August 24, 2014

Pain & Inflammation


Chronic Pain CBD
Recent Research on Pain/Inflammation and Cannabidiol (CBD)
  • Cannabidiol Provides Long-Lasting Protection Against The Deleterious Effects Of Inflammation In A Viral Model Of Multiple Sclerosis
    Inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) is a complex process that involves a multitude of molecules and effectors, and it requires the transmigration of blood leukocytes across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the activation of resident immune cells. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic cannabinoid constituent of Cannabis sativa, has potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Findings highlight the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD in this viral model of MS and demonstrate the significant therapeutic potential of this compound for the treatment of pathologies with an inflammatory component.

Information on Chronic Pain

⇒ What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is defined as pain that can last six months or more. In the US alone, nearly 100 million Americans reportedly suffer from chronic pain. It is important to note that this pain can range from minor to excruciating, episodic or continuous, merely inconvenient or completely incapacitating.

When analyzing chronic pain, signals of pain are known to remain active in the nervous system for a significant amount of time; anywhere from months to even years. This long term trend can begin to wear on a person both physically and emotionally.

Some of the most common sources of pain come from headaches, back and joint pain, and pain from injury. Other well known forms of chronic pain include tendinitis, sinus pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Even generalized muscle or nerve pain can develop into a chronic condition.

While the onset of chronic pain can be from an initial infection or injury, some people can also face chronic pain despite any past injury or evidence of body damage. The emotional impact of chronic pain also can make pain noticeably worse. Certain emotional responses such as anxiety, depression, stress, and fatigue have been shown to interact in multifaceted ways with chronic pain and could decrease the body’s production of natural painkillers. Additionally, these negative responses may increase the level of substances that amplify sensations of pain, causing a devastating cycle of pain. There is considerable evidence that unrelenting pain can even suppress the body’s immune system. For these reasons, its important that anyone suffering from chronic pain speak to a doctor about treatment. Cannabidiol has been shown to suppress chronic pain and inflammation without having many of the negative side effects that prescription medications often carry.

⇒ Read about the number of ways inflammation can affect your health

Inflammation is simply the body’s response to harmful stimuli. This process is essentially the body trying to protect itself with the goal of removing harmful stimuli, including damaged cells, irritants, or pathogens. Further, it seeks to begin the healing process. 

“In a healthy situation, inflammation serves as a good friend to our body,” says Mansour Mohamadzadeh, PhD, director of the Center for Inflammation and Mucosal Immunology at the University of Florida.” “But if immune cells start to overreact, that inflammation can be totally directed against us.” This type of harmful, chronic inflammation can have a number of causes, including a virus or bacteria, an autoimmune disorder, sugary and fatty foods, or the way you handle stress.

Several research articles above identify that cannabidiol has been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. The studies above also highlight the efficacy of CBD when dealing with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and the inflammation that accompanies it.

⇒ Symptoms & Types
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