Full Spectrum CBD Hemp Oil for Chronic Pain | Blue Gem Hemp

Discover how CBD oil can help reduce pain and inflammation without the side effects of traditional painkillers. Read now and get relief today.

Cannabis has been for millennia for the treatment of pain. The oldest documented use of cannabis for pain can be found in Chinese texts from 2900 B.C. By 1000 B.C., cannabis was used for pain and inflammation in Ayurveda, the traditional medicine system in India.

By the end of the 19th century, cannabis was used medicinally for pain in Europe and the United States [1]. burns, bruises, or surgery.

The process of nociception relies on specialized neurons called nociceptors. Nociception is critical to the self-protection and survival of organisms [4].

Neuropathic pain arises from diseases or damage affecting sensory nerves that transmit pain signals, such as pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, or poststroke pain
More than 1 in 5 adults in America experiences [5].
chronic pain [2].

Chronic pain contributes to a reduced quality of life and a substantial economic burden. It results in a negative impact on many aspects of health, including mental health, sleep quality, cognitive function, cardiovascular health, sexual function, and overall quality of life [3].

This article provides a review of cannabis and full-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) hemp oil as a possible treatment for chronic pain.

What Is Pain?
Pain is a complex and subjective experience. There are multiple categorizations of pain, including nociceptive, neuropathic, inflammatory, and psychogenic.
● Nociceptive pain arises from externally caused tissue damage from heat, chemical, or mechanical stimuli, such as
● Inflammatory pain is increased sensitivity that occurs spontaneously in response to inflammation from tissue injury, infection, or autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis [6], [7].
● Musculoskeletal pain is pain that affects bones, muscles, ligaments, or tendons [8]. Musculoskeletal pain includes low back pain, which is a leading cause of disability worldwide [9].
● Psychogenic pain is pain caused by psychological factors rather than tissue damage, such as headaches or abdominal pain caused by emotional distress [10].
Pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pain is provoked by a specific disease or injury and serves useful biological purposes of alerting an

organism to potential tissue damage and conveying a survival advantage. In contrast, chronic pain lasts, defined as any pain that lasts longer than 3 months, serves no useful biological purpose, and has no predictable end-point. [11]. Chronic pain extends beyond the normal time of healing if associated with a disease or injury.

Pain and the Endocannabinoid
System:

The endogenous cannabinoids anandamide and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are produced in tissues in response to injury. Anandamide and 2-AG act on the endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 to modulate responses to nociceptive stimuli [12]. The function of endogenous cannabinoids in pain helps explains the efficacy of exogenous cannabinoids in treating pain [13].

Cannabis and Cannabinoid:
Therapy for Chronic Pain
Exogenous cannabinoids mitigate pain through the following mechanisms [14]:
● Direct analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects
● Neurotransmitter regulation, including NMDA-glutamatergic and serotonergic mechanisms
● Enzyme inhibition to modulate the breakdown of endogenous cannabinoids
● Interactions with endogenous and exogenous opioids
Numerous studies have been conducted in animals to determine whether cannabis and cannabinoids may be effective in the treatment of pain.
● Cannabidiol (CBD) causes significant improvement in chemotherapy-induced
neuropathic pain in mice [15] and prevents pain and nerve damage in rats with osteoarthritis [16].
● In mice, the terpene beta-caryophyllene was found to be effective in reducing inflammatory and neuropathic pain [17] and reducing neuropathic pain induced by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI), therapeutic agents for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [18].
● Four terpenes — alpha-humulene, geraniol, linalool, and beta-pinene — individually lowered pain sensitivity in mice. When administered in combination with a synthetic cannabinoid, the terpenes caused a greater reduction in pain sensitivity [19].
● Full-spectrum hemp oil causes significant anti-allodynic effects in chronic neuropathic pain in mice [20].
A growing body of evidence from studies in humans shows that cannabis and cannabinoids may be effective in treating pain.
● A 2006 study found that the cannabis-based medicine Sativex (nabiximols) oral mucosal spray in rheumatoid arthritis patients produced statistically significant improvements in pain on movement, pain at rest, quality of sleep, and disease activity suppression [21].
● A 2007 study found that cannabis was well tolerated and effectively relieved chronic neuropathic pain from HIV-associated sensory neuropathy [22].
● A 2008 study on neuropathic pain found that smoking cannabis produced a significant analgesic response [23].
● Another 2008 study examining the effects of nabilone, a synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain found

