CBD oil for inflammation

14. 11. 2023

Of all the health benefits of CBD, the anti-inflammatory effects are the most impressive. There are already dozens of high-level clinical studies and thousands of animal and in vitro studies demonstrating the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD and other phytochemicals in cannabis.

Can CBD help with inflammation?

There are dozens of chemical messengers and enzymes that together create inflammation in the body. Blocking one pathway may prove useful for certain types of inflammation, but it is not the most effective method of treatment. CBD is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent because it works through multiple pathways. Because of this, CBD stops the inflammatory process at several different points in the process. Compared to conventional anti-inflammatory drugs like Aspirin - which only inhibits one enzyme involved in the inflammatory process - CBD is more effective in fighting inflammation.

 What type of CBD products to use?

CBD is available in many forms - but not all are suitable for every problem. When it comes to inflammation specifically, there are several types of CBD that work better than others.
 Let's take a look at the main types of CBD you're likely to encounter and discuss their pros and cons in reducing inflammation.

 

1. CBD oils and tinctures

CBD oils are the most common form of CBD that people use today. They allow for simple and effective dosing and have a long shelf life. CBD tinctures are very similar to oils but use alcohol as the carrier instead of oil. This extends their shelf life and makes it easier for herbalists and naturopaths to mix in other anti-inflammatory herbs - but the taste is usually unpleasant. To take CBD oils and tinctures, measure out the intended dose using the dropper provided and place it under the tongue for a quick onset of effects, or swallow it for a slower onset of effects.

 

2. CBD capsules

CBD capsules provide another popular method of taking CBD. It solves many of the confusion around dosage and makes it easier to take CBD on the go.

 

3. CBD suppositories

CBD suppositories are not popular, but they are an excellent choice for addressing inflammation in the digestive tract by delivering cannabinoids directly to the problem area.

 

4. CBD products with external use

Any inflammation affecting the skin can be relieved by taking CBD internally. However, the best treatment for these conditions is usually with the use of externally applied products. This allows the cannabinoids to concentrate the effects directly on the inflamed tissues.

 

When to use CBD with external administration:

- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Allergic dermatitis
- Acne
- Muscle injuries
- Tendonitis
- Skin infections

 

5. CBD foods

Foods - including gummies, biscuits or cooking oils - also provide useful ways to get CBD into the body. They taste great without compromising potency. The only downside is that, with the exception of standardized gummies, it can be challenging to measure the potency of foods. Eating too many edibles can have negative long-term side effects due to the high sugar content. Foods are therefore better for one-time use than as a daily source of CBD.

 

6. CBD liquids and vaping oils

Vaporisation of CBD is the most effective of all forms, as bioavailability in the lungs is much higher than in the digestive tract. However, the cost of starting vaporisation can be high, as you will need to buy a vaporiser, and the duration of effects tends to be shorter than with orally consumed CBD. Vaporisation is ideal for delivering CBD to the lungs and is therefore a good choice for pneumonia. It may or may not aggravate conditions such as asthma - so always use vaporizing CBD oils with caution.

 

What is the appropriate dose of CBD oil for inflammation?

When it comes to inflammation, the more CBD, the better. Most research on cannabinoid use in inflammation suggests a dose-dependent response. That is, the more CBD you take, the stronger the anti-inflammatory effect it produces. Therefore, the recommended dose varies according to the level of inflammation. For low-grade inflammation - such as the early stages of arthritis - even a low strength can produce the results you're looking for. To treat severe inflammation - such as inflammatory bowel disease or autoimmune disease - you may need to choose a medium or high strength.

 

General dosage guidelines for inflammatory conditions

Low CBD potency	Medium Strength CBD	High potency CBD
- Early stages of arthritis	- Mild allergies	- Multiple sclerosis
- Postviral infection	- Arthritis	- Atherosclerosis
- Mild traumatic injury	- Mild depression	- Hepatitis
		- Severe allergies
		- Mild depression
		- Parkinson's disease

 

 What are the side effects of CBD?

Although CBD has been shown to be highly safe in terms of toxicity, it is important to know about the possible side effects. Everyone is different and what works for one person may not always work the same for another.

 

Here are some of the most common side effects of CBD:

- Appetite suppression
- Diarrhoea
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Head spinning
- Lower heart rate
- Fatigue

 

Basic information about inflammation

The human body is made up of trillions of individual cells that work together and must be able to communicate with each other. Our nervous system is used to send messages in the form of electrical impulses to and from our brains and uses chemical messengers to send signals throughout the body via the blood. The process of inflammation depends largely on how these chemical messengers activate the immune system and regulate blood flow to damaged areas of the body. There are dozens of inflammatory messengers, each sending a specific type of message - some summon immune cells to the affected area to help clear the infection, others tell the cardiovascular system to start collecting blood in the affected area.

Allergic reactions, for example, rely on the activation of mast cells (mast cells) - which wait patiently for the allergen to get nearby. When a cell is exposed to an allergen, it releases a strong dose of inflammatory markers (such as histamine) that cause a cascade of inflammatory reactions. These are known as an allergic reaction (for example, hives, runny nose, swollen eyes or scratchy throat). You may be thinking, "I have no idea what that means." You're not alone.

Scientists are constantly uncovering new information about inflammatory processes, and there are forms of inflammation that we do not yet understand (for example, interstitial cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome). The best treatment for inflammation takes into account the type of inflammation.

We must consider whether the inflammation is acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). We also take into account whether the inflammation is caused by physical damage or an allergic or autoimmune reaction. This is basic information to consider because each of these forms of inflammation involves different chemical messengers.

