Cannabidiol (CBD) uses are increasing due to its multiple therapeutic effects that are helpful in the treatment and mitigation of symptoms of diseases. So, products made from it are mainly used by consumers to treat pain and inflammations. They are used for treating common ailments like muscle and joint pains, headaches, skin rashes, minor wound healing, and other conditions. One emerging trend is its use in the treatment for managing severe pain from shingles and this is especially due to its lack of side effects compared to pharmaceutical drugs. Read on to know how CBD product, CBD oil is used in the treatment of shingles.
What Are Shingles?
Shingles is an extremely painful condition caused by the virus varicella-zoster, the same that causes chickenpox. After you are cured of chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the brain and spinal cord tissues which gets reactivated for some people causing shingles also known as herpes zoster. This is more common in people with weakened immune systems due to diseases like HIV, cancer, medications, or in elder people above the age of 50. Its symptoms are painful rashes or blisters that cause shooting pain under the skin, and this is because the virus infects the epidermis cells of the skin.
CBD Oil And Shingles
CBD oil is useful in the treatment of shingles because of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. It enhances the endocannabinoid system (ECS) of the body by influencing its CB1 receptors, the skin is the largest organ in the body has many of these receptors. So, applying CBD topical will help to manage the inflammation and severe pain due to rashes and blisters. Also, consuming CBD products like oils, edibles, pills, and capsules will give systemic relief from the chronic neuropathic pain due to the disease. This is due to CBD’s effect on CB1 receptors that are mainly found in the central and peripheral nervous system.
Drawbacks Of Using CBD For Shingles
One of the main cited drawbacks of using CBD oil for shingles is its side effects like diarrhea, fatigue, change in appetite, and the possible interaction with other medication. Cannabidiol (CBD) is known to inhibit or reduce the action of the liver enzyme CYP450 and this is responsible for the metabolism of many pharmaceutical drugs. So, consuming CBD oil might result in toxicity from the accumulation of these drug compounds. Hence, you must consult with your physician about your plan of using CBD oil for managing the symptoms of shingles i.e. chronic pain.
We hope that the aforementioned details about CBD oil and shingles will be of use to you in the treatment of this disease.