CBD has many benefits and has been widely used as a treatment for peripheral neuropathy. It is a recognized anti-inflammatory agent and has been shown to significantly reduce neuropathy symptoms. Additionally, CBD is also recognized for its impact on chronic pain, prevention of diabetes, and protection of nerves. If you’re considering using CBD for neuropathy, read on to learn more about its benefits.
Cannabinoids Reduce Neuropathic Pain
A new study has shown that cannabinoids can reduce neuropathic pain in some patients. Researchers studied data from adults with a 12-week routine/open-label treatment for neuropathic pain. They found that THC reduces pain in about 30 percent of participants.
Various forms of cannabis and related products mimic the body’s own endocannabinoid system, which includes receptors and enzymes in the nervous system. These receptors and enzymes regulate many bodily functions and influence the sensation of pain. Researchers found the most benefit from products with high concentrations of THC and CBD. Moreover, a meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials concluded that these products were effective for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Although cannabinoids have a better safety profile than most pharmacotherapies, research on them remains incomplete. In particular, there are data on the impact of cannabinoids on patients with chronic neuropathic pain. As a result, further high-quality clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.
In addition to THC, there are several cannabinoids that act as analgesics. They can also inhibit inflammation. Inflammatory disorders can result in severe pain. This is one of the reasons why CBC oil may be used as a natural treatment for neuropathy. CBC oil has analgesic properties, without causing dependency or addiction.
In addition to the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoids, they also inhibit inflammatory and neuropathic pain in animals. CBD, in particular, inhibits PGE 2-induced persistent pain hypersensitivity. These findings suggest that cannabinoids exert their analgesic effects through the a3 GlyR-dependent pathway.
Researchers also found that cannabinoid pharmacotherapies reduced neuropathic pain in healthy individuals. The ratio of CBD and THC in medical cannabis products showed the most improvement. It scored eighty-two percent higher than fentanyl, which is the preferred opioid among patients. The study authors noted the relative paucity of high-quality published data on cannabinoid pharmacotherapies.
Although cannabinoids reduce neuropathically, not all patients experience significant improvement. In the majority of cases, pain severity was unchanged or even worse.
Cannabinoids Reduce Inflammation
Cannabinoids are a promising adjunctive therapy for neuropathy. These compounds can reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and improve neuropathy-related outcomes. In animal models, cannabinoids have shown efficacy against neuropathic pain. In addition, they inhibit pain-related behaviors like hyperalgesia and allodynia.
Cannabinoids work by suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators and modulating CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors are also important for the regulation of neurotransmitters and pain signals. Furthermore, CB1 and CB2 may inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotransmitters, as well as inhibit TRPV1.
When taken orally, cannabinoids have been shown to reduce neuropathic pain. However, these compounds have also been associated with side effects. The research has yet to demonstrate which cannabinoid is most effective in treating neuropathic pain. A number of studies have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of cannabinoids while having side effects comparable to conventional neuropathic pain medications.
In addition to reducing the pain caused by neuropathy, cannabis has other beneficial effects, including improved sleep and decreased anxiety. In fact, a recent study showed that cannabis could significantly reduce nerve pain among HIV patients. It even improved their moods, indicating that it is a useful alternative to opioids.
Other cannabinoids found in cannabis, such as CBD, may relieve neuropathic pain. These compounds have analgesic, antiemetic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Similarly, capsaicin, which is found in hot peppers, has been shown to alleviate pain in neuropathic pain in a study of cancer patients. In addition, primrose oil and amino acids have been found to reduce neuropathy symptoms in diabetes and cancer patients.
A combination of CBD and THC has shown promise in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Combined oral sprays of THC and CBD (in a 1:1 ratio) have been proven to reduce pain in a rat model of chronic constriction injury to the sciatic nerve. They also showed superior efficacy in comparison to THC alone and purified CBD.
In a randomized crossover trial, Ellis et al. infected HIV patients with neuropathy and conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. They randomly assigned participants to a THC-containing or placebo-containing oil during each treatment week. After the treatment, participants were evaluated for changes in pain intensity and brain scans.
