CBD For Inflammation: Does It Work?
While research indicates CBD may reduce inflammation in the body, scientists and experts agree further clinical trials are necessary to understand this specific effect of CBD.
Read on to learn more about what experts know about CBD's potential effect on inflammation, including types of CBD available, pros and cons of using CBD for inflammation, recommended dosages and more.
Forbes Health covers CBD and cannabis products in accordance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines. Learn more about Forbes Health's practices and policies regarding how we cover CBD and cannabis as a publisher.
Thanks to its potentially beneficial health effects, CBD—a naturally occurring active ingredient in the cannabis sativa plant—is popular in products like CBD oils, CBD gummies and topical CBD creams and lotions. Unlike the intoxicatingly psychoactive effects of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another abundant cannabinoid in hemp, CBD is not psychoactive.
Among health benefits like supporting sleep and reducing anxiety, researchers believe CBD may help reduce inflammation. While inflammation is a natural and protective bodily response to injury and illness, excessive and chronic inflammation can lead to negative health effects, such as chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, heart disease and more.
'As CBD has been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory properties, there is clear interest and investment in exploring CBD-containing products for inflammatory conditions,' says Staci Gruber, Ph.D., director of the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core and Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) program at Mass General Brigham's McLean Hospital.
Along with other naturally occurring cannabinoids, CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex and widespread network of cannabinoid receptors and enzymes that influence metabolism, appetite, movement, emotional regulation and many other biological functions. Researchers are still working to understand exactly how the ECS functions in the human body, as well as how consuming external cannabinoids, such as CBD oils or gummies, interact with and affect its functions, including reducing inflammation.
A 2019 review in Antioxidants confirms early research is promising regarding CBD's ability to lower systemic inflammation, noting CBD's favorable lack of psychoactive effects. Additional research suggests CBD may be beneficial in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic digestive condition in which inflammation may play a role, according to a 2023 review in Current Developments in Nutrition.
Researchers agree further clinical studies are needed to fully understand CBD's role in mitigating inflammation. Potential CBD Side Effects and Risks of CBD for Inflammation
CBD is often touted as a natural and holistic remedy, but using CBD products may pose risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), potentially harmful side effects of CBD may include: Damage to the liver
Appetite changes and digestive problems, such as diarrhea
Potentially harmful interactions with prescription medications
Sedation
Mood changes, including irritability
The CDC advises pregnant and breastfeeding individuals against using products containing CBD due to lack of comprehensive safety data.
Consumers can find retail CBD products in various forms, from topical creams and ointments to orally administered oils, tinctures and edibles.
'Some individuals find clinical benefit from using products that are applied directly to the skin, either in forms like topicals or transdermal patches,' says Dr. Gruber. 'Importantly, however, bioavailability (the amount of a substance which actively enters circulation in order to have an effect) is considered fairly low for skin-based applications, and as a result, many choose to supplement these products with an orally administered, more 'systemic' approach.'
With any type of CBD product, bioavailability is difficult to predict, says Dr. Gruber. She suggests that CBD oils held under the tongue for several seconds before swallowing may have enhanced bioavailability and therefore a more potent effect.
'Some newer formulation types are designed to have exponentially greater bioavailability, and I look forward to actual empirical data regarding their impact,' notes Dr. Gruber.
Those interested in using CBD for acute or systemic inflammation should first consult a health care provider to ensure the cannabinoid is appropriate for their unique needs.
'First and foremost, it is important for anyone with an inflammatory condition to be highly vigilant and mindful of what is in the [CBD] product and what is not,' advises Dr. Gruber. 'Insist on certificates of analyses (COAs) that match the batch of product you're choosing to ensure the specific amounts of cannabinoids on the label are actually contained in the product.'
COAs should confirm the absence of health-compromising contaminants, including pesticides, yeast, mold and heavy metals, among others, she adds.
In addition to COAs, individuals interested in using CBD for inflammation may want to consider whether a product is organic, taste preferences for orally consumed products like oils and gummies, known allergies, personal budget and more.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't provide official dosing recommendations for retail CBD products, so consumers should consult a knowledgeable health care professional about appropriate dosing and duration of treatment, as well as carefully read manufacturer recommendations.
A 2024 review in Molecules found that daily oral doses of CBD between 15 to 160 milligrams demonstrated no negative side effects. However, Dr. Gruber notes that oral CBD dosing is highly nuanced.
'Dosing depends so much on a variety of individual factors, including age, sex, previous history with cannabis, genetics, family history (if considering products that contain THC), metabolism and use of other medications or substances, to name a few,' she explains. 'There is no 'one size fits all' or even 'one size fits most' when it comes to cannabis and cannabinoid-based therapies.'
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