Understanding CBD Treatment for Pain Relief
UNDERSTANDING CBD TREATMENT FOR PAIN REFLIEF
The cannabis sativa plant has earned wide acceptance over the past decade or so, and not for the object that many have come to naturally associate with it. Indeed, the majority of states in the US and countries around the world are moving for the legalization of cannabis, but not as a recreational drug.
Rather, the recently discovered amazing medicinal advantages obtainable from the plant have pushed medical experts to take the side of cannabis, as it proves to be a far more helpful substance than most imagine. Both minor aches and extreme pain issues like arthritis and migraines have met greater resistance in cannabis and, it is bound to become even more widely accepted when people understand how it works.
Firstly, it’s important to understand that the effective remedial ingredient in cannabis is cannabidiol (CBD), one of the 120 components that make up the cannabis plant. On the other hand, the element in the cannabis plant that is responsible for the psychological imbalance the plant is popular for is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Thus, the absence of tetrahydrocannabinol makes CBD a safe solution for various medical purposes.
CBD works by causing a reaction in the endocannabinoid system of the body. This usually latent system goes into action to affect the biological processes that control appetite, pain and memory. By passing information to the receptors of the immune system and the brain through the cannabinoids it secretes on contact with CBD, the endocannabinoid system dulls the effect of pain while regulating activities like sleep and immune-system responses.
The pain relief effect of CBD has been extensively researched, with the intent of finding a solution to the management of cancer pain, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia and other chronic pains. The sustained answer is that CBD works wonders for chronic pain relief, with very infinitesimal side effects and in very rare cases.
The earliest medicinal usage of cannabis products, as early as the 1800s, was interestingly to curb the anguish of rheumatism (arthritis). In fact, the law registered the plant in the US pharmacopoeia for a long time before federal limits were placed on the product in 1937 under the Marijuana Tax Act.
Nonetheless, several tests have been carried out on rats and other animal models to examine the efficacy of CBD on arthritic patients. The results of the tests have been remarkably positive with recorded reductions in inflammation and symptoms of pain, alongside a drop in side effects. People suffering from arthritis are already finding relief from the use of CBD oils and gels.
CBD has also become a banner for recovery from the diagnosis of cancer, with the National Cancer Institute championing the use of CBD for managing some side-effects of chemotherapy like the lack of appetite, pains and vomiting. In addition, researchers have studied the influence of CBD in rats, with CBD oils causing cancerous cells to shrink in rodents affected by cancer.
Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis directly affect the nerves, and the resulting spasms from the frequent symptoms are excruciating for people with the disease. With CBD, people have reported having milder spasms, with some even commenting that they have observed a reduction in the frequency of these spasm attacks.
As magical as CBD already proves to be for ache and pain relief, much more is unknown about the extent of the usefulness of this exceptional medical treasure. Therefore, the patient must always consult a medical practitioner before resolving to use it, so that the right dosage can be administered. For now, though, we can all rejoice in the knowledge that the use of CBD comes with little to no side effects, and that, in itself, is a relief.
REFERENCES
CBD as a possible option for reducing chemotherapy side effects. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/cannabis-pdq
Clauw, D. D. (2019, October 3). Arthritis Foundation Releases Guidelines For Patients Who Want To Use CBD To Manage Pain. (NPR, Interviewer) CHRONIC PAIN & FATIGUE RESEARCH CENTER.
Does CBD Oil Work for Chronic Pain Management? Retrieved from Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319475.php
Hammell, D., Zhang, L., Ma, F., Abshire, S., McIlwrath, S., Stinchcomb, A., & Westlund, K. N. (2016, July 16). Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. Eur J Pain, 20(6), 936–948. doi:10.1002/ejp.818
Mary Barna, B., & Daniel T., A. (2017, March). Medicinal Cannabis: History, Pharmacology, And Implications for the Acute Care Setting. 42(3), 180–188.
Should You Take CBD for Pain? (n.d.). Retrieved from Health Topics Health Management: https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/should-you-take-cbd-for-pain
Using CBD Oil for Pain Management: Does It Work? Retrieved from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-oil-for-pain
