CBD for continual ache: The science doesn’t match the advertising – . Well being Weblog
When asking health care providers about the most difficult condition to treat, chronic pain is often mentioned. Chronic pain is inherently a complex and multi-dimensional experience. The perception of pain is influenced by our unique biology, mood, social environment, and past experiences. If you or a loved one are suffering from chronic pain, you already know the heavy burden.
People are looking for novel, non-addictive ways to manage pain
With the ongoing challenges of chronic pain management coupled with the aftermath of the opioid epidemic, pain therapists and their patients are looking for effective and safer alternatives to opioids for pain relief. With the legalization of marijuana in many states and the resulting cultural acceptance of this drug for recreational and medical use, there has been an increased interest in the use of cannabis for a variety of medical problems, including pain.
Cannabis (most commonly derived from the plants Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa) has three main components: cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. While there are over a hundred different cannabinoids, the two main components are tetrahydrocannabional (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). In the past, the psychoactive component (euphoric "getting high") of the cannabis plant THC received more attention. There are fewer scientific studies on the medicinal uses of CBD, a non-psychoactive component of the plant.
What is the reason for using cannabis for chronic pain?
CBD is emerging as a promising drug for treating pain, inflammation, seizures, and anxiety without the psychoactive effects of THC. Our understanding of the role of CBD in pain management continues to evolve, and animal studies have shown that CBD exerts its pain relieving effects through its various interactions and the modulation of the endocannabinoid, inflammatory and nociceptive (pain sensing) systems. The endocannabinoid system is made up of cannabinoid receptors that interact with our own naturally occurring cannabinoids. This system is involved in regulating many functions in the body, including metabolism and appetite, mood and anxiety, and pain perception.
What is the research that CBD works in humans?
Because of its promising results in animal models, its relative safety, its non-psychoactive properties, and its low potential for abuse, CBD is an attractive candidate for pain relief. Unfortunately, there is a lack of human studies on the effectiveness of CBD. However, there is a plethora of commercial advertisements about the magical effects of CBD and it is often offered as a panacea potion that treats everything including diabetes, depression, cancer, chronic pain, and even your dog's anxiety!
So far, pharmaceutical CBD has only been approved by the FDA as an add-on therapy for the treatment of a special and rare form of epilepsy. Currently, CBD is not approved for the treatment of pain in the United States alone. A combination drug (containing both THC and CBD in a 1: 1 ratio) has been approved by Health Canada for prescribing certain types of pain, particularly central neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis, and for treating cancer pain that is unresponsive to optimized opioid therapy. There is currently no high quality research study to support the use of CBD on its own to treat pain.
Why is CBD being presented to the public like this if it is not without risks?
With the rapid change in the legality of cannabis, coupled with an increased appetite for something new and driven by unprecedented profit margins, the promotion of cannabinoids in general, and CBD in particular, has gone wild. The FDA is very clear that it is illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement. And it warns the public of possible side effects as it is often advertised in a way that can lead people to mistakenly believe that using CBD "can't do any harm." CBD can cause liver damage and affect the male reproductive system (as shown in laboratory animal studies).
Most importantly, CBD can interact with other major drugs such as blood thinners, heart drugs, and immunosuppressants (drugs given after organ transplants), potentially changing the levels of these important drugs in the blood and causing catastrophic results, including death. There is also a need to collect more information about safety in certain population groups such as the elderly, children, immunocompromised people, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Many of the CBD products on the market are not regulated
In fact, the FDA has issued several warning letters to companies and individuals marketing unapproved new drugs that allegedly contain CBD. The FDA has tested the chemical content of cannabinoid compounds in some products, and it has been found that many do not contain the levels of CBD claimed by the manufacturers.
Beware of strong testimonials
Finally, there is anecdotal wisdom when experiences from patients and health professionals produce positive results. While the experience or medication might be beneficial, that doesn't mean they will work for everyone. This is because every person is unique and what works perfectly for one patient cannot affect another patient. This is especially true for pain, where many other factors (our mood and stress levels, our environment and other medical conditions, as well as our previous experiences) can affect the perception of pain. Please be careful and remember that some of these incredible sounding testimonials are just marketing materials designed to entice consumers to buy more products as the CBD market is projected to hit $ 20 billion by 2024.
Bottom line: don't make CBD your first or only choice for pain relief
If you or someone close to you is considering trying CBD, I would recommend Dr. Recommend Robert Shmerling's advice on the pros and cons in choosing a suitable product. Until there is high quality scientific evidence in humans, it is difficult to make a recommendation for the regular use of CBD in the management of chronic pain.
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