In our newest video, we get to know Ministry of Hemp’s Editor in Chief, Kit O’Connell.

Kit O’Connell is an experienced journalist, activist and community organizer with a passion for hemp in all its forms. He has fibromyalgia, an illness which combines chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and other challenging symptoms. Like so many others, he uses THC and CBD to treat fibromyalgia.

In addition to our website, you can find Kit’s writing has appeared in Hemp Magazine, the Texas Observer, Truthout, YES! Magazine, and other publications. He lives in Austin, Texas with his spouse and two cats.

Got questions, feedback or story ideas? You can reach Kit by email at kit@wordpress-559906-1802377.cloudwaysapps.com.

Jessica St. Cyr contributed footage to this video.

The post Kit O’Connell, Editor & Hemp Advocate: Meet Our Editor In Chief (Video) appeared first on Ministry of Hemp.

Maybe you’ve even wondered if it could help you. After all, one of the things hemp extract is best known for is its ability to alleviate different types of pain. But does it actually work?

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and a variety of other symptoms.

Despite affecting around 10 million adults in the U.S., it’s a poorly understood condition, with no known cause or cure. Risk factors for fibromyalgia include autoimmune diseases, traumatic events, and central nervous system problems.

Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, some people successfully manage symptoms through exercise, acupuncture, physical therapy, and anti-depressants. However, these limited treatment options don’t work for everyone, and leave many frustrated and desperate for relief. As a result, cannabis is a popular alternative.

But while it’s a safer – and often more effective – choice than opioids and other pain medicines, cannabis causes mind-altering effects that can make it hard to function. Not to mention, it’s illegal or highly regulated in most places.

Enter CBD: a legal way to experience many of the health benefits of cannabis, without the high.

What Is CBD?

CBD belongs to a family called cannabinoids, which are substances derived from the cannabis plant. There are over 100 cannabinoids, including the infamous THC, and others that are gaining in popularity, like CBG and CBN.

THC and CBD are by far the most concentrated cannabinoids, making them easy to extract and sell as stand-alone products. Together, these two cannabinoids are responsible for many of the effects attributed to marijuana, although CBD offers purely therapeutic benefits. In other words, it won’t get you high, unlike THC.

At first glance, cannabinoids seem too good to be true. But there’s a scientific explanation for why they produce so many effects: the endocannabinoid system. Despite the name, the endocannabinoid system is actually found in the human body, not the cannabis plant. This network of receptors and neurotransmitters (called endocannabinoids) regulates mood, digestion, pain, and other processes.

Like other neurotransmitters, though, endocannabinoid levels can become unbalanced. In fact, endocannabinoid deficiencies have been linked to fibromyalgia and many other health problems. That’s where cannabinoids come in; they mimic these neurotransmitters and normalize endocannabinoid levels. As a result, CBD and other cannabinoids offer an impressive list of health benefits.

Can CBD Relieve Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

With symptoms that range from cognitive to digestive, fibromyalgia is a condition that can affect the entire body. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that many people with fibromyalgia find relief with cannabis, including marijuana and hemp extracts like CBD.

Unfortunately, there isn’t abundant research on the direct effectiveness of CBD for treating fibromyalgia specifically. However, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence from people with fibromyalgia who use cannabis and its related products, as well as research supporting the use of CBD for many problems that are associated with fibromyalgia. Most notably, CBD can provide strong pain relief for muscle, joint and nerve pain, as well as headaches. Pain is often one of the most debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia, and often doesn’t respond well to medication.

Sleep problems, CBD and fibromyalgia

Along with pain, sleep problems are one of the diagnostic markers of fibromyalgia; in other words, just about every fibromyalgia sufferer has difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Waking up feeling unrefreshed is another common issue. To add insult to injury, lack of sleep can worsen other symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as pain, fatigue, depression, brain fog, and digestive problems.