Cannabinoids Reduce Oxidative Damage
One group of studies reported that cannabinoids reduce oxidative damage and improve pain symptoms in neuropathy. The study was conducted on 100 patients with taxane-induced neuropathy. It is a randomized phase 2 clinical trial that is triple-blinded. Participants are blinded to the outcome assessor and investigator. The primary outcomes were pain severity and functional impairment assessed with the BPI-Short Form. Secondary outcomes included sensory perception assessed by FACT-GOG-Ntx and the Total Neuropathy Score, clinical version.
One study involved adult Wistar rats treated with bortezomib 0.2 mg/kg intravenously three times per week for eight weeks. The schedule was well-established, and it induced peripheral neuropathy, which reliably mimicked the clinical symptoms of multiple myeloma patients. This treatment schedule increased the expression of TRPV1, a non-canonical cannabinoid receptor.
The results of this study are preliminary. More studies are needed to confirm the effects of cannabinoids on CIPN. A small pilot study recommended large, randomized placebo-controlled studies. However, the results of this study were not statistically significant. Cannabinoids reduce oxidative damage in neuropathy through their action on the TRPV1, GPR55, and CB2 receptors. Further, they inhibit the activity of enzymes that produce prostaglandins, reactive oxygen species, and cytokines. The anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoids in the CNS are mediated by MAPK inhibition and NF-kB downregulation. Further, they reduce lipid peroxidation through their interaction with the PPARg receptor.
Studies in animals have shown that cannabinoids inhibit the progression of several cancer types. In addition, the coadministration of CBD with D9-THC inhibits cell proliferation and enhances apoptosis in cancer cells. Moreover, researchers have demonstrated that CBD reduces tumor growth by inhibiting the activity of the GPR55 receptor, a molecule that regulates the growth of cancer cells.
Researchers have been evaluating the efficacy of cannabinoids in neuropathy in rodent models. While CBD has already been proven to have neuroprotective properties, CBG has only recently been found to have the potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. It has also been shown to lower the levels of oxidative stress, a common factor in aging and the development of various diseases.
Cannabinoids also have immunomodulatory properties. They inhibit inflammation in animal models. In human transplant recipients, cannabis has immunomodulating effects. Biopsies from chronic kidney transplant recipients showed significantly elevated levels of CB1 expression. Conversely, CB1 expression was relatively low in healthy kidney allografts. This may suggest a role for cannabinoids in allograft fibrosis.
Cannabinoids Reduce Pain
The long-term efficacy of CBD and THC in the treatment of chronic pain in mice was evaluated in a recent study. The researchers compared the compounds’ effects with orally administered morphine and determined that the compounds exhibited comparable analgesia over the long term. Moreover, the compounds reduced the frequency and intensity of broadband clicks, a sign of pain.
In animal models of neuropathic pain, cannabinoids suppress mechanical and thermal allodynia. The drugs suppress neuropathic pain by inhibiting the activity of enzymes catalyzing the breakdown of endocannabinoids. However, it is important to note that these compounds can cause adverse side effects and cannabinoids may increase the risk of pharmacological toxicity or CNS side effects.
In addition to its pain-relieving effects, THC therapy has been found to improve sleep and mood. It has been linked to an antidepressant-like effect by altering brain regions associated with pain memory and mood. These effects may improve the quality of life and may reduce the need for opioid medication. Further, THC has few side effects compared to opioid medications.
In the current study, THC and CBD spray significantly reduced pain intensity at 20 min post inhalation. However, this effect did not last for long, and the pain score returned to baseline after 90 min. In addition, the patient’s pain scores significantly decreased over time, and at least half had a 30% improvement at each time. In addition to this, both THC and CBD sprays caused sustained improvements in sleep quality and NPS scores. These findings suggest that marijuana and cannabinoids may be used as second-line therapies for painful DPN.
Cannabinoids have been shown to suppress neuropathic pain in both preclinical and clinical studies. The pharmacological efficacy of cannabinoids must be weighed against their negative side effects. In the meantime, conventional neuropathic pain medications still remain the best treatments for neuropathy.
While the quality of research on cannabis for neuropathy is low, the findings show that cannabis may alleviate pain. Those who experience neuropathy should seek medical attention. More high-quality research is needed to confirm if cannabis has any benefits. However, it might be useful in people with pre-existing conditions who have not responded to established treatments.
