The body’s immune system responds to inflammation, also known as the inflammatory response. Although short-term inflammation may be beneficial, chronic inflammation is linked with many diseases including heart disease and cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer’s, and other serious illnesses. Inflammation is often accompanied by pain. Inflammation is most commonly characterized by pain, heat and redness. It is usually treated with anti-inflammatory medication, which include both non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and steroid medications. These medications can have side effects and risks. Some people prefer to prevent inflammation by eating anti-inflammatory foods and taking anti-inflammatory vitamins. CBD is a natural way to treat inflammation.
What Does CBD Do To Reduce Inflammation?
Cannabinoids (including CBD) are thought to be an anti-inflammatory. Numerous studies have been done in rodents, cells, and humans to support the idea of CBD as an anti-inflammatory agent. However, more research is required to understand how CBD works and what its best uses are for specific types.
Inflammation involves many signalling pathways. To initiate an inflammatory response, the body uses signalling molecules known as eicosanoids. CBD inhibits COX2, an eicosanoid enzyme that can cause inflammation. Advil and Aspirin, which are NSAIDs, also target COX2 as a mechanism of action.
CBD appears to also affect certain molecules that are important in the inflammation process, called cytokines. CBD is known to decrease inflammation by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Many diseases are affected by inflammation, including allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. There are also a variety of other autoimmune conditions like cancer, heart disease and diabetes. For these conditions, could CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties be used?
Some evidence supports the notion that CBD may be an anti-inflammatory agent for certain diseases.
A 2008 study on mice showed that CBD prevented type 1 diabetes from onset. This is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that attacks beta cells in the pancreas.
A 2013 study showed that CBD can treat inflammation in a mouse model for multiple sclerosis.
Another 2013 review found that CBD could be used as an anti-inflammatory bowel disease medication. According to the authors, their findings could be due to “the small dosage of CBD, the low number of patients involved in the study or the absence of synergism between CBD and other cannabinoids.”
The bottom line is, there isn’t much research, but there are some promising initial reports.
What Are The Opinions of Experts?
CBD has been shown to treat inflammation and is one of the most trusted medicines for this purpose.
Dr. Michael Verbora MD, Aleafia Health chief medical officer, was asked if CBD could be used to treat inflammatory conditions. He said that CBD is an anti-inflammatory drug and one of the safest medications to do so.
He said, “One of our challenges is that we don’t know which dose can relieve what anti-inflammatory and immune-related conditions.”
Verbora hopes that future research will reveal CBD’s potential role in many inflammatory conditions.
Click here to see the best CBD products on the market!