Fibromyalgia is among those strange illnesses, both for doctors and researchers, as well as for patients. Indeed, the World Health Organization recognized this syndrome in 1992. Despite this, doubts still linger about its causes and the appropriate treatment. Meanwhile, patients continue to suffer! That said, should we simply resign ourselves to fate? Is there no alternative solution? This is precisely the aim of this article. We would like to show to what extent hemp (CBD) could help relieve people suffering from this syndrome. Table of Contents
Fibromyalgia: Causes and Symptoms
- Relieving Fibromyalgia Symptoms with Hemp
- Research on CBD and Fibromyalgia
- How is Fibromyalgia Treated?
- Fibromyalgia: Causes and Symptoms
First of all, it is necessary to provide an overview, however brief, of the illness. Specifically, it’s important to examine its causes and symptoms.
The causes of fibromyalgia
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, this syndrome is causing controversy within the medical community. Indeed, doctors, researchers, and other healthcare professionals are struggling to agree on the exact causes of this illness. Is it because this matter is beyond their control? It’s difficult to answer that question. In fact, as in the literature, there are several schools of thought on the subject. On one hand, some believe that this illness is caused by the exhaustion of the “stress axis,” also known as the “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.” On the other hand, it is said to be genetic, meaning that it is passed down between members of the same family. Furthermore, the illness is attributed to biological factors, specifically a metabolic disorder of substance P. In short, we could list these supposed causes endlessly! It therefore seems wise to move on to the main symptoms.
The Main Symptoms of Fibromyalgia First, we want to clarify that the list of symptoms mentioned here is not exhaustive. We have chosen those most commonly reported by people with fibromyalgia. Similarly, we have selected those that can be relieved by hemp (CBD).PainPain is the main symptom of this syndrome. However, this does not mean that you should panic at the slightest pain. Indeed, there are other criteria to consider. Firstly, the duration of this pain. In fact, it is generally recommended to be concerned when you experience widespread pain for more than three months. Secondly, the pain should not be localized to a single point on your body. It takes nine or more points to be considered fibromyalgia.
Following this same logic, symptoms can include menstrual pain, irritable bowel syndrome (abdominal pain), headaches (including migraines), muscle pain, etc.
Depression or anxietyIndeed, fibromyalgia doesn’t just affect the physical body. It goes further, impacting the mind. Many individuals with this syndrome experience a loss of interest in all types of activities. For example, if you used to enjoy sports, your interest in this activity will tend to decrease as the days go by.
Concentration problems
Also known as attention deficit disorder,
attention deficit disorder is also a symptom of fibromyalgia. In fact, those affected will exhibit either difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, or impulsivity accompanied by aggression. Sometimes all of these characteristics are present at once! Light Sleep
This symptom is, in a way, a consequence of the previous ones. In fact, a person who experiences diffuse pain, anxiety or depression, and difficulty concentrating can only have light sleep. They hardly sleep at all!
Persistent Fatigue
Fatigue follows the same logic as the light sleep we discussed earlier. Indeed, the equation is simple:
Pain + anxiety + aggression + lack of sleep = persistent fatigue.
The body doesn’t recover due to a lack of rest.
Relieving Fibromyalgia Symptoms with Hemp
Now that we already know the symptoms, let’s see to what extent hemp can help people with fibromyalgia. To maintain the same logic as before, we’ll go through these symptoms one by one. Each time, we’ll focus on a specific aspect. Let’s get down to business.
Pain
It has been repeatedly demonstrated that hemp has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Indeed, these properties come from the active ingredients found in this plant. These are specifically CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Taking hemp, one of its derivatives, or a product containing these molecules (CBD and THC) could help relieve the pain caused by fibromyalgia.
Depression or anxiety Experiments have been conducted in the USA and Germany on animals. The aim was to observe the effects of CBD and THC on depression or anxiety.However, at the time of writing, no proven experiments have yet been conducted on humans. Nevertheless, several people report having used CBD oil to relieve depression/anxiety. Others, on the other hand, acknowledge that THC has had a greater effect than CBD. So, it’s important to know that relieving depression/anxiety with hemp may be possible. Some have tried it, with success. It all depends on the individual. We would like to emphasize that this advice is not intended to replace medical advice. We are sharing user reviews and experiences to inform you on the subject. Concentration problems
In fact, what causes attention problems is a low dopamine level in the affected individual. Since dopamine is the neurotransmitter that controls the brain’s cognitive abilities, concentration is impaired. CBD may help rebalance this level, thus allowing the individual to regain their ability to concentrate effectively.
Light sleep and persistent fatigue
As mentioned above, light sleep is simply a consequence of other symptoms. This means that by addressing the underlying cause, you could treat the problem later on. In other words, by relieving pain and depression/anxiety, you could put your body in a relaxed and calm state. This, in turn, will promote restful, long, and restorative sleep. Furthermore, once you have fully recovered, the persistent fatigue will disappear.
Research on CBD and Fibromyalgia
Indeed, although many believe that CBD helps with fibromyalgia, research on this topic remains limited. In fact, very few surveys or studies have been conducted to provide relevant scientific data. Nevertheless, some information has been gathered. A Survey on Cannabidiol Use for Fibromyalgia In fact, the prevalence of use and perceptions of the effectiveness of CBD for fibromyalgia are the focus of this survey published in the Journal of Pain*. It was conducted online and stems from a specific observation, as the authors explain in their abstract.Cannabidiol (CBD) is widely touted as useful for managing chronic pain, but research is limited.
Following this observation, they decided to launch a survey with a very specific goal. They explain their objective as follows:
Our goal was to better understand CBD use rates, the reasons for its use and discontinuation, communication with healthcare professionals about CBD, and perceptions of CBD’s effectiveness and safety among people with fibromyalgia.