The good news is that CBD can improve sleep quality and duration, and even help you fall asleep faster. If your lack of sleep is the result of nightmares due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – a condition frequently found alongside fibromyalgia – then you’ll be glad to hear that CBD can also relieve many symptoms of PTSD, including nightmares. The sleep benefits of CBD are significant for people with fibromyalgia, since better sleep can lead to a reduction in symptoms, while improving overall health.

Fibromyalgia, IBS, and beyond

Along with its sleep benefits, CBD is helpful for gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is linked to fibromyalgia. Not only does CBD reduce stomach pain, but it can also improve digestion, reduce nausea, and stimulate the appetite – a particularly helpful effect if you’re unable to eat due to pain, spasms, or nausea.

If you’re still not convinced, CBD is also an antioxidant with antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties as well as benefits for your heart and bones. Considering that fibromyalgia is associated with depression, anxiety, heart disease, and osteoporosis, these benefits make CBD even more appealing. All in all, CBD has strong potential for managing the symptoms of fibromyalgia and improving quality of life.

Using CBD and Other Supplements Together

One of the lesser known facts about fibromyalgia is that it often comes with vitamin deficiencies, which can worsen symptoms. It’s estimated that at least 25% of fibromyalgia patients are deficient in vitamin D, which can cause symptoms like fatigue, depression, and widespread pain – sound familiar? But even if you don’t have a deficiency, taking certain supplements can be beneficial for fibromyalgia.

Folic acid, for example, can alleviate depression, lower blood pressure, and enhance cognition, making it especially useful for managing brain fog. Similarly, zinc is a powerful supplement to include in your fibromyalgia treatment regimen; studies show it can boost brain function, reduce pain, and improve sleep. It also has antidepressant properties, and may be able to prevent heart disease.

Another supplement to consider is bacopa, an herb with a long history in ayurvedic and ancient Chinese medicine. Bacopa’s main appeal for fibromyalgia is its ability to help with brain fog. In fact, it’s so good at enhancing cognition – especially memory, learning, and concentration – that bacopa is often used in managing ADHD symptoms. Bacopa also shows promise as a potential anti-depressant and sleep aid.

The post CBD For Fibromyalgia: Should You Try CBD For Fibromyalgia? appeared first on Ministry of Hemp.

Scientific advancements have helped us to find working treatments for countless debilitating conditions. However, there are some illnesses that continue to prove notorious and mysterious, with no known causes or cures. Research into the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network in the body influenced by plant-derived cannabinoids, has provided medical experts with a fresh perspective on ailments such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraines.

Dr Ethan Russo, a professional neurologist and cannabis researcher, first published the concept of a spectrum disorder in 2004. He first began working on the idea of dysregulation in the ECS in 2001. Both doctors and patients have noticed that cannabis and CBD oil seem to benefit people with these conditions. Russo has proposed that the effectiveness of cannabinoid medicine in the trio of aforementioned conditions can be explained by Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD).

INTRODUCING CLINICAL ENDOCANNABINOID DEFICIENCY

For the ECS to function efficiently, the body must produce endocannabinoids (naturally occurring, cannabis-like chemicals) such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).

However, studies have found that some people have lower endocannabinoid levels than others, which brings about health complications. There is an increasing body of clinical research which shows anxiety to be associated with reduced anandamide levels, and major depression to be linked with reduced 2-AG levels. When the body is unable to produce endocannabinoids in the concentrations required, chemical imbalances occur, which leads to illness.

Cannabinoid receptors interact with both endocannabinoids and cannabinoids, with the plant-derived compounds able to mimic endocannabinoids or otherwise influence them for ECS regulation. Therefore, it is logical that a cannabinoid treatment could effectively remedy CECD.

Russo’s latest significant update on his CECD research came in 2016, with a paper that continued to build on the concept, incorporating available clinical evidence. This followed an earlier 2008 release.

