CBD Eases Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
CBD is Bringing New Treatment Options to Fibromyalgia Patients
CBD Eases Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
If you’re one of the 6-12 million Americans living with fibromyalgia, you might be surprised to learn that cannabidiol (CBD) is an effective treatment option for many of your symptoms.
While the underlying cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown, what we do know for certain is, for many people living with the disorder, CBD is easing pain, elevating mood and energy, and improving overall wellbeing.
Want to know our CBD recommendations for treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
We’ll share them in just a minute.
But first, let’s look at why CBD works so well for so many people.
Here’s the answer —
CBD is effective for treating a wide range of conditions, including the symptoms of fibromyalgia because our bodies are built to interact with the cannabis compound in beneficial ways.
It all has to do with the endocannabinoid system, an internal network of cannabinoid receptors found on nearly every cell and tissue type in our body. This complex system is present in each one of us and is responsible for maintaining homeostasis.
When cannabis compounds like THC and CBD interact with endocannabinoid receptors, it produces a wide range of therapeutic benefits.
Which is why…
Many Fibromyalgia Patients Are Turning to CBD
While CBD has not been federally approved as a treatment for fibromyalgia, the scientific research and mountains of anecdotal evidence from patients should not be ignored. Many patients who establish a routine with CBD report reduced pain and an improvement in cognitive function.
And that’s just the beginning…
CBD Treats These Fibromyalgia Symptoms
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are lengthy and are largely associated with the central nervous system, which is responsible for gathering sensory information and coordinating activity.
(Lupus patients experience many of these symptoms as well, and may also find relief with CBD.)
Here’s a look at the fibromyalgia symptoms CBD can help:
Headaches
When we experience a headache, the pain we feel is the result of cranial tissue and blood vessels that have become inflamed – or the release of certain neurochemicals. As a disorder of the central nervous system, fibromyalgia is often accompanied by regular headaches. CBD can reduce inflammation and normalize neurochemical levels thereby reducing the severity and occurrence of headaches.
Stress & Anxiety
Stress and anxiety go hand-in-hand, as anxiety is a leading cause of stress. Genetics also play a key role. And for people with fibromyalgia, stress and anxiety are all too common. Studies have shown a significant number of fibromyalgia patients also have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But CBD is now largely acknowledged as an effective treatment for anxiety disorders, panic attacks, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Tingling Sensations
It is not uncommon for people with fibromyalgia to experience nerve pain or ‘tingling’. They often report burning, or prickling sensations in their hands and feet. This pain is attributed to nerve damage and is a symptom that accompanies many different conditions. Research has suggested that regular use of CBD can ease neuropathic pain.
Impaired Cognitive Ability
People living with fibromyalgia often experience what is known as “fibro fog,” which is categorized as difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and forgetfulness. While cannabis has traditionally been associated with low cognitive function, CBD specifically, and perhaps surprisingly, offers benefits to boost cognitive ability. It has been shown to be effective at treating memory loss associated with a wide variety of diseases and conditions and is even being considered as a treatment for certain alzheimer’s symptoms.
Tremors
Tremors are associated with several conditions, including fibromyalgia. Research has shown that CBD can reduce tremors with its muscle-soothing properties.
Joint Pain
CBD is used as a treatment for arthritis and can reduce joint pain that is often experienced by people with fibromyalgia.
Back Pain
For people with fibromyalgia, back pain is often a regular occurrence that typically manifests as a burning, throbbing, or stabbing kind of pain. Luckily, CBD is quickly becoming a widely-known, go-to remedy to relieve back pain associated with a wide range of illness and injury.
Constipation
Digestive issues and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are often associated with fibromyalgia, but CBD has proven to be a remarkably effective treatment for many people.
Nausea
Nausea is also a common symptom of fibromyalgia, but CBD has a long history as a treatment for relieving upset stomach. It works by interacting with serotonin-releasing receptors to alleviate both nausea and vomiting. CBD is also used by many people to alleviate nausea associated with different types of cancer.
Depression
For people with fibromyalgia, episodes of depression are quite common. But CBD is an effective treatment for many people. Again, by interacting with serotonin-releasing receptors, CBD provides therapeutic benefits. Its antidepressant properties are proving to be beneficial to a growing number of people suffering from depression, and with virtually no side effects, it’s easy to understand why.
Irritability
With fibromyalgia pain, often comes irritability. Increased irritability and an overwhelming sense of frustration are not uncommon. CBD can offer relief from irritability and moodiness with its calming effects. CBD can lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate leading to a calm, relaxed state.
Difficulty Sleeping
People with fibromyalgia often have a hard time getting quality sleep. CBD helps some people fall asleep faster and improve their sleep quality. Curiously, it also has the opposite effect in some people; acting more like a stimulant. If you want to use CBD to help you sleep, start slow, and pay attention to how your body is responding. Also, look for full-spectrum CBD products that contain a high amount of Cannabinol (CBN) which has potent sedative, sleep-inducing properties.
And what’s more…
CBD is Safer Than Many Common Drugs
As a safe, natural option, CBD can help reduce or eliminate the need for many habit-forming prescription medications.
