You want to know how CBD can help with fibromyalgia or are looking for a natural remedy for pain or insomnia? I've done some research for you and navigated through a jungle of studies and forums. In this article, I'll show you the possibilities that CBD treatment offers based on scientific studies and how this plant compound works against fibromyalgia and its symptoms. At the end of the article, you'll also find our list of sources and a discussion forum where you can exchange ideas with other users.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in muscles and connective tissue without degenerative processes. In addition to pain, symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, depression, and anxiety may occur. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it is believed that a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors plays a role.
Traditional medicine has not yet found a cure for this condition. The treatment is limited to symptom relief. Synthetic pain medications are commonly prescribed, often accompanied by side effects.
However, many doctors and patients are seeking alternative treatment options. Studies repeatedly link the plant compound CBD to pain relief [1] and anti-inflammatory effects [2]. Therefore, cannabidiol is suspected to provide relief from fibromyalgia symptoms.
Common and Potential Future Treatment Methods
Treating fibromyalgia can be challenging because, as mentioned, there is no cure and symptoms typically vary from person to person. Common treatment methods include pain medications, antidepressants, physical therapy, and counseling. In recent times, natural remedies, including the use of CBD, have gained attention. According to statistics, approximately 2-4% of the population suffer from fibromyalgia, and many of them are looking for alternative treatment methods.
How Does CBD Affect Fibromyalgia?
The endocannabinoid system regulates pain perception, sleep, and nerve activity. An imbalanced system leads to dysfunctional processes and ultimately an oversensitive nervous system.
This is where cannabidiol comes into play. As an external cannabinoid, it can have a positive impact on this cycle and thereby limit the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Studies have shown that it can alleviate the following symptoms:
- Pain [3]
- Sleep disturbances [4]
- Inflammation
The advantage over chemical pain medications lies in better tolerability and less frequent occurrence of side effects. Scientific research in this field is still in its early stages, but the results are promising.
CBD products do not cause intoxication like marijuana. In the United States, plant-based preparations are only allowed to contain a maximum of 0.3% of the psychoactive substance THC.
Side Effects: Can Unpleasant Effects Occur?
Side effects from consuming CBD are rare and usually not severe. However, it's worth mentioning some possible side effects:
- Appetite loss
- Dry mouth
- Weakness and fatigue
- Lowering of blood pressure
- Digestive disorders
As mentioned earlier, these undesirable effects occur very rarely and are often caused by excessive dosages.
What Is the Best Product for Fibromyalgia?
There are several options for treating the pain condition with CBD. Here are some of them:
- Oral: Consuming foods or drinks infused with CBD
- Inhalation: Smoking the substance or using it as an e-liquid with a vaporizer
- Sublingual: Placing CBD oil under the tongue for quick absorption through the oral mucosa
- Spray: There are CBD nasal sprays that act even faster than the sublingual version
- Cream or salve: This option is suitable for targeted treatment of specific areas of the skin
Additionally, CBD is available in the form of capsules for swallowing or as isolates (crystals). The main difference between all these application methods lies in the time it takes for the effects to kick in.
The fastest absorption occurs through the lungs, followed by absorption through the mucous membranes, then swallowing, and finally, creams for external use take the longest to take effect.
In the case of fibromyalgia, a CBD oil is recommended for long-term therapy supplementation, while a cbd e-liquid might be better suited for acute pain relief.
Dosage
So far, no cases of CBD overdose are known, which makes the substance safe for use. However, it is not excluded that side effects may occur when taking excessive amounts.
But how much CBD is the right amount? Every body reacts differently to substances, making it difficult to provide a universal dose. A good approach is to start with a small amount and gradually increase the dosage as needed.
For example, you can start with 3 drops of 5% or 10% oil. At this dosage, undesirable side effects are very unlikely, and you can get a good sense of CBD's effects.
For acute pain treatment, using a spray or inhalation with a vaporizer is often the better option as the effects set in more quickly. The products should be selected according to the user's requirements and needs.
User Experiences: What Do Fibromyalgia Patients Say About CBD?
There are many reports from people who use CBD to treat their fibromyalgia symptoms. On the website Trustpilot, several users share their positive experiences with CBD. One German user reports significant improvement in muscle pain through the use of CBD capsules. Another user reports that CBD capsules have been helping them with fibromyalgia and resulting pain for several years. It is important to note that experiences vary individually, and what works for one person may not work for another.
For example, a user who has been suffering from fibromyalgia, psoriasis, and sleep problems for years wrote in a forum:
"It seems like a miracle, I feel much better for the first time in years! The pain has significantly decreased, the really bad psoriasis has already receded by about 80%, and I sleep much better."
Another user on CBD360 wrote:
"For over 12 years, I have suffered from severe pain caused by cervical and lumbar syndrome, osteoarthritis, migraines, and mastocytosis. Despite surgery, the severe pain persisted, and I withdrew more and more from life, becoming depressed due to the pain and loneliness. (...) I want to tell everyone, especially older people, to try these drops, and you will experience quality of life, courage, and joy again. I take 3 x 3 drops per day, diluted with water if needed because my mucous membranes and stomach are very sensitive. For me, these drops are a miracle cure."
Scientific Studies on This Topic
Scientific research on CBD and fibromyalgia is still limited, but there are some studies that show promising results. One study showed that 72% of patients reported being able to replace their pain medication with CBD products. However, it is important to note that the dosage of CBD in these studies is often higher than what can be achieved with commercially available CBD oils. Further research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness and safety of CBD in the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Conclusion
Despite the relatively early stage of work on CBD therapy options, the results of current scientific investigations are promising. It is desirable that this area will be further explored by science in the future.
Further positive experiences can be mentioned from users of the natural compound cannabidiol against fibromyalgia. It seems that CBD can be a natural supplement to conventional treatment options for pain and inflammation, as well as sleep problems.
Have you already had experiences with CBD in the fight against fibromyalgia? Feel free to leave a comment below this article. If you have any questions about CBD and fibromyalgia, don't hesitate to contact me.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. If you suffer from fibromyalgia and are interested in trying CBD as a treatment option, please consult your doctor first.
Sources
- [1] Darkovska-Serafimovska M et al., Pharmacotherapeutic considerations for use of cannabinoids to relieve pain in patients with malignant diseases. 2018, J Pain Res
- [2] Olah A et al., Differential effectiveness of selected non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids on human sebocyte functions implicates their introduction in dry/seborrhoeic skin and acne treatment. 2016, Exp Dermatol
- [3] Silveira JW Protective effects of cannabidiol on lesion-induced intervertebral disc degeneration. 2014, PLoS One
- [4] Shannon S et al.,Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. 2019, Perm J.