A chronic condition causing constant pain and discomfort, fibromyalgia is a long-term condition with no known cause and no known cure. I have provided an overview of this condition along with conventional and natural treatments used today. Find out if CBD oil can help mask the symptoms that millions of Americans are dealing with today.
Fibromyalgia – What You Need To Know
It is suspected that fibromyalgia is related to the over-sensitiveness of the central nervous system. This condition manifests with an increased response to pain by pressure. People with fibromyalgia are more sensitive to touch and pressure, have trouble sleeping, have tingling sensations, and can show issues with memory.
Many times there can be symptoms like sensitiveness to light, heat, or sound, which causes people to isolate themselves and live in a state of heightened anxiety. This condition is also linked with depression, as living in constant pain is difficult and stressful.
Scientists suggest that fibromyalgia occurs as a combination of causes that range from genetic to environmental factors. It can be stimulated by stress and infections and there are no known cures, only treating the symptoms. Doctors recommend a healthy diet, a strict exercise regimen, and some specific medication.
The fibromyalgia medication treats part of the symptoms, but it also brings an array of possible side-effects that could do more harm than good. This is the reason why many people with fibromyalgia reach for natural remedies that provide relief, and one of the most popular ones is CBD.
CBD and Fibromyalgia
Even though there is no FDA-approved CBD-based product for treating issues like fibromyalgia, people have taken this natural compound and have found relief from the symptoms. CBD has been known for its pain-relieving properties.
CBD acts on the CB receptors from the endocannabinoid system. Through a complex mechanism CBD can boost the ability of the body to reduce pain and it also helps boost the immune system. I’ve covered the CBD’s ability to help with pain management in more depth, so please refer to this article for more information.
People with fibromyalgia also have trouble sleeping. CBD has a beneficial influence on sleep, improving the body’s ability to fall asleep and stay asleep longer. There is some research done on this, and it has been proven that a blend of 1:1 THC vs. CBD commercially known as Sativex is an excellent sleeping aid.
I have to note here that CBD has an initial uplifting effect and only after this passes, it helps the body sleep. So if you suffer from fibromyalgia and are taking CBD to improve sleep, you need to plan your doses and the time you plan to go to sleep.
CBD for Mitigating Pain
When looking for means to treat fibromyalgia, scientists have researched the effectiveness of medical marijuana and the results have been amazing. The comparative analysis done on this told scientists that there were far fewer side effects and far more improvements from the use of medical cannabis than any other FDA-approved medication.
This is very promising, as more and more studies conclusively prove that medical cannabis can help the effective treating of fibromyalgia symptoms. In the states where medical weed is legal, fibromyalgia is on the list of approved conditions, so at least this is in people’s favor.
But there is a downside to the use of medical marijuana, as this is not legal everywhere. Also, the high THC content leaves people “high” and unable to perform normal activities. CBD has similar effects as medical marijuana, but without the psychoactive effects, and the added benefit – CBD is legal in the entire USA.
CBD and The Endocannabinoid System
Some research has discovered a conclusive link between an imbalance in the endocannabinoid system and the occurrence of health issues like fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, IBS, and the like. These have been linked to a CECD or clinical endocannabinoid deficiency which could also explain migraines and other similar issues.
So to help with CECD, researchers have tried using cannabinoid compounds, namely THC and CBD as the two major cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. These are the base for Sativex, a treatment for Multiple Sclerosis as it helps with muscle spasms.
Another entirely CBD-based treatment for Dravet syndrome, a rare form of childhood epilepsy has been approved by the FDA and it is named Epidiolex. This treatment has been successful where conventional medications have failed, strongly supporting the link between the use of CBD for treating serious health conditions.
I think that we’ll wait a while longer before the FDA takes CBD and THC seriously, as they continue to support other treatments and shun all the cannabis-related treatments. Also, there are very few researchers that take it upon themselves to do cannabis-related research as they can’t find the necessary funding.
Another issue here is the bad reputation cannabis has. This is still strongly linked to the stoner culture and most people don’t take cannabis use seriously or thing that they’ll only get high without any benefits at all. Until the stigma around cannabis remains, I think that we’ll not be seeing benefits from it on a larger scale.
Still, many people that suffer from conditions like fibromyalgia and have given conventional treatments a try without success have tried medical cannabis and CBD and have seen improvement in their condition. Because of the legality of cannabis, many people turn to CBD and take this natural remedy instead of risking taking opioid pain medication.
CBD Products For Fibromyalgia
CBD is legal in the USA as long as it is produced from industrial hemp. To note here that the entire CBD industry uses industrial hemp as raw stock, so you can rest assured that you will not be breaking any laws by using CBD.
CBD has no psychoactive effects, unlike THC that will alter the state of your mind. CBD is also non-addictive, so there are literally no risks involved with CBD use. It is far safer than any other type of medication, as it is completely natural and plant-based.
It comes in several different products: CBD tinctures, CBD edibles, CBD capsules, CBD vapes, CBD topical creams, and more. The most popular uses are the CBD tinctures, CBD capsules, and CBD topical creams.
The CBD oil tinctures are taken sublingually or added into foods or drinks. The tinctures come in different concentrations, and each dose needs to be measured carefully so you can maintain proper dosing each time.
The CBD capsules have a pre-measured CBD content and you get the same dose with each capsule. Using CBD topical creams brings localized relief as it is applied to the painful spot.
No matter the type of CBD product you select to use, I always recommend you look for full-spectrum CBD hemp extract products instead of products made with CBD isolate. The full-spectrum extract contains all the active cannabinoids from the hemp plant and it has a synergistic effect, as all the ingredients work together for a more in-depth effect.
The full-spectrum CBD hemp extract contains about 0.3% THC which is the legal limit, but even this small amount of THC is enough to boost the effectiveness of the CBD and the other active cannabinoids. The CBD isolate on the other hand is 99% pure CBD and lacks the entourage effect of the full-spectrum extract.
Since there is no standardization in the CBD industry, every company brings products with varying contents of CBD. So to find what works for you, you will need to do it through trial. The best recommendation is to start low and go slow, in this way you can follow your progress and track any change in your condition.
You can follow the dosage recommendations provided with the product you select as each quality CBD company accommodates its clients with quality information on CBD use for specific conditions.
Conclusion
Fibromyalgia is painful and seriously lowers the quality of life. This condition is long-term, incurable, and progressive. That is why people try almost anything to find relief from it. So far, the best results were achieved with medicinal marijuana and CBD use.
If medical weed is legal in your state, then you should ask your doctor and try using it for pain relief and treating other fibromyalgia symptoms. But CBD is legal and more affordable than medical cannabis. This is also an excellent product, as it provides pain relief without the psychoactive side-effects of medical weed.
For best results, I always recommend people to try using full-spectrum CBD products purchased from a reputable manufacturer. Always look for recent lab tests and ask questions to avoid becoming a victim of cheap, poor quality products. As I’m not a medic, I’ll also advise you to make your research and consult with a medical professional that is knowledgeable in the use of medical cannabis and CBD.
