Most medical professionals will agree that pain—in all of its forms—is one of the hardest conditions to treat. Pain is an experience that is unique to each person and chronic pain? That happens to be multidimensional and intricate. If you or someone you love is experiencing relentless pain, then you know the struggle of finding that actually helps soothe the hurt. You may be thinking about turning to CBD for pain relief, but has CBD been proven to help with pain?
Let’s find out.
How Does CBD Work?
Pain management is an ongoing challenge that may have you swapping out analgesics and complementary therapies every few months. With the legalization of CBD in 2018 and more and more states adopting the legal use of recreational cannabis, there has been an increase in CBD use throughout the US.
As you may be aware, CBD—also known as cannabidiol—is obtained from the Cannabis sativa plant and is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids present in the plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not give you a high. Yet, even though it is non-psychoactive, it does impact the body.
To what degree, science has yet to fully explain, but here is what is known for certain: CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is tied into the pain-sensing and inflammatory systems, being that it is somewhat responsible for homeostasis [1]. When you take CBD, it is thought that cannabidiol reacts to the cannabinoid receptors spread throughout the human body, emitting some therapeutic effects.
CBD Tincture 1000mg
What Does Research Say About Using CBD For Pain?
There has been quite a bit of research surrounding the use of CBD for pain, though conclusive evidence is still lacking.
Research on CBD For Chronic Pain
In 2018, a review was released that looked at research conducted between 1975 to 2018 to see how well CBD affected chronic pain caused by conditions like fibromyalgia, cancer, and neuropathy [2]. Although many of the studies reviewed by the team were short-term, they did find that CBD did exhibit an analgesic effect. Furthermore, the researchers stated that cannabinoids, including CBD and THC, may inhibit the release of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, in turn modulating post-synaptic neuron excitability, activating inhibitory pain pathways, and reducing neural inflammation.
Another review from 2020 considered the potential benefits of CBD [3]. The researchers considered studies from the early 2000s to the modern day and found that CBD may have an impact on intractable chronic pain. For instance, in one study, CBD treatment decreased pain in fibromyalgia patients by 30%, which is considered significant. Furthermore, they stated that CBD: THC formulations worked well in improving pain scores in those with multiple sclerosis.
A study from 2019 provided some interesting results [4]. The researchers wanted to see how well CBD, THC, and combinations of the two could alter pain perception. Participants inhaled varying formulas of cannabis. Though the researchers stated that none of the formulas achieved a greater than a placebo effect on spontaneous and electrical pain, Bediol (a combination of high CBD and THC) caused “a significant increase in tolerance to the pressure applied to the skin.”
Research on CBD For Cancer Pain
There are currently THC-based prescriptions available for cancer in the US, but CBD-based products have yet to be approved. That said, there has been a growing body of research showing optimistic results.
In 2010, a study on cancer-related pain asked the participants to use oral sprays that combined THC and CBD [5]. Some were also given opioids. The result of the study found that the THC: CBD formula produced a better analgesic effect than opioids alone.
The researchers from said 2010 study also conducted a second round of testing in 2013 and found that THC and THC: CBD oral sprays were effective for reducing cancer pain [6]. More research is currently being conducted.
Research on CBD and Migraine Pain
Many kinds of pain exist. Migraine pain is a whole other category. While there is limited research on the effectiveness of CBD for migraines, what is available shows that CBD, when combined with THC, has potential.
The largest bit of evidence comes from a study in 2017 that involved two phases of research [7]. Participants were given either 9% CBD and minimal THC or a CBD and THC blend. These were taken orally. 100 mg of CBD: THC during the first phase had minimal effects on migraine pain. The doses were then increased to 200 mg; the pain was reduced by 55%. These findings were presented at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Amsterdam the same year.
This follows a 2016 study that showed how inhaled medical cannabis could reduce the intensity of migraines [8]. Much research is currently underway.
Are There Any Side Effects?
When you are searching for pain relief, the last thing you want to deal with is the adverse side effects of medication. Fortunately, CBD does not seem to pose any significant risks to your health. Most topical CBD products do not even enter the bloodstream.
However, there are some possible CBD side effects to consider [9]:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Weight changes
- Appetite changes
Furthermore, CBD may possibly interact with:
- Prescription medicines, particularly those with grapefruit warnings [10]
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Dietary supplements
As such, it is highly recommended that you discuss taking cannabidiol with a trusted medical provider before you make a purchase.
Looking For High-Quality CBD Products?
Many people are currently using CBD or medical cannabis to help treat their pain, regardless of where it comes from. Although research on CBD is limited, what evidence is currently available is optimistic. In the future, CBD may be prescribed alongside other medications to help individuals treat their chronic conditions. Until then, you can get high-quality CBD from a reputable seller and see what it can do for you now.
Sugar Bottom Hemp has a broad range of CBD products, including tinctures, edibles, and topical creams. Our organically grown hemp is minimally processed, making our CBD extracts as pure as possible. We also have our CBD analyzed by an independent third-party lab, so you can find our COAs on our website. Check out our lineup of CBD products today. You are bound to find something amazing.
Bibliography
1. Billman GE (2020) Homeostasis: The Underappreciated and Far Too Often Ignored Central Organizing Principle of Physiology. Front. Physiol. 11:200. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00200
2. Vučković S, Srebro D, Vujović KS, Vučetić Č and Prostran M (2018) Cannabinoids and Pain: New Insights From Old Molecules. Front. Pharmacol. 9:1259. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01259
3. Argueta, D. A., Ventura, C. M., Kiven, S., Sagi, V., & Gupta, K. (2020). A Balanced Approach for Cannabidiol Use in Chronic Pain. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.00561
4. van de Donk, Tinea; Niesters, Mariekea; Kowal, Mikael A.b; Olofsen, Erika; Dahan, Alberta,*; van Velzen, Moniquea. An experimental randomized study on the analgesic effects of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis in chronic pain patients with fibromyalgia. PAIN: April 2019 – Volume 160 – Issue 4 – p 860-869 doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001464
5. Johnson, J. R., Burnell-Nugent, M., Lossignol, D., Ganae-Motan, E. D., Potts, R., & Fallon, M. T. (2010). 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. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 39(2), 167–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.06.008
6. Johnson, J. R., Lossignol, D., Burnell-Nugent, M., & Fallon, M. T. (2013). An Open-Label Extension Study to Investigate the Long-Term Safety and Tolerability of THC/CBD Oromucosal Spray and Oromucosal THC Spray in Patients With Terminal Cancer-Related Pain Refractory to Strong Opioid Analgesics. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 46(2), 207–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.07.014
7. M. Nicolodi, V. Sandoval, A. Terrine, Therapeutic use of cannabinoids ‐ dose-finding, effects, and pilot data of effects in chronic migraine and cluster headache. Abstract presentation at 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), Amsterdam, 6/24/17.
8. Rhyne, D. N., Anderson, S. L., Gedde, M., & Borgelt, L. M. (2016). Effects of medical marijuana on migraine headache frequency in an adult population. Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy, 36(5), 505–510. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.1673
9. Huestis, M.A. et al. (2019) “Cannabidiol adverse effects and toxicity,” Current Neuropharmacology, 17(10), pp. 974–989. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159×17666190603171901.
10. Grapefruit and medication: A cautionary note (2021) Harvard Health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/grapefruit-and-medication-a-cautionary-note (Accessed: November 21, 2022)..
