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CBD OIL FOR INFLAMMATION
In the past 10 years, human research on the effects of cannabis has become of increasing interest to scientists, medical professionals, and researchers (and maybe you too).
One of the many compounds found in cannabis, commonly known as cannabidiol (CBD), has been explained to have beneficial effects on inflammation. So - this means that CBD has been suggested to have therapeutic potential in decreasing inflammation and chronic inflammation, common to most, if not all, conditions. Ongoing inflammation has indeed become a significant health issue.
From 2003 to 2007, there were 225 published articles on PubMed on cannabidiol. Fast forward to now, you can simply type ‘cannabidiol’ in the search bar on PubMed and over 1,200 published research articles appear - talk about progress!
There is a continuing accumulation of research being done analyzing various therapeutic effects and benefits of cannabidiol, especially in the treatment of pain, which may also apply to the treatment and management of inflammation. However, further research is needed to optimize the use of cannabinoids for potential user effects and specific symptom-targeted therapies.
So how does CBD oil come into play with that inflammation we all experience on the daily?
Funny you ask because I’m here to get you in the loop with what’s going on in the research & what it means for you.
Ready? Set? Let’s go.
WHAT IS INFLAMMATION?
Is it pain? Is it swelling? Does it hurt? Is inflammation bad?
According to Harvard Health, inflammation is your body’s protective response to an injury or harm. Inflammation can happen from physical, chemical, and or biological aspects. Classic signs of inflammation are redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of tissue function.
Inflammation can either be A) acute or B) chronic.
You’ve probably heard about acute inflammation, which occurs when you scrape your knee or get a papercut on your finger. Thanks to our immune system, white blood cells are sent out and immediately surround and protect the injured area - creating redness and swelling. Without acute inflammation, your small injury or cut could be deadly.
As for chronic inflammation, it’s a long-term and potentially slow inflammation lasting for prolonged periods of time. In general, chronic inflammation varies with the extent of the injury as well as how quickly the body can approach, repair, and overcome the injury.
INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE RECEPTORS - THE HEROES
Something happens to you - instantly, within seconds, the inflammatory response team comes to the rescue! The inflammatory response consists of proinflammatory cytokines. The most common proinflammatory cytokines are Interleukin-1 (IL-1), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a). These cytokines regulate, modify, recruit, and induce production of cells to ensure the intruder (aka inflammation) is addressed and handled. Think of these cytokines as being the balance between initiation and resolution of inflammation, like the middle man.
So how does CBD oil help inflammation?
WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS ABOUT THE ANTI INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF CBD
In the European Journal of Pharmacology, published in 2007, Costa and colleagues discussed the effects of cannabidiol on inflammatory and pain in rats. The rats were randomized into either a cannabidiol treatment group or a sham treatment group. The cannabidiol treatment group were given a daily oral treatment of cannabidiol after injury.
In the cannabidiol treatment group. there were reductions in over-activity of glutathione-related enzymes, nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxide, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). So what does this mean? What’s prostaglandin?
The cannabidiol’s activity was associated with significant reductions in mediators (listed above) with pain and inflammation compared to the sham group of rats. Cool right?
ANTI INFLAMMATORY STUDIES ON CBD
The results from this study found that cannabidiol (CBD) can be a potential therapeutic use in painful and inflammatory states.
In 2009, the National Health Institute (NIH) published an article highlighting cannabinoids as being “novel anti-inflammatory drugs”. Nagarkhatti et al. discussed the importance of the endocannabinoid system and its involvement with the immune system. For example, cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, are found on the cells within the immune system. The fact that CB1 and CB2 receptors have been documented to be on immune cells suggests that cannabinoids play an essential role in regulating the immune system.
Furthermore, the use of endocannabinoids can constitute as a potent and potential treatment modality against inflammation and inflammatory disorders.
The NIH is a big deal (the nation’s head medical research agency) making important discoveries that support and improve health. Better now than never, the NIH is also supporting that cannabinoids are showing positive effects on reducing inflammation.
In a 2009 review article, researchers discuss cannabinoids and related analogs in inflammation.
I found this review article very interesting because it takes us back to ancient times. As early as 2000 B.C., it has been noted that cannabinoids “undo rheumatism”, suggesting that cannabinoids have possible anti-inflammatory effects. The article summarizes the up-to-date published literature, signifying the importance of cannabinoids in the relief from chronic pain and inflammation.
In addition, preclinical data on cannabinoids show lead to a variety of therapeutic targets for cannabinoids and important roles for the endocannabinoids in inflammation.
Cannabinoids in CBD promotes the reduction of the inflammatory process.
Published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Xiong and colleagues targeted specific receptors involved with inflammation and neuropathic pain with cannabinoid supplementation. Researchers analyzed the glycine receptors as important targets for pain regulation in the spine. The results of the study? Researchers found that CBD administration significantly suppressed chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain without causing a tolerance in rodents.
