CBD Oil for Pain Management

CBD for pain management is helping people with chronic diseases, often referred to as ‘silent killer disease’. Anyone suffering a chronic silent disease understands the need to continually explore new options for managing symptoms. Medical advances are constantly being made, as well as new discoveries pertaining to side effects or interferences. Regardless of disease, it is often a lifelong battle of trial and error trying to find sustaining solutions for treating pain.

No medicine is ever guaranteed to be a cure, and everybody is different. In more recent years, the belief of a more natural approach to maintaining health has grown in popularity. Dangerous negative side effects from taking pain medications have million American adults turning to hemp derived products. Hemp is part of the cannabis family of plants, but without the psychoactive properties.

Cannabis For Medical Use

Long before there was ever substantial research to back it up, cannabis has been used dating back to ancient cultures. In 1830, the first known marijuana study researched how it helps ease stomach issues related to cholera.

Today, we know that there are over 483 chemical compounds that can be found in marijuana plants. Medical marijuana is currently legal in 35 US States . An 13 additional states have restrictions for THC, but allow cannabidiol (CBD).

THC is the chemical compound found in cannabis that contains psychoactive properties. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. It has been medically proven to aid in inflammation, pain, cancers and neurological disorders. Its been known to even help mental health issues like anxiety or depression.

When you take full spectrum CBD regularly, it binds to neurotransmitters in your nervous system. This transmitter cannabinoid binding interaction is what can help ease symptoms of many diseases such as fibromyalgia. THCV is another cannabinoid that has been proven to be beneficial in diabetes studies.

As more research continues to unveil medical marijuana benefits. The more people suffering from chronic illness are turning to cannabis. The need for more natural solutions is important in the long-term maintenance of many diseases.

Certain medications can have negative side effects when used over long periods of time. Taking medications like ibuprofen can negatively affect gastrointestinal disorders by causing stomach ulcers.

Instead of chemically created compounds, cannabis is naturally occurring in a plant, which is often a safer and more holistic approach.

Managing Pain from silent chronic diseases:

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Some physically active people have the disease for years without realizing it because the symptoms are mild. Unfortunately, many suffer from a variety of symptoms related to Multiple Sclerosis. Issues like brain function loss, paralysis, vision problems, chronic pain, bowel movement, urinary issues, nerve pain, and even emotional or mood problems are not uncommon.

There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis, and it is considered an immune compromising disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the myelin sheath, causing nerve damage. This life-long disease can cause a lot of horrible effects. And despite there being medications that help slow down the progression of the disease, no guaranteed cures have been discovered.

The use of medical marijuana and hemp derived CBD has been a popular remedy to try. Research has uncovered evidence that cannabis can improve symptoms associated with MS. One study showed that cannabis use improved muscle spasms, pain, and sleep issues.

Cannabis was proven to improve MS symptoms taken both orally and by smoking. Those taking it orally at night saw the most improvement with sleep issues. Those inhaling THC found it to improve symptoms faster and cause less drowsiness.

The cannabinoid CBD has been proven to reduce neurological symptoms like seizures, muscle spasms, and other uncomfortable neurological issues. Overall, more research needs to be done, but medical marijuana has become a popular choice for those suffering from this debilitating disease.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder where brain activity becomes abnormal and causes seizures. Over 3.4 million people of all ages suffer from epilepsy in the US. This very prevalent disease is often a life-long battle.

Recent studies have shown that groups of people who do not respond to traditional seizure medications are seeing benefits from CBD. A New England Journal of Medicine study showed that a drop of CBD Oil reduced seizures in epilepsy patients by around 40%.

The first-ever FDA-approved medicine containing CBD was released in 2018 called Epidiolex. It is approved to treat severe cases of epilepsy. The use of Epidiolex has drastically reduced seizures for those suffering from Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastraut syndrome. Both of which are rare and severe forms of epilepsy. 

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that progresses over time. It affects movement, stiffness, coordination, and balance. This lifelong disease has 5 stages that often start as gradual hand tremors and can eventually lead to difficulty talking and walking. There is no cure for this disease, but instead, methods to help slow the progression.

Cannabis has become a popular choice for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. One study reported that Parkinson’s patients experienced better sleep and improvement of overall quality of life. Another study found the same conclusions, and participants reported great improvement with motor function symptoms. If you scour the internet you’ll find hundreds of anecdotal accounts of how cannabis helps with symptoms of Parkinson’s.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a painful disease that causes musculoskeletal pain, sleep issues, mood swings, memory loss, and fatigue. The widespread pain can be debilitating. Those suffering have turned to a multitude of solutions to attempt to manage the symptoms, but there is no known cure.

