and Pain Relief
CBD oil is typically derived from industrial hemp, which has a higher CBD content than marijuana. Manufacturers use various methods to extract CBD and mix it with a carrier oil.
Benefits of CBD for Pain
- Neuropathic Pain: Neuropathic pain results from nerve damage and is common in conditions like multiple sclerosis and injuries like herniated discs. A 2017 review found that CBD helped with chronic neuropathy pain in humans. However, a 2018 Cochrane review suggested the potential harms might outweigh the benefits, highlighting the need for more research.
- Arthritis Pain: A 2016 study in the European Journal of Pain found that topical CBD reduced inflammation and pain in rats with arthritis without additional side effects. Human studies are needed to confirm these findings.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS can cause severe muscle spasms and chronic pain. Some reports suggest that short-term use of CBD oil may reduce muscle spasms, but more research is needed to confirm these results.
- Chronic Pain: Research indicates that CBD can reduce general chronic pain and inflammation. Unlike some pain medications, CBD may not lead to tolerance, meaning users don’t need to increase their dose over time.
Potential Side Effects
Most people tolerate CBD oil well, but there are potential side effects, including:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Changes in appetite
- Weight gain or weight loss
CBD can interact with other medications, potentially making them more or less effective. It may also interfere with the liver’s ability to process certain drugs, increasing the risk of liver toxicity. Long-term effects on hormones and other aspects of health are not yet well understood.
Other Considerations
- Children: Experts generally do not recommend CBD oil for children, except for treating rare forms of epilepsy.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: CBD oil should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- High-Fat Meals: Taking CBD with high-fat meals can increase its concentration in the blood, raising the risk of side effects.
- Regulation: The FDA does not regulate CBD products as rigorously as drugs or dietary supplements, leading to potential mislabeling or misrepresentation. Researching and choosing quality products is crucial.
Conclusion
While preliminary studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that CBD oil may help manage chronic pain, more research, especially long-term studies with human subjects, is necessary.
CBD oil shows promise as a pain treatment due to its lack of intoxicating effects and potential for fewer side effects compared to many other pain medications. Those considering CBD oil for pain should consult with their doctor to ensure it is safe and appropriate for their needs.
Scientific Research on CBD, Cannabis & Pain
- Meta-analysis of cannabis based treatments for neuropathic and multiple sclerosis-related pain
- Sativex: Clinical efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of symptoms of multiple sclerosis and neuropathic pain
- Cannabis, pain, and sleep: Sativex Clinical Trials
- Sativex successfully treats neuropathic pain characterised by allodynia: clinical trial
- Cannabinoids for neuropathic pain
- Neuropathic orofacial pain: Cannabinoids as a therapeutic avenue
- Oromucosal delta9-THC/CBD for neuropathic pain associated with multiple sclerosis
- The non-psychoactive cannabis constituent cannabidiol is an orally effective therapeutic agent in rat chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain
- Vanilloid TRPV1 receptor mediates the antihyperalgesic effect of the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, cannabidiol, in a rat model of acute inflammation
- Cannabidiol inhibits paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain through 5-HT1A receptors without diminishing nervous system function or chemotherapy efficacy
- Antihyperalgesic effect of a Cannabis sativa extract in a rat model of neuropathic pain
- Non-psychoactive cannabinoids modulate the descending pathway of antinociception in anaesthetized rats through several mechanisms of action
- Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain by targeting α3 glycine receptors
- Role of the cannabinoid system in pain control and therapeutic implications for the management of acute and chronic pain episodes
- Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain
- Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of THC:CBD extract and THC extract in patients with intractable cancer-related pain
- Marijuana extract helps prevent chemo pain
- Pot users less likely to take painkillers
- CBD & THC interactions on acute pain and locomotor activity
- CBD is a potential therapeutic for the affective-motivational dimension of incision pain in rats
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