Stopping inflammation means blocking these chemical messengers. The most important distinction is whether the inflammation is acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

 1. Acute inflammation

Acute inflammation refers to short-term inflammation - usually less than six months. When we inflict a wound on our skin, we experience acute inflammation. It appears very quickly and goes away after the wound heals. Acute inflammation can lead to chronic inflammation if the irritant persists (for example, regular use of inflammatory foods).

Common causes of acute inflammation include:

- Allergic reactions
- Asthma attacks
- Traumatic injuries
- Eczema (can also become chronic)
- Early stages of arthritis
- Early stages of depression

 The most critical messengers involved in acute inflammation are histamine, nitric oxide and inflammatory enzymes such as COX or 5-LOX. Aspirin, for example, acts by blocking the COX enzyme. CBD inhibits COX enzymes (both COX-1 and COX-2) responsible for the production of inflammatory messengers such as leukotrienes and prostaglandins - known as key mediators in both acute and chronic inflammation.

 

2. Chronic inflammation

Inflammation is classified as chronic if symptoms persist for more than six months. Long-term inflammation can cause serious damage to the affected systems.

In short, chronic inflammation works like this:

- Inflammation damages tissue
- Tissue releases new inflammatory messengers to repair the damage
- New inflammation causes further tissue damage
- Process repeats

 If this process takes a long time, it can lead to further health problems. Long-term inflammation can damage membranes (such as the digestive membrane or the blood-brain barrier), lead to the formation of scar tissue, reduce the sensitivity of hormones such as insulin, and trigger autoimmune reactions.

Difficulties associated with chronic inflammation:

- Depression
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety
- Mood disorders
- Eczema and psoriasis

 Critical inflammatory messengers involved in chronic inflammation include TNF-a, NF-kB, IL-6 and IFNs. CBD has been shown to inhibit all of these inflammatory messengers.

 Conventional treatment of inflammation

Inflammation is very common - as a result, we have developed many different approaches to treating inflammation over the years.

Some common forms of treatment for inflammation include:

 1. Change of diet

- Eliminate foods that cause inflammation
- Identify and eliminate sources of food allergies
- Increase fiber and antioxidant-rich foods
- Increase intake of anti-inflammatory foods (such as turmeric or ginger)

2. Anti-inflammatory drugs

- Corticosteroids
- NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol)
- TNF inhibitors (Adalimumab and Etanercept)

 3. Herbal supplements

- Hemp extracts (CBD, CBN and THC)
- Ginger root (Zingiber officinalis)
- Frankincense resin (Boswellia serrata)
- Turmeric root (Curcuma longa)
- Aloe (Aloe vera)

 4. Lifestyle changes

- Gentle aerobic exercise
- Stress reduction techniques
- Yoga / meditation
- Sleep hygiene

 CBD for inflammation: what the research says

CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent - it interferes with inflammatory messengers at almost every level of the inflammatory response. There are several reasons why CBD can infiltrate and stop inflammation at so many levels:

- It stops the breakdown of anandamide - a powerful regulator of inflammation throughout the body -
CBD (and other cannabinoids) are structurally similar to many of our inflammatory messengers (similar to our prostaglandins and leukotrienes)
- CBD activates vanilloid receptors responsible for regulating different sets of inflammatory messengers (TNF-a, IL-4, IL-12). -
It slows the activation of immune cells such as T and B cells - responsible for maintaining autoimmune inflammation -
CBD triggers apoptosis (programmed cell death) in immune cells involved in chronic inflammation.

 What inflammatory messengers does CBD interact with?

Unlike most anti-inflammatory compounds that inhibit a select few inflammatory messengers leading to inflammation, CBD stops almost all of them.
 This makes it useful for many different types of inflammation - from allergic and autoimmune reactions to sprains and strains.

 

Inflammatory messengers affected by
CBD 

Inflammatory messenger	Role in inflammation	Inhibiting cannabinoids
Histamine	Involved in allergic reactions and triggers rapid inflammation	THC
IFN-γ	Strongly involved in the maintenance of chronic inflammation	CBD
NF-kB	One of the key factors in the maintenance of psoriasis and a contributor to cancer growth	CBD
TNF-α	Triggers systemic (whole-body) inflammation	CBD THC
IL-2	Involved in cancer-related inflammation and autoimmune disease	THC CBN
IL-4	Regulates the conversion of T helper cells to Th2 cells and is strongly involved in autoimmunity	CBD THC CBN
IL-6	It triggers the inflammatory cascade in acute inflammation and is a factor maintaining chronic inflammation and autoimmune response	CBD
IL-8	Involved in acute inflammation from infectious diseases (viruses or bacteria)	CBD
IL-12	Involved in autoimmune reactions, including rheumatoid arthritis	CBD
IL-13	Both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory depending on the other listening involved	THC CBN CBD
Prostaglandins	One of the key regulators in the initiation and maintenance of the inflammatory response	CBD
Leukotrienes	One of the key regulators in triggering and maintaining the inflammatory response	CBD

 

Conclusion: the use of CBD in inflammation

CBD is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent - as a result, it is used for many different types of inflammation.

 Types of inflammation for which CBD is appropriate:

- Autoimmune reactions
- Allergic reactions
- Traumatic soft tissue injuries
- Muscle tension
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Atherosclerosis
- Postoperative inflammation

 

The key to using CBD effectively for inflammation is to ensure that you only use high-quality full-spectrum extracts that have been confirmed by third-party testing to be free of contaminants. You can use virtually any form of CBD to achieve anti-inflammatory effects, but we recommend getting a high potency oil for ease of use, cost effectiveness, and long shelf life.

 

 PHOTO: Shutterstock

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