Does CBD Oil Work for Chronic Pain Management?
Many people use cannabidiol (CBD) for pain relief. Understanding CBD can help remove the stigma associated with it.
CBD oil is derived from the cannabis plant. People report using this oil for relief from pain, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.
There is limited evidence from human studies to support the benefits of CBD oil, as there are restrictions on cannabis use and research. As cannabis is being legalized in various fields, research is gaining momentum and shows some promising results.In this article, we look at how CBD oil works and how people use it to relieve chronic pain.
Effects of CBD
CBD is one of more than 100 compounds found in cannabis, called cannabinoids. Many plants contain cannabinoids, but people commonly associate these compounds with cannabis.
The human body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that receives and translates signals from cannabinoids. It produces certain cannabinoids on its own, which are called endocannabinoids. The ECS helps regulate functions such as sleep, immune-system responses, and pain.
When THC enters the body, it produces a feeling of "high" by affecting the brain's endocannabinoid receptors. It activates the brain's reward system, producing pleasure chemicals such as dopamine.
Does CBD Make You High?
CBD is a completely different compound from THC, and its effects are very complex. It does not produce a "high" and does not impair a person's functioning, but it does influence the body to use its own endocannabinoids more effectively.
According to a 2015 Trusted Source study published in Neurotherapeutics, CBD affects many other receptor systems in our bodies and in combination with other cannabinoids will affect the ECS.
For example, CBD can increase the body's levels of anandamide, a compound associated with regulating pain, which can reduce pain perception and improve mood.
Cannabidiol may also limit inflammation in the brain and nervous system, which may benefit people experiencing pain, insomnia and certain immune system reactions.
What is CBD Oil?
Different varieties of the cannabis plant -- such as hemp and marijuana -- contain different levels of chemical compounds.
How people breed the plant affects CBD levels. Most CBD oil comes from industrial hemp, which typically has a higher CBD content than marijuana.
Manufacturers of CBD oil use a variety of methods to extract the compound. The extract is then added to a carrier oil and is called CBD oil.
CBD oil comes in many different strengths, and people use it in different ways. It is best to discuss about CBD oil with a doctor before using it.
Benefits and pain relief
According to the Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), some evidence suggests that cannabis or CBD may have modest benefits for chronic pain.
While CBD is a promising option for pain relief, research has not yet proven it to be safe and effective, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved CBD for the treatment of pain.
A 2020 review from Trusted Source reports that CBD may have benefits for relieving chronic pain, improving sleep, and reducing inflammation, but these effects are condition-specific.
More evidence is needed to determine the therapeutic potential of CBD and to determine safe and effective doses for pain.
Chronic pain
The same report studied the use of CBD for common chronic pain. Researchers compiled the results of several systematic reviews covering dozens of trials and studies. Their research concluded that there is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.
A reliable source, a separate study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, supports these results. This research suggests that using CBD can reduce pain and inflammation.
The researchers also found that the subjects were not likely to build up a tolerance to the effects of CBD, so they would not need to increase their dosage over time.
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