To achieve this, they defined their target population.
(…) our study population consisted of N = 2,701 participants with fibromyalgia, primarily in the United States. Overall, 38.1% reported never using CBD, 29.4% reported previous CBD use, and 32.4% reported current CBD use.
Ultimately, the survey results tend to confirm the idea that CBD is effective for fibromyalgia.
Furthermore, they also suggest that cannabidiol treatment has minor side effects, at least compared to traditional medications generally offered to patients. The researchers further explain: Cannabis use in the previous year was strongly associated with past or current CBD use. Those who use CBD generally did so because of inadequate symptom relief, while those who do not use CBD generally cited safety concerns as their reason for not using it. Two-thirds of participants disclosed their CBD use to their doctor, although only 33% sought a doctor’s advice about using CBD. Participants used CBD for many fibromyalgia-related symptoms (most commonly pain) and generally reported mild to strong improvement across all symptom areas. About half of the participants reported side effects, which were generally minor.
However, they emphasize that this survey warrants further investigation. Indeed, according to these researchers, the data is not yet sufficient to definitively state that CBD is a treatment for fibromyalgia.
However, what has already been discovered points towards this conclusion. Nevertheless, for patient safety, scientists should continue their research, which could lead to the marketing of CBD-based treatments for fibromyalgia. In conclusion, CBD use is common among people with fibromyalgia, and many users report improvements in various fibromyalgia-related symptoms. Our results highlight the need for further rigorous studies to better understand the potential of CBD for managing fibromyalgia. Study on the Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Fibromyalgia
This study aligns with the previous investigation. It was published on NCBI** and also begins with a clear observation. Let’s read this excerpt from the abstract.
Background: Chronic pain can be treated with medical cannabis. However, there is little evidence to support the role of medical cannabis in the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Based on the preceding premise, the researchers defined their objective for this study. They formulated it as follows:
The aim of the study was to investigate the characteristics, safety, and efficacy of medical cannabis therapy for fibromyalgia.
Furthermore, they specified the method used for this purpose.
Methods: A prospective observational study with a six-month follow-up period was conducted on fibromyalgia patients who were willing to complete the questionnaire at a specialized medical cannabis clinic between 2015 and 2017.Following this, they presented the results of their study, which are as follows.
Results: Among the 367 patients with fibromyalgia, the mean age was 52.9 ± 15.1 years, and 301 (82.0%) were women. Twenty-eight patients (7.6%) discontinued treatment before the six-month follow-up. The response rate at six months was 70.8%. Pain intensity (on a scale of 0 to 10) decreased from a median of 9.0 at baseline to 5.0 (p < 0.001), and 194 patients (81.1%) achieved a response to treatment. In a multivariate analysis, age over 60 years (odds ratio 0.34, 95% CI 0.16–0.72), concerns about cannabis treatment (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.16–0.80), spasticity (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.08–4.72), and prior cannabis use (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.06–5.74) were associated with treatment outcome. The most common adverse events were mild and included dizziness (7.9%), dry mouth (6.7%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (5.4%).
Based on these results, they draw a conclusion. Conclusion: Medical cannabis appears to be a safe and effective alternative for treating fibromyalgia symptoms. Standardization of treatment compounds and regimens is needed.
In short, as in the previous study, cannabis/hemp/CBD appears to be effective for fibromyalgia.
However, given the limited number of studies on this topic, scientists should dedicate more time to it. This would strengthen this alternative treatment, which could, in the near future, become a conventional treatment.
Study on cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of fibromyalgia
Indeed, this study, in turn, joins previous ones. In fact, it was published on NCBI***. From the outset, the researchers begin by defining the context of fibromyalgia. On this subject, they express themselves as follows in their abstract:
Fibromyalgia is a complex pathological process that is as widespread as it is poorly understood. Research on its pathophysiology is ongoing, and the results will likely help identify new therapeutic options to supplement those that exist today, which are still insufficient for the care of a large patient population. Recent evidence describes the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Then, they specify the objective of their study. Let’s read on.
This study provides a systematic and thorough review of the evidence, as well as a review of the fundamental data concerning the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and current treatment options.
This review has revealed that the use of cannabis for chronic pain is not a recent phenomenon. Indeed, its use dates back to antiquity.
Cannabis has been used historically to treat various painful conditions since ancient times.
- The study also highlights that the components present in this plant may help relieve many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, particularly pain and sleep disturbances.
- Furthermore, while acknowledging the usefulness of cannabis for fibromyalgia, the study emphasizes the risks associated with its consumption. The task now facing researchers is to weigh the pros and cons and propose appropriate treatments tailored to each patient.
- Cannabis use is not without risks, including psychiatric, cognitive, and developmental risks, as well as the risk of addiction. As such, clinical judgment is warranted to weigh these risks and prescribe to patients who are most likely to benefit from this treatment. Further research is needed to define appropriate patient selection and treatment regimens.
- How is fibromyalgia treated?
- Currently, the mechanisms involved in fibromyalgia are still poorly understood. Therefore, there is no specific treatment for fibromyalgia. However, there is a comprehensive and personalized approach to improving the quality of life of a person suffering from fibromyalgia. Several treatments are available. The approach can be pharmacological (analgesics, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants) but can also involve alternative methods that significantly improve the symptoms of the disease, such as physical exercise, relaxation, hydrotherapy, or acupuncture.
- According to several clinical studies, the level of pain sensitivity also depends on the amount of polyamines present in the diet. Indeed, a diet low in polyamines significantly reduces chronic pain.
