As our understanding of the role of CBD in treating pain continues to evolve, research has demonstrated that CBD can act as an analgesic through its interactions and modulation of the endocannabinoid, inflammatory and nociceptive systems. Several countries have approved CBD to treat certain conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and cancer-related pain. Studies suggest that CBD oil may help treat medical conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia, although it may not be effective on its own. It is also unclear if CBD can offer mental relief from pain, but the placebo effect may help some people experience less pain after taking it.
Morphine alone reduced nociceptive responses in three pain models, while CBD alone produced an antinociceptive effect only on one model. The average dose of eight sprays per day for patients with MS provides about 20 milligrams of CBD and 21.6 milligrams of THC. More research is needed to understand the role of CBD in treating chronic neuropathic pain, including the risks, benefits and ideal doses. THC may also play a role in relieving pain.
People with arthritis and other chronic musculoskeletal pain are increasingly turning to cannabis products to alleviate different symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, insomnia and anxiety. Adults who use CBD products do so because of their potential pain relieving effects. However, experts do not recommend using CBD oil in children due to lack of research on its effects on a child's developing brain. Studies suggest that cannabinoids, such as CBD, could offer new useful treatments for people with chronic pain.
CBD injection reduced mechanical allodynia and reversed the conditional location preference caused by peripheral nerve blockage in a rat incision pain model. It also improved 5-HT activation by desensitizing the 5HT1a receptors in healthy rats. Epidiolex, which is used for rare forms of epilepsy, is the only CBD treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has also shown similar results in the treatment of Dravet syndrome, a drug-resistant epilepsy that begins during the first year of life.
Regarding inflammation-related modes of pain, some studies give hope for an anti-inflammatory action of CBD, while others have reported opposite results.
