Patients with fibromyalgia often find it difficult to treat their condition and decrease its symptoms. This might be due to the extreme complexity of the disease and the large variety of possible symptoms. However, scientists now believe that vegetal cannabinoids like CBD could help fight fibromyalgia-related symptoms. While clinical research remains scarce, this is what we now know about CBD products and fibromyalgia:
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread and constant pain; and a heightened pain response to pressure. However, other symptoms may be involved as well. Considering most patients also experience muscle stiffness, severe tiredness, sleeping problems and memory-issues. Other common fibromyalgia-symptoms might include digestive problems, cognitive disorders, depression, anxiety, restless leg syndrome, numbness or tingeling; and even sensitivity to light, sound and temperature in some cases.
Consequently, fibromyalgia is not just like any other (chronic) pain disorder. Mostly because of the high number of possible symptoms. But also because of the actual cause of the condition. In fact, for a long time it remained unclear what the actual cause of fibromyalgia is. Which led to extreme frustration for the people living with the condition. Luckily scientists are now starting to understand more and more about the cause and progression of fibromyalgia.
Endocannabinoid deficiency as possible cause
While the actual cause of the condition remains a bit unclear. It is believed to be a combination of factors, both genetic and environmental. So besides the fact that it ‘might run in the family’, it could possibly be caused by environmental factors such as psychological stress, trauma and infections, too. Whatever the cause is though, generally speaking the symptoms are the result of (distorted) processes in the central nervous system. That’s our body’s communication network known as the endocannabinoid-system (ECS).
Discover more in ‘How CBD works: the endocannabinoid system (ECS) explained’
Accordingly, there are now various scientists who believe fibromyalgia is primarily caused by a clinical endocannabinoid deficiency. One of those scientists is celebrated neurologist and cannabis-researcher Dr. Ethan Russo. Who discovered that a deregulation of the body’s own neurotransmitters - endocannabinoids - might be the cause of fibromyalgia symptoms. As well as the cause of migraine, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other therapy-resistant conditions.
Admittedly, this does sound pretty logical. Because generally speaking our bodies should produce enough of these signaling substances and ‘landing-sights’ - endocannabinoid receptors - to be able to balance out all essential processes for us to survive. This balance is called ‘homeostasis’; and it includes bodily processes such as pain, hunger, temperature, mobility and emotional responses. So when this system is distorted and the balance is lost, your health will rapidly decline in a variety of ways. This might be noticeable by a lack of sleep, heightened levels of anxiety and stress or (chronic) pain, for example. All symptoms associated with fibromyalgia; which supports Dr. Russo’s theory on what might cause the condition in the first place.
CBD against fibromyalgia?
This theory is further supported by a review of Dr. Russo’s study - performed by two other scientists ten years after Dr. Russo’s publication. As concluded by Steel Clarke Smith and Mark S. Wagner: ‘Subsequent research has confirmed that underlying endocannabinoid deficiencies indeed play a role in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and a growing list of other medical conditions. Clinical experience is bearing this out.’ Moreover, Dr. Ethan already presented evidence suggesting that cannabinoids can block certain mechanisms (spinal, peripheral and gastrointestinal) that promote pain in fibromyalgia - alongside the other ailments mentioned above.
This also suggests that supplementing your body with vegetal cannabinoids from hemp - like Cannabidiol (CBD) - could have a positive impact on the symptoms and cause of fibromyalgia. While clinical research on this matter is still lacking; a large survey by the US National Pain Foundation proves that cannabinoids might be more effective against fibromyalgia compared to pharmaceuticals. With 62% of all participants saying cannabinoid-treatment of fibromyalgia is ‘very effective’, and 33% saying it is ‘somewhat effective.’ Which makes fibromyalgia one of the diseases that could possibly be better treated with cannabinoids; than with pharmaceuticals.
Hemp products to use for fibromyalgia
So if you’re suffering from fibromyalgia, there’s a chance that cannabinoid-rich hemp supplements could soothe your symptoms. However, in no way do we guarantee that our high quality CBD products will help your case. But from our experience and our customers’ feedback, there are a two CBD products we’d recommend to use; when trying to decrease symptoms related to fibromyalgia with hemp:
CBDactive+ PURE for fibromyalgia
Don’t think you’ll be successful treating fibromyalgia symptoms using just any CBD oil; as we’ve experienced that it is not an easy condition to treat. Accordingly, we often suggest trying our most effective products right away, including our CBDactive+ PURE pen. As you can read in the article mentioned below; this full-spectrum, water soluble CBD product is often used for severe issues; including heavy chronic pain from nerve damage or injury, for example.
Also read: ‘Water soluble CBDactive+ PURE pen: uses, tips and tricks you should know about!’
Considering this product is developed so that the active ingredients are better absorbed by the body. It’s efficacy lies around 10 times higher compared to that of regular CBD oils with hempseed oil. CBDactive+ PURE could possibly help bring more balance to your endocannabinoid system; and therefor might help soothe fibromyalgia-related symptoms. Including symptoms such as restless legs, depression and anxiety, and digestive issues. Though this product might not always be enough to battle the great amount of pain, muscle stiffness and sleep problems most patients suffer from.
CBD Patches for pain and sleep
For that, you might have better results with our CBD Patches. As customers with fibromyalgia (and similar) symptoms give us the best feedback on this particular product. Please note though, in no way do we think CBD will cure fibromyalgia. Though our topical CBD Patches could possibly help to decrease the muscle stiffness, pain and insomnia that patients often experience. And by helping to decrease these symptoms, patients might welcome back a certain level of rest and ‘joy of life’. From what we’ve heard and seen, that’s something the majority fibromyalgia-patients would kill for!
