Dr. Nikesh Seth on the Benefits of CBD and the Mechanisms on How it Works to Help Relieve Pain
There is still some debate over whether marijuana use is an appropriate treatment for chronic pain relief given its pharmacological effects and the fact that it’s still an illegal substance under U.S Federal Law.
And while the drug has been approved for medical use in 33 U.S states as well as the District of Columbia, it’s nonetheless rarely approved for the long-term treatment of chronic pain despite the evidence of its effectiveness as a pain treatment, ostensibly due to the fact that its long-term effect on patients has not been studied enough.
One workaround that is making waves in the medical world is the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in various forms, including oil. When CBD oil is derived from hemp (another member of the cannabis family of plants) which has low concentrations of THC (the psychoactive compound found in cannabis), it is legal in every state.
Dr. Nikesh Seth, an award-winning anesthesiologist and pain management physician at the Scottsdale, AZ-based Integrated Pain Consultants, uses CBD oil with some of his patients and says it showcases the same pain-relief benefits as marijuana without the “high” or some of the other negative side effects associated with marijuana use, including anxiety and psychosis.
And it is not just humans that show pain reduction from CBD. A small study by Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine showed that 80% of dogs exhibited pain relief and enhanced mobility after a few weeks of CBD oil consumption.
How CBD Oil Works to Relieve Pain
CBD is the second-most abundant cannabinoid found in cannabis plants and triggers effects within the endocannabinoid system found in humans, which regulates everything from mood, appetite, and memory, to inflammation and pain.
The mechanisms by which CBD works aren’t entirely known and require further study. It was initially thought that CBD bound itself to CB2 receptors, one of two prominent groups of receptors (the other being CB1, which THC binds to) found within the endocannabinoid system. However, researchers now believe that isn’t the case.
Instead, it appears that CBD interacts with various other compounds within the endocannabinoid system that are produced naturally by the body. The most important of those according to Dr. Nikesh Seth is anandamide, a neurotransmitter produced by the brain which binds to the CB1 receptors found there.
Dubbed the “bliss molecule”, anandamide reduces pain while also producing feelings of happiness. However, this neurotransmitter is also rapidly degraded by an enzyme called FAAH.
A Scottish woman with a rare genetic variation called FAAH-OUT, which turns off this enzyme, has never experienced pain, anxiety, or fear, and has rapid wound healing ability (not Wolverine-level mind you, but quicker), baffling scientists and doctors who have studied her. Since then, that effect has been reproduced in mice, who don’t experience pain and show reduced anxiety and fear when that enzyme is suppressed.
And scientists have found that CBD has a somewhat similar (though less powerful) effect, inhibiting the FAAH enzyme from breaking down anandamide as quickly, leaving more of it in the bloodstream, which in turn elevates mood and decreases pain and anxiety.
Dr. Nikesh Seth adds that due to its mechanism of action, patients also don’t develop a tolerance to CBD, so dosage doesn’t need to be increased over time, making it an ideal long-term treatment for pain.
To learn more about Dr. Nikesh Seth and Integrated Pain Consultants visit https://nikeshsethmd.com/ or https://www.azipc.com/
