Lyme Disease

4 Ways CBD (Cannabidiol) May Help Lyme Patients

By Jenny Lelwica ButtaccioSince

Since CBD helps lyme patients many patients are turning to CBD (cannabidiol) to help manage a myriad of symptoms. From capsules, tinctures, and balms, it’s readily available in many forms at health food stores around the country. But what is CBD and how CBD may help Lyme patients? There are 4 ways CBD (Cannabidiol) helps lyme patients.

CBD is one of several components found in the Cannabis sativa and indica plant. It may contain trace amounts of THC, but it doesn’t have the psychoactive effects of medical cannabis (marijuana).

If you’ve been in the Lyme community for any length of time, you’ll hear countless patients sing the praises of how CBD helps lyme patients. Case in point, in last month’s article, I discussed how I use CBD in its oil form to help ease my insomnia. Here, I examine four additional studies that demonstrate other ways in which CBD helps Lyme patients.

1. It lowers Anxiety. Anxiety is a frequent complaint among Lyme patients, and many patients aren’t satisfied with the pharmaceutical options to control this condition. A 2015 study in Neurotherapeutics, a peer-reviewed medical journal, showed substantial evidence of CBD’s ability to reduce anxiety in healthy individuals, people who have anxiety disorders, or seasonal affective disorder. Furthermore, CBD may be a potential treatment for people with PTSD and improve the outcomes of cognitive behavioral therapy. However, the study points out that additional research is needed to examine the impact CBD could have with consistent use over a long span of time.

Could we one-day soon see physicians offering CBD as a treatment option for anxiety? This study suggests it’s a possibility.

2. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory. Copious amounts of Lyme patients struggle with chronic pain, and often, they can’t find an appropriate medication to relieve this distressing symptom. Currently, CBD is a hot topic in the Lyme community, and perhaps, rightfully so. In fact, a 2012 study in Journal of Experimental Medicine demonstrated this unique compound’s ability to suppress inflammation and nerve pain. When administered to rodents, the study noted CBD “and its modified derivatives significantly suppress chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain without causing apparent analgesic tolerance.’’ For humans, this means CBD, along with other compounds, may be an innovative treatment strategy for people who suffer from chronic pain. But unlike some traditional pain medications, you’re less likely to build up a tolerance to it.

3. It reduces acne. A few years ago I was given two medications from my doctor—one to help me sleep and another to provide me with energy. An unfortunate side effect of these prescriptions was that they gave me acne—Sometimes, it was the painful, cystic-type of acne, which can be challenging to treat. I tried every cream I could get my hands on to get rid of the breakouts (and I was giving my body a rest from an antibiotic regimen to treat Lyme). To my dismay, nothing worked. But according to a 2014 study in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, CBD has the potential to reduce acne—the most common skin disease. The study showed that CBD lessened the production of sebum—an oily substance secreted by the skin’s sebaceous glands. Plus, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties on the body helped curtail the occurrence of acne as well.

4. It has a neuroprotective effect. By definition, a neuroprotective substance is one that protects the nerve cells from damage, degeneration, and dysfunction. In Lyme patients, the die-off reactions that occur when treatments kill the infections result in a flood of neurotoxins in the body. Some of the symptoms of neurotoxicity include brain fog, depression, dysregulation of hormones, autoimmune conditions, insomnia, seizures, and more. CBD may be helpful for reducing neurotoxicity. In 2003, research showed CBD had a neuroprotective quality by blocking the formation of nitrotyrosine—a marker that indicates damage to the cells. Moreover, the study showed that CBD is a potent antioxidant capable of protecting the brain from oxidative stress.

A word of caution about the legal use and purchase of CBD:

There’s one caveat with the buying of CBD products: There’s an ongoing, political debate over who controls the substance. Additionally, the discussion extends to how CBD should be categorized. Is derived from a psychoactive plant (and therefore, a controlled substance)? Or, is it from hemp (which doesn’t fall under the category of a controlled substance)? Despite the increasing availability of CBD, lawmakers from a handful of states around the country haven’t quite reached a consensus on the conditions of use for this specific compound. To avoid legalities, look for CBD products that say “hemp” on the label. These products can be purchased online and are available in all 50 states.

Are there any side effects associated with CBD?

The studies mentioned in this article report that CBD is generally safe and well-tolerated by most people. However, the long-term effects of this compound are unknown at this time. CBD is metabolized in the cytochrome p450 pathway of the liver and could potentially interact with other drugs that utilize this pathway (steroids, anti-anxiety medications, pain medications, etc.). Please talk to your doctor before incorporating it into your treatment protocol.

Some people report mild side effects like tiredness, digest upset, low blood pressure, and lightheadedness. But these side effects may vary from person-to-person and by the dosages taken.

Overall, the future of CBD helping Lyme patients looks bright.

References:

Blessing, E., Steenkamp, M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. (2015, October 12). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics. 12(4): 825–836. DOI: 10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1

Oláh, A., et al. (2014, April 16). Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 124(9): 3713–3724. DOI: 10.1172/JCI64628

Xiong, W., et al. (2012, June 4). Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory and neuropathic pain by targeting a3 glycine receptors. The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 209 (6), 1121. DOI: 10.1084/jem.20120242

El-Remessy, A., et al. (2003, Nov). Neuroprotective Effect of(?)?9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol in N-Methyl-d-Aspartate-Induced Retinal Neurotoxicity. The American Journal of Pathology. 163(5): 1997–2008. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1892413/

Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio, OTR/L, is an Occupational Therapist and certified Pilates instructor whose life was transformed by Lyme Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Interstitial Cystitis. She is creator of the DVD, New Dawn Pilates: pilates-inspired exercises adapted for people with pelvic pain. Jenny is a health and wellness advocate and blogger who writes about her journey on [lymeroad.com] as she continues to pursue her personal healing with the support of her husband and two senior beagles. You can find her on Instagram: [jenny_buttaccio] or Twitter: [lymeroad]

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