0 items
Fighting pain with cannabidiol
Reading time
⌛
2 min
Before understanding the impact of cannabidiol (CBD) on pain, some definitions are necessary:
What is pain?
Pain is an "unpleasant sensory and emotional experience"
Pain is generally classified into two categories based on its duration:
So-called acute pain , which corresponds to a true "alarm signal"
It is a sharp, immediate pain, and usually brief. (Examples of acute pain: blow, pinch, contact with fire)
Chronic or pathological pain
We speak of chronic pain when the pain is established, that is to say, pain that is frequent and present for more than 3 months. Chronic pain is a serious and debilitating condition [1].
Among chronic pain, neuropathic pain is most commonly found, often in the context of general diseases with involvement of the nervous system.
Examples of diseases that can generate this type of neuropathic pain (diabetes, shingles, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, spinal cord injuries, stroke, etc.)
non-exhaustive list of chronic pain syndromes
- cervicogenic headaches (migraines originating in the neck);
- migraines and refractory migraine syndromes ;
- Mechanical joint pain (Rheumatism: fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, arthritis, Lyme disease)
- neuropathic pain (pain that affects the nerves, such as sciatica);
- chronic lower back pain (backache);
- cancer pain (related either to the cancer itself or to the consequences of treatments)
- Endometriosis and premenstrual syndromes
Cannabidiol as a pain reliever: What can CBD do?
CBD studies have shown that it effectively treats neuropathic and inflammatory pain2].
Inflammatory pain
Inflammatory pain is related to neuropathic pain, but it is not limited to sensory neurons. Examples of inflammatory pain include all types of rheumatism, some autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, as well as headaches, cramps, muscle aches, and pains.
Neuropathic pain
The International Association for the Study of Pain defines neuropathic pain as pain caused by damage to the nervous system.
Neuropathic pain is largely generated and maintained by the glutamatergic system, a major excitatory neuronal pathway. Glutamate is the neurotransmitter responsible for activating neurons.
How does CBD work against pain?
CBD inhibits the release of glutamate and other inflammatory agents, making it neuroprotective and therefore excellent for alleviating the tingling, pulling, and burning sensations that characterize neuropathic pain. CBD may therefore relieve neuropathic pain.
CBD is said to be effective in calming inflammation, regardless of its cause:
The anti-inflammatory mechanism of cannabidiol is unique to cannabis. It does not work like other anti-inflammatories by inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 receptors, which means you don't run the risk of developing gastrointestinal ulcers or heart attacks, hurray! Some studies have shown that cannabinoids (CBD and THC) are anti-inflammatory agents up to twenty times more potent than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen) [3].
It's important to remember that CBD can interact with medications. Therefore, it's crucial to consult your doctor before taking any CBD.
Sources
- [1]
- [2]
- [3]
