For people with fibromyalgia, a condition causing chronic pain and fatigue, CBD could potentially be a helpful tool in a list of treatment options, especially used in a number of ways.

While there’s no current cure for fibromyalgia, some lifestyle adjustments and self-care techniques may go a long way to alleviating symptoms of the condition. Using edible CBD, with topical creams, drinks, vapes, etc., CBD could be a part of an effective treatment strategy.

We’ve picked five CBD products that may be a good pick for people with fibromyalgia, and how you can use CBD for symptoms of this condition.  However, you could pick similar strength products from any of our manufacturers, the key is to use CBD regularly, let it build and become part of your daily routine.

It also doesn’t have to be expensive, we have CDB to suit all budgets, the only thing we cannot control is the stronger the CBD content, it tends to increase the price.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a type of cannabinoid, a chemical compound naturally found in cannabis.

Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another type of cannabinoid, CBD doesn’t cause a feeling of being “high.”

Since late 2018, when the British Government legalised CBD as a health food supplement and sales across the country, the availability of CBD products has increased dramatically.

For decades, research into CBD and other cannabinoids has been limited because of these restrictions on hemp and cannabis in the UK. Research into CBD’s benefits is still relatively new, but studies done in the last few years show some interesting and promising results.

The results are especially true for issues like sleep, anxiety, pain, sports recovery and an overall feeling of wellness (see our blog on the Entourage Effect of CBD).

But as with many health and wellness products, the market for CBD was largely unregulated, until March 2021, when any edible or sublingual (under the tongue) CBD products sold in the UK, had to apply for a Novel Foods License and show their levels of compliance, health and safety, consistency of product and showing their products as overall safe for consumption.

Governance of CBD products, has now been shifted from being largely up to the manufacturers themselves, to adhering to strict criteria, making consumption a lot more measurable through Novel Food Licensing.

It is still extremely important that you do your own research before purchasing any CBD products and getting the right advice from healthcare professionals before embarking on your own CBD journey.

Understanding the markers of good CBD products can help you bypass inferior products and save money, however, Hemprove UK will only work with brands and products we like, who have their Novel Foods License in progress and have their own very high standards in terms of the products they produce.

Current fibromyalgia treatments

To look at CBD for fibromyalgia, let’s start with the basics of the condition and current medical treatments.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body. It can also cause:

• fatigue
• tenderness
• sleep problems
• cognitive disturbances

Treatment focuses on easing or reducing symptoms and managing pain. These treatments include:

• medications, such as prescription and over-the-counter pain medications
• self-care strategies, including stress reduction and aerobic exercise
• lifestyle changes, such as adjustments to diet and sleep patterns

Can CBD help fibromyalgia?

Studies and Researcher have looked at cannabis as a possible treatment for fibromyalgia symptoms.

Several studies have examined the effect cannabis (THC strains and hemp plants) has on fibromyalgia broadly and on symptoms of the condition more specifically.

CBD can help fibromyalgia, but research includes other cannabinoids, too?

Most of the studies that have looked at managing fibromyalgia with cannabinoids have included THC in the dose. THC, or the active ingredient in cannabis that causes a “high,” this isn’t legal in the UK, so it cannot be replicated with the inclusion of THC, all CBD products in the UK must have less than 0.2% THC content, which means that the THC is so minimal it has no effect on the body at all.

Some studies have found that people with fibromyalgia experience some reduction in pain when taking CBD combined with THC.

CBD, like THC, interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is a complex system responsible for signalling cells throughout the body.

Let’s quickly look at the endocannabinoid system (ECS):

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signalling system identified in the early 1990s by researchers exploring THC, a well-known cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis.

Experts are still trying to fully understand the ECS. But so far, we know it plays role in regulating a range of functions and processes, including:

• sleep
• mood
• appetite
• memory
• reproduction and fertility

The ECS exists and is active in your body even if you don’t use cannabis.

Research has linked the ECS to the following processes:

• appetite and digestion
• metabolism
• chronic pain
• inflammation and other immune system responses
• mood
• learning and memory
• motor control
• sleep
• cardiovascular system function
• muscle formation
• bone remodelling and growth
• liver function
• reproductive system function
• stress
• skin and nerve function

Now we know a bit more about how the ECS works it helps to understand how CBD can have an effect.

Cannabinoids like THC and CBD can interact with your ECS. When they do, research tells us the ECS sends out signals that work to decrease inflammation and reduce feelings of pain and discomfort. Both of these benefits could help people with fibromyalgia.

For that reason, it may be more beneficial to look at CBD usage as a way to help some symptoms of fibromyalgia instead of treating the whole condition broadly.

In that regard, we see a number of successful studies already.

Obviously we cannot know for sure as these studies included THC, but without that element, CBD has helped a lot of people in the UK in a number of ways.  The good news is that most of these studies also reported few, if any, adverse effects or problems with CBD usage. That may be reason enough for people living with fibromyalgia to try out CBD and see whether it helps.

So here’s our top 5 recommendations to help with fibromyalgia:

Best Oil

1: Orange County CBD 1500mg Flavoured Tincture Oil

(or try a Budget friendly: CBD Asylum 1500mg CBD Full Spectrum Terpenes Oil 10ml £ - ££)

 

 Price Range ££-£££

CBD Content 1500mg per 30ml

Our advice for a novice with CBD is to start slow and low in terms of dosage, 1500mg is a fairly strong CBD oil, build up your dosage as per the instructions, spread it out throughout the day, as you would your meals.

With flavoured tinctures, it takes away that “earthy” taste that some CBD oils can have and make them more pleasant to take.

 

Best Balm

2: Elixinol CBD Hemp Rescue Balm

 

Price Range £-££

CBD Content 100mg

Elixinol’s Hemp Rescue Balm is a firm Hemprove favourite, it’s great for aches and pains, applies easily, massage in and feel it do it’s work.

 

 

Best Edibles

3: cbdMD 300mg CBD Gummies

 

 

Price Range £-££

CBD Content 300mg per pack of 30

Really tasty gummies, that you can take anywhere with you, enjoy as a top up or whenever the mood takes you, keep them next to the bed to help settle your mind and get more restful sleep.

Best Drinks

4: CBD Infused Tea or Coffee

 

Price Range £-££

CBD Content from 5 - 500mg per bag/box

We can’t pick a favourite here, everyone is different, from good strong full bean hand roasted Artisan coffee’s to refreshing herbal teas, get the full “entourage effect” by adding CBD hot drinks into your daily routine.

 

 

Most CBD Content

5: Naturecan 40% Broad Spectrum MCT Oil 30ml

 

 

Price Range ££££

CBD Content 12,000mg per 30ml

Certainly not for the beginner, but if you are really suffering and you want a natural boost to your pain management then this is one step off as strong as we go.  This is one where you will either be an experienced CBD advocate or will want to build up to a max strength CBD product.

 

 

We love a lot more of our products and there are certainly alternatives to suit every budget, that will be effective towards many ailments.  This is a selection of what we think would be a great starting point.

Also, don't ignore having things like snacks on the go, chocolate, cookies, etc. or using CBD in cooking, or honey in porridge.