This article is written by our newest writer Diana Olesko.
Past medical studies show the benefits of CBD and pain management, let’s take a look at these various studies.
There are many anecdotal medical benefits to cannabidiol (CBD). Among these are pain relief and inflammation reduction. One area that is fully supported by science is the combination of CBD and pain management programs. In this article, we will go over CBD and pain management.
Research is continuing to reinforce the belief in the medical advantages of using CBD for a variety chronic pain conditions. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine just published a ground-breaking overview of the health and medical benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids. The 395-page publication reviewed a significant amount of research and data to establish the current state of using medical marijuana in a variety of health issues5. Currently, the most substantial and supported conclusion is that cannabinoids are effective in treating pain management.
Pain is an important issue today. Traditional medical treatment of severe and chronic pain often includes the prescribing opiates. Opiates are fraught with a wide range of side-effects and warnings. For example, Oxycontin warns of fatal respiratory depression, reduction in gastrointestinal motility, and death6. From 1999 to 2014 the number of overdose deaths tripled, and 33,091 overdose deaths involving opioids in 20152. Clearly, a better solution is necessary.
There have been many studies to show the effectiveness of pain management. In 2003, A 15-week study involving over 600 multiple sclerosis patients determined a decrease in pain3. In 2004 another study using Dronaniol measured cannabinoid ability to reduce pain in patients with multiple sclerosis. Dronabinol is a synthetic drug that contains tetrahydrocannabinol. Here researchers found overall pain was reduced, pressure induced pain reduced, and a decrease spontaneous pain intensity4.
Dr. Whiting1 published a comprehensive study in 2015, demonstrating that there is at least a 30% reduction in pain with cannabinoids than compared to a placebo. They also found that there is no clear indication or prediction of pain relief based on the cause of pain. Dr. Whiting concludes “There was moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity.”1
Inflammation can result in pain and is an essential pathway to reduce discomfort and often agony that many experience daily. The building evidence is clear that cannabinoids may reduce inflammation. According to a study in published in The Journal of Neuroscience, “Cannabinoids have potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in the brain, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear.8” A study in 2004 concluded that “oral cannabidiol has a beneficial action on two symptoms of established inflammation: edema and hyperalgesia.7”
Cannabinoids are effective in pain management. They have few side effects, but do not cause overdose or death. Generally, they reduce the sensation of pain, and squash inflammation. CBD and pain management are an obvious pair.
Cover Photo is 99% CBD Isolate Powder from CBDistillery-Snapped By @chewberto420
1 Whiting, P. F., R. F. Wolff, S. Deshpande, M. Di Nisio, S. Duffy, A. V. Hernandez, J. C.
Keurentjes, S. Lang, K. Misso, S. Ryder, S. Schmidlkofer, M. Westwood, and J. Kleijnen.
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Cannabinoids for medical use: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA
313(24):2456–2473.
2 Rudd RA, Seth P, David F, Scholl L. Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths — United States, 2010–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:1445–1452. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm655051e1
3 Cannabinoids for treatment of spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis (CAMS study): multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial. Zajicek J, Fox P, Sanders H, Wright D, Vickery J, Nunn A, Thompson A, UK MS Research Group. Lancet. 2003 Nov 8; 362(9395):1517-26.
4 Svendsen, K. B., Jensen, T. S., & Bach, F. W. (2004). Does the cannabinoid dronabinol reduce central pain in multiple sclerosis? Randomised double blind placebo controlled crossover trial. BMJ : British Medical Journal, 329(7460), 253. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38149.566979.AE
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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research.
