This article explores how CBD might help people living with ME/CFS.
What Is CBD Oil?
CBD stands for cannabidiol, which comes from the cannabis plant.
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That’s the same plant that gives us marijuana.
However, CBDas an oil or in other formsdoesn’t have psychoactive properties.
That means it doesn’t provide the “high” associated with marijuana.
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
It’s also involved in processing pain sensations.
However, the Food and Drug Administration has only approved Epidiolex.
It’s used to treat two severe seizure conditions affecting children, called Lennox-Gaustaut and Dravet syndromes.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Homeostasis tends to be out of balance in ME/CFS.
CBD is being researched for numerous conditions, and many of those conditions share features with ME/CFS.
People living with ME/CFS offer anecdotal evidence on how CBD helps to relieve symptoms.
When patients with difficult-to-treat conditions tell their healthcare providers something works, they’re likely to show interest.
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
Side Effects
The possible side effects of CBD aren’t completely known.
Some studies show that when a state legalizes marijuana, the number of opioid prescriptions drops.
When the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law, it made hemp an agricultural product.
That means products made from hempincluding CBDare legal at the federal level.
CBD oil can be used in several different ways.
A crystalline form of pure CBD is also available, which is generally taken sublingually.
CBD products also come in varying strengths so check the labels for the number of milligrams in each dose.
Some states and municipalities have passed laws specifically banning hemp products or CBD.
Technically, federal law overrides state law.
The websiteProCon.orghas information about which states have laws specific to CBD oil.
A site calledGoverningmaintains a map of where marijuana is legal in some form.
CBD comes in different forms and varying strengths.
Keep in mind that CBD isn’t associated with a marijuana-like high.
Be sure to consider the pros and cons, including the legal ones.
Discuss this option with your healthcare provider to check that you’re not endangering your health.
As with any treatment, watch for side effects.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Drowsiness is one of the possible side effects of CBD oil.
This can compound the fatigue due to CFS.How long drowsiness lasts varies.
Early research has shown that CBD has the potential to increase levels of dopamine.
This is a key brain chemical that plays a role in how your body interprets fatigue.
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