CBD continues to be one of the most popular supplements for people who want to ease discomfort without side effects.
And now, researchers know why.
A team of scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and McGill University have unveiled good news for individuals dealing with chronic pain by pinpointing the effective dose of marijuana plant extract cannabidiol (CBD) for safe pain relief without the typical “high” or euphoria produced by the THC. The findings of their study have been published in the journal PAIN (The Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain).
Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa are the two main cannabis strains that produce the pharmacological compounds tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The researchers demonstrated that CBD does not act on the CB1 cannabinoid receptors like THC but instead acts through the mechanism that binds specific receptors involved in anxiety (serotonin 5-HT1A) and pain (vanilloid TRPV1).
Researchers were able to extrapolate the exact dosage of CBD displaying analgesic and antianxiety properties without the risk of addiction and euphoria classically produced by the THC.
“We found in animal models of chronic pain that low doses of CBD administered for seven days alleviate both pain and anxiety, two symptoms often associated in neuropathic or chronic pain,” said study co-author Danilo De Gregorio.
Lead author Dr. Gabriella Gobbi sees this as advancement for the evidence-based application of cannabis in medicine with CBD offering a safe alternative to THC and opioids for chronic pain, such as back pain, sciatica, diabetic, cancer and post-trauma pain.
“Our findings elucidate the mechanism of action of CBD and show that it can be used as medicine without the dangerous side effects of the THC,” she said. “This research is a new advancement for an evidence-based application of cannabis in medicine. There is some data showing that CBD provides pain relief for humans but more robust clinical trials are needed,” she emphasized.
Reference
Gobbi, De Gregorio, et al. “Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain.” PAIN, 2018; 1 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001386
