Can CBD Reduce Pain From Peripheral Neuropathy?
Neuropathic pain results when the peripheral or central nervous system is damaged or dysfunctional. This can be triggered by trauma, infection or nervous system disorders. There are several syndromes associated with this condition including postherpetic neuralgia, root avulsions, painful traumatic mononeuropathy, painful polyneuropathy (particularly due to diabetes), central pain syndromes (potentially caused by any lesion at any level of the nervous system), postsurgical pain syndromes, and complex regional pain syndrome.
Neuropathic pain is described as numbing or burning along with sensations of tingling, electric shock, crawling, itching, or shooting. Mild pain stimuli are perceived as very painful. Pain on one side of the body may also be felt on the other side. This condition is difficult to treat and often requires a combination of medicine, counseling and often some form of alternative therapy.
Peripheral neuropathy is a disturbance in the function of a nerve or a group of nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord (called the peripheral nerves). It can result in pain, numbness, tingling, a burning sensation or a feeling of itching or crawling in the affected area. The damage to these nerves can be caused by disease, injury, poisoning or malnutrition. Often fewer nutrients are able to reach the nerve tissue due to poor circulation. The nerves that are furthest from the heart, such as those in the hands and feet, are the most likely be affected. People with diabetes can suffer peripheral neuropathy because of circulatory problems caused by the illness.
A Bag of Mixed Results
NOTE FOR FIRST TIME READERS: Cannabinoids – such as THC, CBD – and terpenes are the main medically active components in cannabis (aka marijuana). For more information on these components, and much more about the plant, see our section on the Science of Cannabis.
Pain management, particularly for neuropathic pain, is one of the major therapeutic applications of cannabis that is currently under investigation. FDA-approved research showed that inhaled cannabis can significantly alleviate neuropathic pain. In one study HIV patients who smoked cannabis reduced nerve pain by more than 30% when compared to a placebo.
Another study had volunteers given injections followed by medium doses of medical cannabis, which significantly reduced the discomfort caused by the shot.
A third study reported patients who were unresponsive to standard pain therapies were able to ease their neuropathic pain when they inhaled cannabis.
In fact, patients often report that they are better able to control their neuropathic pain with medical marijuana than with other medications. Some are even able to decrease or eliminate their need for Neurontin or Lyrica. Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine has been approved in Great Britain for use in the treatment of neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis. With the increase in research around this topic, cannabis is slowly becoming accepted as an effective option in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
To achieve the best results using cannabis to treat neuropathic pain and neuropathy, patients need to follow a constant daily regimen for weeks or months. For example, post-herpetic neuralgia may last for months, but over time, with cannabis therapy, the pain does reduce.
Reducing Pain with CBD Products
CBD and THC both provide therapeutic effects for neuropathy, but THC may be more effective for pain relief. For chronic neuropathy, dosages may range up to 25 mg of cannabinoids three times per day.
Since they bind to different receptors, it’s useful to include both THC and CBD. You can get a tincture or CBD oil with varying ratios of CBD/THC, from mostly THC, to 1:1, to mostly CBD. Remember that THC may alleviate pain more effectively, but with this type of pain, it may take weeks to months of treatment.
Since you need such significant doses for effects, inhalation methods are not used primarily for this condition. For peripheral neuropathy, the addition of topical treatment to the affected areas augments your chances for relief. Topicals require application about 4x/day, i.e., morning, noon, evening, and before bed.