significant benefits in pain relief and
functional improvement [24].
● A 2010 study in patients with advanced
cancer with pain that was not adequately managed by opioids found that patients taking a combination of CBD and THC showed a reduction of more than 30% from baseline pain, whereas patients treated with THC alone did not have a significant difference in pain compared to placebo [25].
● A 2014 study of Sativex (nabiximols)
for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain associated with allodynia found improvements in pain and sleep quality [26].
● A 2015 study of 229 Israeli medical cannabis patients with cancer found that 70% reported pain reduction and general well-being [27].
● A 2015 systematic review of 28 studies on cannabinoids for medical uses concluded that there was moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain [28].
● Another 2015 systematic review of randomized controlled trials on cannabinoids for the treatment of non-cancer pain found that 7 of the 11 reviewed trials demonstrated a significant analgesic effect, and several trials demonstrated improvement in secondary outcomes, including sleep, muscle stiffness, and spasticity [29].
● A 2016 study on patients with treatment-resistant chronic pain found long-term (6 months) improvements in pain and functional outcomes, and a significant reduction in opioid use [30].
● Another 2016 study on patients with migraine headaches found that cannabis resulted in a reduction in the number of migraine headaches per month [31].
● A 2022 systematic review of 18 randomized, placebo-controlled trials and 7 cohort studies on cannabis-based products for chronic pain found that oral sublingual extracted cannabis products with high THC-to-CBD ratios may be associated with short-term improvements in chronic pain [32].

Cannabinoids and the
Opioid Crisis:

The opioid crisis resulting from overprescribing and misuse of opioids has led to a growing public health crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75% of drug overdose deaths in 2020 involved an opioid [33]. Opioid use is associated with serious risks, including overdose and opioid use disorder [34].

Cannabis has been explored as a therapeutic alternative to opioids for the management of pain. Cannabis has significant advantages over opioids, including fewer side effects, low risk of dependence, and no risk of fatal overdose [35].

According to a 2022 systematic review, the co-administration of cannabinoids with opioids had mixed results but may enable reduced opioid doses for analgesia [36].

A cross-sectional retrospective study of 244 Michigan medical cannabis patients with chronic pain found that medical cannabis use was associated with a 64% decrease in opioid use, decreased number of medications used, reduced side effects, and improved quality of life [37].

A prospective cohort study of 131 patients with chronic pain who have been on opioids for at least 1 year found that treatment with CBD-rich hemp extract was associated with a 53% reduction or elimination of opioids within 8 weeks, and 94% reported quality of life improvements [38].

A prospective study of 115 patients on chronic:

opioid therapy found that of the 75 patients that completed the trial, there was a 73% reduction in opioid usage [39]. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 18 healthy cannabis smokers showed that cannabis enhances the analgesic effects of low-dose oxycodone [40].

States that have passed medical cannabis laws have reported lower rates of opioid-related mortality [41], [42].

Further research is warranted to determine the association between cannabis consumption and opioid consumption, particularly for chronic pain patients. However, clinicians in practice need more education and guidance to address knowledge gaps and inform clinical decision-making [43].

Conclusion:

A growing body of evidence warrants the consideration of cannabis and full-spectrum CBD hemp oil as potential therapeutic options for the management of chronic pain, including as a therapeutic alternative to opioids.

While preliminary research is promising, clinicians need further research, education, and guidance to create individualized treatment plans.

Consumers should select full-spectrum CBD oil products from reputable sources with verifiable lab testing and rigorous quality control practices.

Disclaimer:
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. We encourage you to speak with your medical provider to determine if a full-spectrum CBD oil is right for you.

About Blue Gem Hemp:
Blue Gem® Hemp proudly makes premium Full-Spectrum CBD Oil. Two simple ingredients: organic, American-grown hemp and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, designed to elevate your self-care.

Your Wellness! Our Passion!

By Simi Burn, PharmD November 14, 2022

 

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