Cannabidiol Significantly Reduces Chronic Pain for Those With Nerve Damage

A new study by researchers at the University of Sydney has shown that taking cannabidiol (CBD) can significantly reduce chronic neuropathic pain in those suffering from it. The findings of the randomized placebo-controlled trial, published in eClinicalMedicine, demonstrated that taking CBD over a six-week period reduced pain by approximately 14%, compared to 6.5% from the placebo.

CBD is a substance derived from the cannabis plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol or “THC” it does not cause a high. In Australia, CBD is a prescription-only medication that is currently used to treat conditions such as drug-resistant epilepsy.

Lead author Dr Rebecca Robertson, from the Brain and Mind Center, said the results of the study were beyond what she expected. “Chronic neuropathic pain is notoriously hard to treat, with traditional therapies ineffective in about 50% of cases. To see such strong results in the trial is significant and suggests there is real potential for CBD to be used to help manage chronic neuropathic pain.”