Can Hemp Oil Help with Fibromyalgia?

Can Hemp Oil Help with Fibromyalgia? may be a question you are asking yourself if you suffer from chronic pain. If so, you’re certainly not alone. This condition affects as many as four million Americans 18 years and older and includes a group of symptoms that occur together. People with fibromyalgia experience aches and pains all over their body, fatigue that does not improve with rest, digestive issues, and problems sleeping.

Although fibromyalgia isn’t fully understood, it’s thought to be caused by a problem in the brain relating to nerves and pain signals. In other words, in people with fibromyalgia, the brain misinterprets pain signals and sensory input, making the person more sensitive to stimuli like temperature, bright lights, and noise. Fibromyalgia affects women significantly more than men, with up to 90 percent of sufferers being women.

While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, there are several things you can do to reduce the severity of your symptoms, including using hemp seed oil (aka hemp oil). Today, we’re going to share how including hemp oil, an effective natural remedy, in your daily routine can help reduce your fibromyalgia pain.

First things first, what exactly is hemp oil?

There’s a lot of talk of cannabis these days and understanding the difference between the various products can be confusing. So, let’s break it down! Hemp oil, marijuana, and cannabis oil (aka CDB oil) all come from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Although hemp oil comes from the same plant as marijuana buds and cannabis oil, hemp oil does not contain any tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the primary psychoactive compound responsible for the “high” feeling associated with inhaling or consuming marijuana.

Hemp oil is made by cold pressing the seeds from the hemp plant. Unlike marijuana or cannabis oil, hemp oil is 100 percent legal in all 50 states and has been sold for decades as a health food supplement in grocery stores.

Does hemp oil help with fibromyalgia?

Yes, it absolutely can! The compounds in hemp oil have been shown to reduce symptoms in pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia, when ingested or applied topically. The compounds that are responsible for hemp oil’s pain-reducing properties are called polyunsaturated fatty acids.

How polyunsaturated fatty acids can help reduce pain

Fatty acids are essential for many important functions in the body. There are four types of fatty acids, but the ones you can thank for reducing your pain and inflammation are called polyunsaturated fatty acids (also known as PUFAs). These fatty acids include omega-3 and omega-6, which have significant health benefits. Hemp oil contains high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the optimal 3:1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6, which has been scientifically proven to be anti-inflammatory.

Preliminary scientific research also shows that an omega-6 fatty acid contained in hemp oil called gamma-linoleci acid (GLA) may also soothe inflammation. While omega-3 fatty acids are considered to be more powerful in terms of reducing inflammation, the GLA found in hemp oil likely also plays a role in its pain and inflammation-reducing properties.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are nothing to sneeze at! Studies have suggested that consuming higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids is so powerful that it can play a role in regenerating nerves after an acute injury.

 Using hemp oil for fibromyalgia pain

One special thing about hemp oil is that you can reap its benefits in two ways—by consuming it and by applying it topically. It’s super easy to add hemp oil to your diet. Simply drizzle some cold-pressed hemp oil on your veggies, salad, or pasta, or add some whole hemp seeds to a salad or smoothie.

For topical use, you can either use a hemp oil-infused pain relief cream like Aromalief or cold-pressed hemp oil. Since fibromyalgia tends to affect the entire body, knowing how to apply a pain relief remedy can be a little tricky. We’ve found that applying hemp oil or cream around the base of your neck and down your back along your spinal cord produces the best results, likely because pain messages are sent from the brain to the rest of the body through the spinal cord.

Many people find that applying hemp oil at night is the ideal time, as sleep is when your body cleans house and works to regenerate cells. You might also try applying it to your hands and feet to improve circulation and stimulate the release of endorphins.

Try hemp oil for fibromyalgia pain

For best results, incorporate hemp oil into your daily routine by consuming it in your diet and applying it topically every day. When used in conjunction with healthy eating, daily movement, proper hydration, and stress reduction, hemp oil has the potential to reduce your discomfort so you can better enjoy your life and participate in the activities you love.

Aromalief® is a brand of topical pain relievers made in Florida for women with chronic pain by women. It is 97% Naturally-derived, Vegan, and Cruelty-Free. 

References:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4575027/#__ffn_sectitle
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3191260/
• https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/gamma-linolenic-acid#:~:text=Linoleic%20acid%20and%20arachidonic%20acid,called%20DGLA%20that%20fights%20inflammation.
• https://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/2/563