Those who suffer from chronic pain often feel helpless and discouraged when trying to manage their pain. Anxiety, depression and sleeplessness become a way of life, adding to the pain. According to studies, CBD could be an alternative to dangerous medication that can be addicting.
More research needs to be done, but researchers who have studied CBD and chronic pain believe receptors in your body and brain respond to CBD with anti-inflammatory and pain-killing effects.
How CBD helps chronic pain
Chronic inflammation, in addition to causing pain, can damage tissue. CBD can act as a muscle relaxant to relieve the pain and allow increased movement, sending healing blood flow to damaged tissue. If you suffer from chronic pain, healing, restful sleep is often merely a dream. CBD can help lull you to sleep, which is when your body can repair and replace damaged cells.
A potentially debilitating side effect of constant pain is anxiety. CBD has also been shown to calm the nervous system, lessening the feeling of anxiety. It also can help relieve the depression brought on by being in a constant state of pain.
In one study published in Clinical Rehabilitation, 24 patients with chronic pain from multiple sclerosis, spinal chord injuries or amputation were given THC, CBD, a combination of both or a placebo. “Pain relief associated with both THC and CBD was significantly superior to placebo,” the researchers’ wrote. “Not only did the patients experience significant relief, but in some cases other unpleasant symptoms like muscle spasms were also alleviated.”
As interest in CBD grows, so does the potential for research that can change the way health care professionals treat many conditions, including chronic pain, with fewer risks of addiction or worse.