CBD for pain

Eskander et al. (2020)

CBD may influence people's perception of pain.

Based on the assumed mechanisms of action of CBD and individual case reports, the authors assume that CBD-containing creams could be able to alleviate acute and chronic back pain.

The case reports referred to different parts of the back.

One person reported significant improvements after applying a small amount of ointment to the affected areas twice a day. Shortly afterward, the person reported reduced pain, and after four weeks, they were pain-free.

For example, a second person reported a reduction in sensory disturbances for several hours after applying the CBD ointment to the skin.

It should be noted that individual case studies can only provide limited information about the effects of CBD on pain. However, they can offer initial indications and form the basis for more extensive research.

Eskander, J., Spall, J., Spall, A., Shah, R., & Kaye, A. (2020). Cannabidiol (CBD) as a Treatment of Acute and Chronic Back Pain: A Case Series and Literature Review. Journal of opioid management , 16 , 215-218. https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2020.0570

Mlost et al. (2020)

Most animal studies on the potential effects of CBD on pain have shown that CBD can have a pain-relieving effect and can counteract various forms of increased pain sensitivity (hyperalgesia, mechanical or thermal allodynia).

Among other things, CBD appears to have anti-inflammatory properties. In this context, osteoarthritis has been discussed several times as a possible area of ​​application.

The relevant research is still in its early stages, but has recently produced several promising results.

CBD's anti-inflammatory properties are thought to suppress the underlying cause of pain. If this is the case, then pain can be prevented and lasting improvements can be expected.

CBD could also help with chronic pain, however, long-term studies in humans on this topic are still lacking.

Short-term studies have indicated few and only mild side effects. CBD needs to be researched more intensively in humans; currently, our knowledge about the effects of CBD is still very limited.

Mlost, J., Bryk, M., & Starowicz, K. (2020). Cannabidiol for Pain Treatment: Focus on Pharmacology and Mechanism of Action. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(22), 8870. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21228870

White (2019)

The effects of CBD on pain have been studied extensively.

Relevant studies have addressed, among other things, chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, joint pain, muscle pain, gastrointestinal pain, pain following kidney transplantation, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, brachial plexus, and limb amputation due to neurofibromatosis.

In fact, several people in various studies reported (sometimes significant) pain relief in temporal association with CBD use.

Depending on the study, people were regularly given different doses of CBD orally over two or three weeks or three months .

The available evidence regarding the pain-relieving effects of CBD is currently insufficient to justify its clinical use.

White, CM (2019). A Review of Human Studies Assessing Cannabidiol's (CBD) Therapeutic Actions and Potential. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 59(7), 923-934. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcph.1387