And it’s not just safer than prescription medications; CBD is safer than many of the over-the-counter (OTC) medications you’re probably familiar with too – medications like Motrin, Aleve, and Advil.
These pain relief medications are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and their side effects can be severe – particularly with prolonged use.
Functionally, NSAIDs work by blocking the production of inflammation-inducing substances that the body produces as a response to injury or illness. However, in the process, NSAIDs also block the release of protective substances that play a role in the healthy function of major organs like the stomach and kidneys.
For this reason, the prolonged use of NSAIDs is dangerous and can significantly increase your risk of chronic kidney conditions.
So…
Are You Ready to Try CBD to Treat Your Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
When you’re ready to give CBD a try for your fibromyalgia symptoms, there are some things you’ll want to know before diving in.
Taking a few moments to understand the key differences between products and how to choose the best one for your circumstances and lifestyle will pay off when it’s time to make your purchase.
Here’s what you should know…
How to Choose CBD for Your Fibromyalgia Pain
Consider these questions when choosing the type of CBD product to get started with —
How easily will it integrate into your daily routine?
Establishing a daily CBD routine is the best way to experience results. When considering a CBD product, be sure to choose one that will easily complement your existing routine.
For example, many people opt for CBD oil capsules, because they are easy to take, mess-free, and conveniently integrate into a morning routine that includes taking vitamins or other supplements.
Do you want a CBD isolate or full-spectrum product?
CBD Isolate
A CBD isolate product will contain pure CBD. It is ideal for athletes or anyone with a career that may require them to take a drug test. That’s because pure CBD contains no psychoactive properties. Just be sure to purchase a high-quality brand, or trace amounts of THC may be present.
CBD Full-Spectrum
Full-Spectrum CBD is generally considered to have greater benefits because it contains all of the therapeutic cannabis compounds found in the plant. And those compounds work together synergistically in a phenomenon known as the entourage effect.
What is the bioavailability?
You’ll also want to pay close attention to the bioavailability of the product you choose because it tells you how much CBD will be absorbed by your body.
The way you consume CBD factors heavily into how much bioavailability is present. Here is a look at the most common products and their typical bioavailability, which will differ from brand to brand.
CBD Flower
Smoking CBD flower offers the highest bioavailability, ranging from 25% to 56%. Higher quality products will have greater bioavailability.
CBD Topicals
CBD lotions, creams, and salves ease joint and muscle pain. Transdermal absorption has a bioavailability of around 45%.
CBD Oil
Taking CBD oil sublingually (under the tongue) offers a bioavailability of 12% – 35%. For the best results, hold under the tongue for 30-90 seconds – this will allow it to permeate the sublingual gland and enter the bloodstream.
CBD Oil Capsules
Taking CBD orally in capsule form or as an edible reduces bioavailability because the cannabinoid breaks down in the digestive process. The bioavailability of CBD taken orally is typically between 4% – 20%.
So, once you’ve decided which product fits best for your lifestyle and your needs, you’ll also need to know…
How Much CBD Should You Take?
The amount of CBD that you should take will depend on a number of factors. You’ll want to consider your age, your weight, your prior experience with CBD, and the specific symptoms you want to treat.
While some experimentation is usually required to get the dosage just right, the good news is, CBD is safe and the side effects of taking “too much” are generally quite mild.
To help you find a comfortable dosage to start with, we’ve developed this CBD dosage calculator:
And finally…
How to Choose High-Quality Products
If you’re going to use CBD for medicinal purposes, you’ll want maximum therapeutic benefits. That means you should only use high-quality products. Typically, high-quality brands share certain characteristics. For one, you’ll find that they are naturally grown in healthy soil free from heavy metals and other toxins.
Why is the health of the soil so important?
Cannabis and hemp plants are known as bioaccumulators – meaning they absorb the compounds in the soil they are grown in – and that’s bad news if the soil is contaminated.
Safe, Non-Toxic Extraction Methods
High-quality brands will typically use a method known as C02 extraction to ‘pull’ CBD from the plant. This is one of the safest extraction methods in use as it does not rely on toxic chemicals like some other extraction methods.
Whatever product you decide to start with, choosing the highest quality you can find will offer you greater therapeutic benefits.
And now, here’s what we want to share with you…
The Best CBD Oil for Treating Fibromyalgia Symptoms
If you want to start using CBD oil to treat symptoms of your fibromyalgia, we consider these high-quality brands to be among the best. CBD oil taken under the tongue is easy for most people to use and offers high bioavailability.
The Bottom Line is…
Fibromyalgia remains a challenging disorder to diagnose and treat, but many patients are reducing their symptoms safely and naturally with CBD.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to give CBD a try is, it has far-reaching benefits with almost no side effects.
It may even help eliminate or reduce dependency on NSAIDs, which are known to produce serious side effects with long-term use.
If you are suffering from the symptoms of fibromyalgia, now is your chance to join the many people who have found relief with CBD.
Further Reading: All CBD Oils Reviewed, The Best CBD Oil for Inflammation
