CBD Oil For Fibromyalgia

According to the CDC, Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes persistent pain and muscle discomfort all over the body, fatigue, sleep problems and often emotional and mental distress. People with fibromyalgia are often more sensitive to pain than people without fibromyalgia. This is called abnormal pain perception processing. Using data from 5 countries (France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain), Branco et al estimated that fibromyalgia effected around 4.7% of Europe, while the CDC estimate it to effect 2-4% of US population. Prevalence was estimated to be 5.8% in women and 3.5% in men. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, and although there currently isn’t a cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with.

Treatment tends to be a combination of (NHS UK):

• Medicine (i.e antidepressants and painkillers)
• talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling
• lifestyle changes, such as exercise programmes and relaxation techniques

Exercise in particular has been found to have a number of important benefits for people with fibromyalgia, including helping to reduce pain.

Research on CBD oil directly treating fibromyalgia patients is ongoing and currently limited. However, it suggests CBD can potentially treat certain symptoms of fibromyalgia, meaning that CBD can benefit those suffering from fibromyalgia and other health issues:

• Studies have suggested that CBD reduces glial cell activity (Vogel, Juknat & Kozela 2017; Burstein, 2015). Over-activity of these cells causes increased reaction to sensation. This is a symptom of fibromyalgia.
• There is evidence that CBD can effectively treat irritable bowel syndrome and migraines. These are central sensitivity syndromes like fibromyalgia (Russo, 2008; 2016; Baron, 2018).
• Research suggests that CBD can reduce inflammation. Hammell et al.’s (2015) study for European Journal of Pain, found CBD gel significantly reduced joint swelling, limb posture scores as a rating of spontaneous pain, immune cell infiltration and thickening of the synovial membrane in a dose-dependent manner.
• CBD is known as a potential relief of, insomnia and anxiety (Check out both blog posts on CBD and Insomnia and CBD and Stress)
• Fiz et al. (2011)’s study found that cannabis had multiple benefits for fibromyalgia patients. They felt more relaxed, sleepy, and had less pain and muscle tension.

Fibromyalgia is such a complex condition and because research is still on going, these treatments don’t always work for certain people. I have a close family member that has had to learn to leave with fibromyalgia for many years, and I have witnessed how incredibly difficult it can be to deal with this condition. It’s important to be open to trying to different methods of treatments, and to be consistent with them.