Cannabadiol (CBD) is one of the many chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. It’s a type of cannabinoid. And, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — one of the other cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, CBD doesn’t have any psychoactive properties or make you feel high.
Because it doesn’t have the psychoactive effects, many people are turning to CBD as a treatment option for chronic health conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and seizure disorders.
At Healthcare Pain Centers LLC, Dr. Francisco del Valle and our team of pain specialists use medical CBD because of its pain-relieving powers and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a safe, non-addictive alternative to other types of pain medications.
Here, we want to share with you some of the benefits of medical CBD.
Chronic pain conditions affect quality of life and no single treatment works for all. Because of the opioid epidemic, we’re always on the lookout for new treatment options for pain relief. Early research indicates that medical CBD may help ease discomfort caused by many chronic pain conditions.
At our practice, we use medical CBD as a treatment option for our fibromyalgia patients.
Medical CBD also seems to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may play a role in pain relief. CBD is a cannabinoid that interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Though researchers are still learning about the ECS, this cell-signaling system may regulate many functions, including inflammation.
Medical CBD may help reduce joint inflammation from arthritis, easing pain and stiffness, and improving joint function. Our pain experts also use medical CBD for people with lupus, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes widespread inflammation.
You may experience many co-occuring conditions when struggling with chronic pain, like anxiety. Anxiety causes ongoing feelings of fear and worry that may increase muscle tension, worsening your pain condition.
Medical CBD may reduce anxiety and ease muscle tension, helping to minimize your discomfort in the process.
Depression is also common in people with chronic pain. Though the research is limited, there’s some evidence that medical CBD may have antidepressant properties, helping to lift your mood.
Though more large scale studies are needed before making specific treatment recommendations, medical CBD may serve as a complementary therapy for depression.
Management of cancer symptoms is challenging. Medical CBD may help alleviate the nausea and vomiting that comes with chemotherapy treatment for cancer. By easing these symptoms, medical CBD may improve appetite, limiting weight loss.
There’s also preliminary evidence that CBD may slow down the spread of cancer cells.
The FDA approved Epidiolex® for the treatment of rare types of epilepsy — Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis. Epidiolex is a liquid prescription medication that contains CBD.
This medication was approved because clinical research indicates it reduces seizure activity in people with these rare forms of epilepsy.
Research on the potential benefits of medical CBD is still in the early stages and there is much more to learn. But medical CBD makes a safe and effective alternative treatment for various pain and inflammatory conditions.
Do you want to learn more about medical CBD and how it can help you? Give us a call or request an appointment online today at one of our offices in Old Bridge, Edison, or Freehold, New Jersey.