Research has shown that cannabis can have beneficial effects on symptoms of fibromyalgia. One study from 2011 showed improvement with pain and relaxation in 2 hours after cannabis use for patients with fibromyalgia. CBD is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agent. It has been proven to relieve neuropathic pain in patients with many malignant diseases such as fibromyalgia.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a painful disorder where tissue from a female’s uterus grows outside the uterus causing painful periods and flare-ups. Hormonal therapies are usually the route recommended by doctors, but that doesn’t help the pain or inflammation.

Many women turning to cannabis are finding results that alleviate pain and also slowing the growth of the endometrial cells. Studies have shown that cannabinoids block the receptors responsible for the spread of endometrial cells outside the uterus.

Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial Cystitis is a chronic condition also referred to as painful bladder syndrome. The main symptoms include bladder pain and discomfort caused by signals to the brain from pelvic nerves.

The natural anti-inflammatory properties of CBD and medical marijuana can drastically improve the discomfort caused by interstitial cystitis. A recent study reported that 56% of patients using medical marijuana for bladder issues felt that urinary frequency was improved. Additionally 52% reported that urgency improved.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive disease that affects older adults. It is a slowly progressive disease where dementia symptoms increase over time. It causes cognitive function decline and memory loss. This neurological disorder is caused by brain cells shrinking and eventually dying.

Studies have proven that the use of THC and CBD can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. It is thought to work by suppressing the main causes of the disease.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) & Crohn’s Disease

There are over 45 million in the US that suffer from IBS or Crohn’s Disease. Those affected are constantly trying to manage gastrointestinal discomfort like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and pain.

A 2005 study has shown that the endocannabinoid system can have beneficial effects on gut tissue and the gastrointestinal tract. A 2020 study showed that gastrointestinal symptoms including poor appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea all improved with cannabis.

Diabetes

Diabetes is when your blood glucose levels are too high. Insulin is a hormone in your body that helps glucose from food go into cells as energy. Those suffering from diabetes often do not produce enough insulin. Glucose levels in the body are too high causing other health issues.

Medical use of cannabis has been proven to help those suffering from diabetes in a few ways. Cannabis use can lower blood glucose levels. It can help with an inflammatory response in the body.

It can even act as a vasodilator to help keep blood vessels open and improve circulation. These are just a few of the findings from studies. But overall cannabis use seems to have a positive effect on maintaining diabetic symptoms.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve in your eye and can lead to vision loss or even blindness. Clinical studies have shown that cannabis can decrease intraocular pressure as well as some medications.

Cancer

Roughly 1.8 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the US. Cancer symptoms can vary depending on the type. But overall using cannabis has been proven to reduce cancer pain and even slow the growth of cancer cells.

Cannabinoids are also effective for aiding cancer-related symptoms such as nausea, anxiety, sleep issues, and pain. When someone is going through treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, they often experience gastrointestinal issues and cannabinoids can help ease that.

CBD is known to help with inflammation. Incorporating CBD Oil into your every day wellness routine has become a popular method to manage pain and even stop tumor growth.

Arthritis

Arthritis is an uncomfortable condition where your joints are tender and stiff. There are different types of arthritis, but the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both cause painful inflammation in the joints and affect the range of motion.

Arthritis sufferers are turning to cannabis as a solution since CBD has been proven to reduce inflammation. In a recent survey, 6 of 10 said that cannabis products were more effective for arthritis than other drugs.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can happen to anyone as it is a triggered emotional response caused by experiencing a previously traumatic occurrence. PTSD is common in veterans, disaster survivors, and assault victims, and can occur in anyone at almost any age. This mental health condition can cause heightened reactions, intense emotional response, depression, stress, and anxiety.

New studies have shown positive responses to cannabis use from people suffering from PTSD. One recent study shows that cannabis can reduce activity in the part of the brain that causes fear and threat response. Another study shows that cannabinoids can reduce traumatic memories. PTSD victims report that cannabis helps ease symptoms like panic attacks, terrifying dreams, and insomnia.

Consult with your Healthcare Provider

Cannabis is not a guaranteed cure for any illness or any of these silent killers. But more research keeps proving its effectiveness for aiding a number of conditions. Cannabis is rated overall safe for all age groups and any type pain. Plus it cannot cause a lethal overdose like most opioids.

It is not addictive making it a popular alternative and holistic approach to managing pain and other ailments. There is no major concerns with drug interactions and the use of cannabis. But if you are taking other medications, it is best practice to consult with your healthcare provider.

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