Is CBD Oil Good for Fibromyalgia?

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a severe condition characterized by musculoskeletal pain. The affected person will feel pain throughout their muscles and bones coupled with fatigue, anxiety, and mental distress. Symptoms resemble arthritis; however, fibromyalgia affects the soft tissues and not the joints.
A person diagnosed with fibromyalgia may have the following complaints :

• Low threshold for pain
• Insomnia
• Tenderness
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Burning sensation
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Muscle tightness or spasms
• Headaches or general aching
• Foggy cognition
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Inflammation

Fibromyalgia currently affects women more than men and whilst there is no consensus in the medical world for what causes fibromyalgia, and no cure, the symptoms can be treated which is where CBD comes into play.

CBD for Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Is CBD Oil good for fibromyalgia? Preliminary research has show CBD Oil to be good for those suffering from chronic pain.
For example in those suffering from chronic pain CBD patients reported a consistent improvement in their quality of life and in their quality of sleep.
Similarly a 2020 New Zealand study of 400 cancer patients suffering with chronic pain indicated its safety for long term use and patients self reported improvements in pain and quality of life. In patients with fibromyalgia, CBD treatment decreased pain by more than 30% in significantly more patients than placebo.

CBD has proven to be effective as an anxiety reducer. Major research was conducted by creating a retrospective chart after reviewing a group of adults suffering from anxiety or sleep disorders. Patients were given CBD and asked to rate their anxiety levels, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale was used to measure anxiety concerns.
Anxiety was seen to reduce in 57 patients out of 72 and remained consistent throughout the study period. However, in patients with sleep disorders, the initial improvement was noted in 48 patients out of 72 but gradually fluctuated. The use of CBD was well suited in all patients except 3. 

Many cannabinoids, including Cannabidiol or CBD, have been researched extensively to ascertain their effects on sleep related disorders.  Preliminary clinical trials suggest that high-dose oral CBD (150-600 mg/d) may exert a therapeutic effect for social anxiety disorder, insomnia and epilepsy, but also that it may cause mental sedation.

A medical research study in Israel in 2021 showed the benefit of medical cannabis in the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms. The study found that medical cannabis could be a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of fibromyalgia, especially for those who failed on standard pharmacological therapies.  It is important to highlight that medical cannabis includes the combined use of both THC and CBD.

How does CBD Oil help fibromyalgia?

From the available scientific data, CBD affects the brain to help people cope with anxiety and pain. CBD binds to the body’s neuroreceptors and may interrupt the nerve pathways that send pain signals from the body to the brain. Additionally, binding with CB2 receptors gives the immune, cardiovascular, and muscular systems of the body a boost. The CB2 receptor plays a vital role in pain sensation and management and inflammatory reaction of the immune system.

A study published in 2016 suggests that a lack of endocannabinoids in the body may be the root cause of chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia. When CBD enters the body and binds to the CB2 receptor, it instigates our bodies to form endocannabinoids. This, in turn, counters the symptoms of chronic pains and aids patients suffering from diseases like fibromyalgia.