Cannabinoids may represent a novel class of therapeutic discoveries for the treatment of chronic inflammation.
A 2015 review published in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, brought together the previous foundational research pieces on CBD and inflammation. Burstein reported that the literature suggests that CBD has anti-inflammatory actions in a variety of preclinical trials. Preclinical trials need to be pursued beyond animal trials - with a view toward clinical applications in human subjects.
The effects of CBD in the broad area of inflammation have potential therapeutic benefits and are likely to continue to be developed.
What about CBD oil and inflammation in humans?
In 2011, a human subject research study was done, with a focus on inflammation in the gut. Gut health you say? Well sort of. Let me explain.
18 human subjects underwent a colonoscopy for colon cancer screening. Subjects were grouped in either group A - general good health without any medical or surgical history or were in group B - those who were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC). Each individual underwent an intestinal biopsy. Both groups A and B were supplemented with CBD prior to the biopsy.
Well - the study found that CBD supplementation counteracted the inflammatory environment in human cultures from UC patients. Thus, there were reductions in intestinal damage.
CBD has led researchers to believe that this new therapeutic strategy can help treat intestinal inflammation in human subjects.
THE KT TAKEAWAY
So let’s bring it full circle here. CBD is showing great promise as a natural assistant that can have similar effects as pharmaceuticals. Research is in progress to prove that CBD oil can be effective in helping manage inflammation and pain.
However, more research is needed to fully assess, determine, and analyze the efficacy of CBD oil for general inflammation.
Until then, the rats, mice, and small human subject studies suggesting that CBD oil may help reduce inflammation holds promise.
Curious about what Nanocraft Sciences has to offer? Keep reading!
* DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is for educational purposes only. It does not exploit or provide medical advice of any kind. Therefore, any reliance you place on the information below is strictly at your own risk. Please check with your medical provider before starting or changing a CBD routine.
HOW TO USE CBD
New to CBD? check out the related link to the new user guide.
Cannabinoid Options of Application:
Transdermal (Skin)- CBD Creams & Topicals: This application is typically used for acute and direct application. Such as an ankle sprain, arthritis, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia and migraines. Full-spectrum salves provide a whole panel of cannabinoids for increased potency.
Edible Application:
CBD Tinctures: Tincture oils are utilized in full-spectrum form (whole plant derived) and Isolated forms (Pure CBD) that are applied directly under the tongue or mixed in water. This form is typically used for direct application to the central nervous system and the entire body for ailments like anxiety, stress, epilepsy, insomnia, sleep disorders, depression, PTSD, autoimmune responses, ADHD, cancer, systemic inflammatory disease such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. All applications are available as CBD isolate, broad spectrum and full spectrum.
CBD Soft Gels: Full-spectrum soft gels essentially have the same application as tincture oils. The difference is that each soft gel is measured to a specific milligram to provide a consumer with a perfectly measured dose of CBD. This would be used for any ailments one might use CBD for, including all the ones listed above.
Superfood powder & Other CBD Supplements: Superfood green powder has a broad range of greens, phytonutrients, vitamins and of course CBD. This application is great to give some nice, clean energy boost before a workout or just to get your day started naturally with improved focus.
Other CBD products: New products are being developed all the time so check back and see all CBD products online often.
Sources:
Bhatt, D. What is inflammation? Ask the doctor. Harvard Health Letter. 2017. Retreived from https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-disease-overview/ask-the-doctor-what-is-inflammation.
Burstein SH, Zurier RB. Cannabinoids, endocannabinoids, and related analogs in inflammation. The AAPS Journal. 2009.
Costa B, Trovato AE, Comelli F. et al. The non-psychoactive cannabis constituent cannabidiol is an orally therapeutic agent in rat chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2007.
Filippis DD, Esposito G, Cirillo C, et al. Cannabidiol reduces intestinal inflammation through the control of neuroimmune axis. PLos One. 2011.
Nagarkatti P, Pandey R, Rieder SA, et al. Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future Med Chem. 2009. doi:10.4155/fmc.09.93.
Takeuchi O, Akira S. Pattern recognition receptors and inflammation. Cell. 2010.
Xiong W, Cui T, et al. Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain by targeting a3 glycine receptors. The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 2012.
Nanocraft SciencesContent Writer x Physiologist x ResearcherKirsten Thornhill was born and raised in a small farm town in Stanislaus County. Kirsten graduated with a Master of Science degree in exercise physiology from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. She is very passionate about human physiology and the metabolic and nutritional adaptations that occur during exercise in active individuals and athletes. Kirsten has specialized in maximal oxygen consumption testing in athletes and teaching laboratory, clinical, practical, and research applications of exercise testing to college students. She enjoys educating and informing people on the importance of lifetime movement, plant-based eating, and health research and development. Her passion for natural, lifestyle medicine enables her to strive when promoting health and education.
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