Staying healthy is everyone’s priority, which includes mental, physical, and social well-being. You must exercise regularly, follow a strict diet, and try to inculcate positive habits in your life. However, individuals suffering from chronic pain often lose hope and end up living with mental agony accompanying the debilitating pain.
Traditional treatments for chronic pain involve grueling physiotherapy sessions and hundreds of pills one has to pop for the pain to subside. The alternate treatment has often been looked at with doubt as people have a notion that they aren’t as effective as their traditional counterparts. However, from traditional Chinese medicine to Indian Ayurveda, people with chronic pain have immensely benefited by using them. The growing popularity of the CBD in treating various ailments and complex disorders, including chronic pain holds a lot of promise.
Let us try to find out how CBD is helping people manage chronic pain and why people are going crazy about this natural elixir.
What is CBD and how is it different from THC?
Cannabidiol or CBD is a natural component extracted from the hemp or cannabis plant. Unlike CBD, THC is a compound known to have a psychoactive reaction which makes you high. Both these compounds can have different effects altogether when consumed. Depending on the medical condition you are in, you can either use it topically or orally. Various research and studies have shown promising results in treating chronic pain resulting from medical conditions like multiple sclerosis and arthritis with CBD and its products.
Word of Caution: According to research from Healthcanal, a Good Clinical Test Is Yet Done To Establish the Real Potential of CBD.
Chronic Pain Relief Using CBD
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in your life as it regulates the brain, immune system, and the endocrine system. The receptors are tiny proteins, whose function is to receive signals from the brain, creating stimuli resulting in the cells to respond. The response in the brain is a determining factor that helps in soothing the symptoms of chronic pain.
Many studies show the real effectiveness of CBD in chronic pain management. Further studies and tests show that the compound has anti-inflammatory properties, which help in alleviating chronic pain by activating the serotonin receptors in the brain. Due to the sedative effect of CBD there is a gradual decrease in chronic pain.
It has also been noted that there’s no standard tolerance level for CBD while, so continually increasing the dosage of CBD in managing chronic pain doesn’t have any negative impact on the body.
CBD in Arthritis Pain Relief
Arthritis may be classified into two categories, namely osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis where both can lead to chronic pain. The levels of pains can range from mild, sporadic to severe discomforts. CBD may give relief from the discomfort by creating a blockage in the inflammation process through its analgesic effects on the brain and spinal cord. The usage of CBD may offer some relief from arthritis pain, but still, a concrete confirmation is needed to support the findings.
CBD and Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a medical condition wherein a person experiences disease of the brain and central nervous system resulting in a deterioration or permanent damage to the nerves. While many people suffering from multiple sclerosis may not walk independently but the rest may experience severe pain, which never subsides.
CBD has been found to bring down the levels of spasticity. The results may not be promising though, but some people reported having a gradual decrease in the symptoms after having CBD.
CBD and Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a skeletal disorder accompanied by chronic pain, fatigue, sleep, and mood issues. The common symptoms of fibromyalgia include muscle tenderness and widespread pain in the entire body.
The effectiveness of CBD in treating fibromyalgia is very limited. Researchers do not have any evidence regarding the treatment of fibromyalgia with CBD, although after some strong theories are still being tested CBD is slightly effective in decreasing the pain caused because of fibromyalgia.
Conclusion
While there aren’t any decisive findings on the study of CBD in chronic pain management, many researchers still believe that CBD and its products will have a role regarding easing chronic pains in patients suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis. CBD has provided relief to many people with chronic pain without hampering their daily routines or intoxication to the drug.
If you’re wondering whether it’s about time to include CBD to manage your chronic pain then it’s best to have a detailed discussion with your doctor and you can click for more options here.