Mind flight, or being high, is not something that can be achieved with CBD. However, its cerebral benefits and other advantages are beyond price. The compound can provide immense relief to health concerns and conditions that even mainstream medicines find challenging to appease. On top of that, many studies suggest that its full potential is yet to be realized, hinting that more scientific advances could be on the horizon. Speaking of CBD, many are turning to its oil to ease the negative symptoms of neuropathy. Is it a half-baked solution, or can it be considered a legitimate treatment? Here is everything you need to know about CBD and how it can relieve neuropathic pain.
But first, what is neuropathy?
Neuropathy is one of the most painful sensations to suffer from and occurs as a result of damage, dysfunction, or injury to the nerves. The two common types are peripheral and diabetic; however, while both produce resembling symptoms, the diabetic counterpart is mostly rooted from damage caused by high blood sugar. It is an unfavorable condition to have as the brain sends false pain signals to the body, which give a feeling of shooting or burning pain. Unfortunately, an estimated 20 million people in the United States suffer from this condition. With that many people affected and limited treatment options, it is no surprise why many are turning to the infamously therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
What are the common symptoms of neuropathy?
The peripheral system has nerves with a specific function. This includes sensory nerves, which handles the sensation of temperature, pain, vibration, or touch. On the other hand, autonomic nerves control functions like blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, and bladder. When the neuropathic pain affects the sensory nerves, the clear-cut symptoms include a gradual onset of numbness or a prickling feeling that spreads from head-to-toe. It also involves sharp, throbbing, or burning pain as well as extreme sensitivity to touch. The muscles are considerably weakened, and the body’s coordination is compromised. Meanwhile, affected autonomic nerves result in heat intolerance, excessive sweating, or not being able to sweat, digestive problems, or change in blood pressure.
CBD Oil for Neuropathy: How it Works
CBD acts as an endocannabinoid modulator. Diseases come barging in when a given system is hijacked, losing its balance. CBD serves to interfere by stabilizing either excess or deficiency in the system through the help of two receptors found in the endocannabinoid system. These are:
CB1
Perhaps the most crucial receptor in the human body, this part in the brain and spinal cord that stimulates behavioral impact, such as appetite regulation and amygdala, which plays a crucial role in administering memory and emotions. Also, these can be found in nerve endings, consequently gaining the ability to manage pain. When in unison with THC or CBD, it gives its consumers relief from pain, nausea, and depression.
CB2
Though these receptors can also be found in the brain, it is not expressed as profoundly in CB1 and does not bind with any hallucinogenic compounds such as THC. This is because it is intimately tied to the immune and gastrointestinal system. Typically, it regulates appetite and functions like inflammation and pain management.
When these two receptors work together with CBD or THC in cannabis, they help in various conditions like seizures, inflammation, pain, psychosis, inflammatory bowel disease, nausea, migraines, depression, and anxiety. While it isn’t a one-stop medication that can heal ailments like neuropathy, it is undoubtedly a therapeutic herb that reduces the debilitating effects of such conditions, liberating patients from the constant pain and discomfort that follows.
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