Try CBD for Fibromyalgia

Are you struggling with fibromyalgia? Learn more about CBD for fibromyalgia and how you can try it in this article.

Fibromyalgia is a health condition characterized by chronic pain all over the body. When the problem persists, it leads to sleeplessness, tenderness, fatigue, and cognitive imbalances. Currently, there is no known cure for this health condition. Fortunately, there are some self-care techniques and adjustments that patients can follow to alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia. Generally, treatment of this condition involves using over-the-counter medications, self-care strategies like aerobic exercises and stress reduction, and changing lifestyles like adjusting sleeping patterns and diet. CBD is a product of cannabis and is linked to many complicated health benefits, including dealing with fibromyalgia. Read on to find out more if it's true.

Can CBD Help You Deal with Fibromyalgia?

Many scientists, medical experts, and cannabis experts have looked at CBD as a possible remedy to deal with fibromyalgia and its related symptoms. Several studies have evaluated the effects of CBD from hemp in dealing with fibromyalgia. According to these studies, CBD may help deal with fibromyalgia, including other cannabinoids in cannabis sativa.

Many studies about managing fibromyalgia with cannabis include THC, an illegal cannabinoid. According to Ko et al. (2016), people with fibromyalgia will experience better health after taking CBD infused with THC because the participants in the study took THC and cannabis; it's not yet clear if the effects are for CBD or THC. More studies need to be done to determine the effective compound between THC and CBD in dealing with fibromyalgia.

Cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system in the body after being absorbed. The main mechanism which CBD works through is infecting the receptors in the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a complex system in the brain believed to control almost all the essential biological processes such as cell signaling in the body. It regulates sleep, digestion, breathing, blood pressure, heartbeats, cognitive abilities, and pain perception.

Since CBD interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, it's possible to ease some fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain instead of dealing with the whole infection. Let's see some studies done to prove the effects of CBD in dealing with fibromyalgia:

According to van de Donk et al. (2021), participants who took CBD experienced a minor improvement in the fibromyalgia symptoms, such as pain reduction. This was not an actual clinical study, but the results were promising.

Most studies linking CBD to fibromyalgia are few because of some limitations around regulations of cannabis. However, more states are legalizing CBD, meaning many researchers will have enough room and time to conduct their studies.

How Does CBD Help with Fibromyalgia?

Researchers are not clear why CBD reduces some symptoms of fibromyalgia-like pain or why it can work for some people while it fails for some. However, they haven't given up as they are currently studying some theories to determine the effects of CBD on fibromyalgia.

The pain-relieving abilities of CBD are mostly experienced due to its effect on the endocannabinoid system in the brain, as explained by Fine & Rosenfeld (2013). Interacting with the CB1 and CB2 receptors blocks the nerve pathways responsible for sending pain signals between the brain and the target body area.

CBD and other cannabinoids attach to other essential receptors in the brain, the CB2 receptors responsible for managing pain and inflammation. The CB2 is located in the peripheral nervous system and is responsible for the body's immune system.

Taking CBD may interact directly with these receptors or stimulate the endocannabinoid system to produce more endocannabinoids such as anandamide interacting with these receptors. This blocks the pain signal from reaching the target area, relieving pain and inflammation.

According to Ramesh et al. (2018), low endocannabinoids may be the root cause of chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, and migraine. Using CBD can correct this endocannabinoid deficiency by stimulating the endocannabinoid system to produce more hence being effective in dealing with pain. Research on this topic is limited; hence more studies are needed before scientists can understand the aspects and give a clear conclusion without main assumptions. Learn more about natural ways to cope with inflammation

Is CBD Effective in Dealing with Fibromyalgia?

CBD is known to treat many infections, and scientists are conducting conclusive studies in this area. In the past, most studies were based on cannabis rather than CBD as an individual compound. However, the latest studies link CBD as an individual compound to solving various stubborn health complications. According to the National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health, CBD has modest effects in modulating chronic pain.

Moreover, CBD could have effects in mitigating pain, improving sleep, and regulating inflammation due to the anti-inflammatory effects it has. Anecdotal data also reveal using CBD oil mitigates fibromyalgia symptoms in some people. CBD tests can regulate pain, improve sleep, and deal with refractory pain in patients struggling with adverse migraine conditions, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome.

People who use CBD for medicinal purposes may also use other cannabinoids, but the right dosage amount is unclear. Debate to determine if CBD is effective when used alone or with other cannabinoids is ongoing.

The Bottom Line

Cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system in the body after being absorbed. The main mechanism which CBD works through is infecting the receptors in the endocannabinoid system. The Endocannabinoid system is a complex system in the brain believed to control almost all the essential biological processes such as cell signaling in the body. It regulates sleep, digestion, breathing, blood pressure, heartbeats, cognitive abilities, and pain perception. Fibromyalgia is a health condition characterized by chronic pain all over the body. When the problem persists, it leads to sleeplessness, tenderness, fatigue, and cognitive imbalances. Currently, there is no known cure for this health condition. Fortunately, there are some self-care techniques and adjustments that patients can follow to alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia.

References

Fine, P. G., & Rosenfeld, M. J. (2013). The endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids, and pain. Rambam Maimonides medical journal, 4(4).

Ko, G. D., Bober, S. L., Mindra, S., & Moreau, J. M. (2016). Medical cannabis–the Canadian perspective. Journal of pain research, 9, 735.

Ramesh, D., D'Agata, A., Starkweather, A., & Young, E. (2018). Contribution of endocannabinoid gene expression and genotype on low back pain susceptibility and chronicity. The Clinical journal of pain, 34(1), 8.

 van de Donk, T., Niesters, M., Kowal, M. A., Olofsen, E., Dahan, A., & van Velzen, M. (2019). An experimental randomized study on the analgesic effects of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis in chronic pain patients with fibromyalgia. Pain, 160(4), 860.