FIBROMYALGIA AND CLINICAL ENDOCANNABINOID DEFICIENCY

Medical researchers have been unable to come up with a definite cause for fibromyalgia. Patients suffer from an array of debilitating symptoms that have a significant effect on quality of life. These symptoms include chronic deep muscle and tender point pain, impaired cognitive function (or “fibro fog”), headaches, sleeping difficulties and restless leg syndrome. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 20 percent of fibromyalgia patients experience one of or both of these mental health disorders. Typically, this is a result of the pain and fatigue caused by the condition. In 2011, a study found that CBD could reduce anxiety beyond placebo levels, with patients given a 600mg dose administered via CBD capsules.

Moreover, several symptoms of fibromyalgia are indicative of ECS dysregulation — for instance, inflammatory conditions occur due to problems with immune system response, which is modulated by the ECS and specifically the CB2 receptor. Studies have also found that serotonin levels are affected in fibromyalgia patients, which may be noteworthy considering CBD is an agonist of the 5-HT1A receptor.

MIGRAINES AND CLINICAL ENDOCANNABINOID DEFICIENCY

Around 39 million Americans are affected by migraines, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. Migraines can cause dizziness, nausea, numbness or tingling in the face and other unpleasant symptoms. Research has shown that migraine sufferers have “statistically significant” differences in anandamide levels in cerebrospinal fluid, which is found in the brain and spinal cord.

Russo found that endocannabinoid system changes could help to alleviate migraines in his 2004 research. The main finding was that anandamide, a key neurotransmitter in the ECS, heightens the effectiveness of the 5-HT1A receptor while inhibiting the 5-HT2A receptor. This could help with treating acute migraines and as a preventative treatment. Furthermore, the results showed that several cannabinoids exhibited anti-inflammatory properties and dopamine-blocking effects.

The light and sound sensitivity that results from migraines may be due to an overactive nervous system. The ECS is renowned for regulating such imbalances (Russo, 2016). Some have suggested that the root cause of migraines can be traced back to the trigeminovascular system, which brings blood to the brain. Studies have shown that endocannabinoids can influence this system. Migraines and cluster headaches may be best managed with a treatment that is an agonist of the CB1 receptor.

In the case of migraines, one study found that while a CBD and THC treatment was not necessarily more effective than existing anti-migraine treatments, the side effects were significantly reduced.

Fascinatingly, cannabis was a common treatment for migraines in Europe and North America from the mid-1800s until the 1940s, a time when the herb was being prohibited around the globe.

NEXT STEPS IN CANNABINOID RESEARCH

As governments all over the world look into the benefits of medical cannabis, the number of high-quality studies being carried out in clinical settings is sure to increase.

With time, we should get an in-depth look at the potential of cannabinoids as a treatment for fibromyalgia, migraines and other illnesses. As our understanding of the ECS deepens, we may learn more about the wide-scale implications of dysfunction in the system.

Furthermore, more research needs to be done on the possible interactions cannabinoids have with receptors outside of the ECS and the effects this may have on the body.

CLINICAL ENDOCANNABINOID DEFICIENCY SHOWS HOW MUCH WE HAVE LEFT TO LEARN

It’s essential to bear in mind that the work of Dr Russo and others on CECD is at the forefront of cannabis science, and we still have plenty to learn about the endocannabinoid system, the effects of its dysregulation, and the genuine potential of cannabinoid-based medicines for treating notoriously complicated conditions such as fibromyalgia.

However, the theory has certainly fleshed out since 2004. There are studies that suggest medical cannabis and CBD can have a therapeutic effect for certain conditions. But in his 2016 paper, Russo noted that contradictions in CECD research were common. He reported that excessive levels of endocannabinoids could also be damaging for health, potentially leading to obesity and hepatic fibrosis.

Regulation of the endocannabinoid system is probably not be as simple as taking a dose of CBD or THC. There are dozens of cannabinoids in hemp and cannabis. Research indicates that whole-plant tinctures can be preferable to isolates of just one chemical. Given that endocannabinoid imbalances differ from patient to patient, the ideal medication for these imbalances may vary too. Perhaps someday, these treatments may be more be tailored to fit a person’s exact illness.

It’s clear we still have a lot more to learn about the endocannabinoid system before we can fully understand how it contributes to our health and well-being.

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