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CBD For Lupus: Can It Help Reduce Symptoms?

7 April 2021

Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or SLE) is an auto-immune disease that causes inflammation throughout the entire body. The basic problem in lupus is caused by the auto-immune system, which starts to attack itself. This can cause a whole range of symptoms, located throughout the entire body. People suffering from lupus may face pain, inflammation, and fatigue. Inflammation usually occurs in waves. While most patients experience periods of relative calm, incidental flare-ups can be intense and severe. There is no cure for lupus, and symptoms are often hard to control. CBD Oil may provide relief, however, due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

What Are The Symptoms Of Lupus?

Lupus revolves around immune system issues. This is the body’s system for fighting off viruses, fungi, bacteria, and other threats. In the case of lupus, however, the immune system turns against the very body it is supposed to protect. That causes inflammation, which ultimately damages tissues in the organs, blood vessels, and the skin. As the entire body is involved in these symptoms, the condition is also known as systemic lupus.

The most common symptoms of lupus are fatigue, inflamed joints that can be stiff and painful, fever, and a general sense of malaise. Inflammation of the is skin is another common symptom, with bright red spots marking affected tissue. Lupus expresses itself differently from one patient to the next, but symptom patters often include the following:

• Shortness of breath;
• Fever;
• Joint aches;
• Skin rash;
• Fatigue;
• Hypersensitivity to light;
• Dry eyes;
• Headaches;
• Memory loss.

Lupus causes inflammations that can ultimately damage vital organs such as the lungs, brain, and heart. This can obviously have severe health consequences. Although the exact origin of lupus is still unclear, the disease probably involves a combination of genetic disposition and environmental factors.

The Prospects

Lupus is generally diagnosed in patients between 15 and 45 years old. The disease is difficult to diagnose, because symptoms are often diffuse and similar to those seen in other conditions. No clinical tests are available to confirm the presence of lupus. The prospects for lupus patients have improved in recent years, however. Improved general medication such as anti-inflammatory drugs can help prevent organ damage. Nonetheless, the consequences of lupus can be severe, and symptoms can have a major impact on patients’ lives.

Can You Take CBD For Lupus?

CBD might prove useful for lupus patients, as this cannabinoid can influence the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system has a regulatory function that affects many processes occurring in the body. The ECS guards our physiological balance. It is involved in the immune system, moods, and processing of pain, for instance. That suggests CBD could help relieve some of the typical lupus symptoms, including inflammation, pain, and sleeping problems. However, clinical research into such potential benefits is still in its infancy.

Pain And Inflammation

Lupus patients are often in pain. Although regular painkillers are available, they do not work for everyone. Moreover, such general analgesics often produce unwanted side-effects. Current treatments aren’t fully tailored to individual patient needs. Lupus can cause several types of pain-related symptoms:

• Aching joints due to inflammation;
• Neuropathic pain (due to nerve damage);
• Headaches

Several studies indicate that CBD may provide relief for all three types of pain described above. Neuropathic pain, which is notoriously difficult to treat, seems particularly susceptible to the analgesic effects of CBD; at least it does so in lab tests. The big benefit of CBD as a painkiller is the fact that it does not produce tolerance to treatment. This was demonstrated in a 2012 study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Immune System Effects

CBD (cannabidiol) has immuno-modulating effects, as research has shown. These effects seem related to CB2 receptors. They are part of the ECS, which CBD can affect. Since the ECS guards the balance of the body, it also balances the immune system, which may prove very useful in case of lupus. The disease can cause the immune system to overreact, which causes inflammation. CBD could help stop the system from overreacting. However, we need more long-term research aimed specifically at lupus to expand our understanding of lupus and see how CBD can help control its symptoms.

In 2018, a study published in Cellular Immunology reported that CBD administered after spinal injury can change T-cell activity. T-cells are part of the immune system. Lupus can involve abnormal activity of these cells. This is another useful clue as to how CBD may have positive effects on the symptoms caused by this disease.

Lupus And Sleeping Problems

In addition to the above, CBD can also help reduce sleeping problems. Lupus can make it very hard to fall asleep, or to sleep through the night without waking up. Pain and discomfort can disrupt sleep, but anxiety, stress, or depressive symptoms associated with lupus can do the same. Obviously, chronic conditions such as these can have a negative impact on your mental wellbeing. CBD may help regulate your sleep patterns and improve your mood, on top of all the other potential benefits for lupus patients.

Trying CBD Oil For Lupus: Always Consult Your Doctor

Although science is just beginning to explore the potential of CBD for lupus, anecdotal evidence for its positive effects is widely available. On sites such as Reddit or forums hosted by lupus patient organisations, people share their experiences of CBD’s personal benefits. Until more concrete evidence becomes available, this is the prime source of information for anyone interested in trying CBD supplements for lupus. If you want to find out whether CBD can help relieve your lupus symptoms, you will find our CBD Oil very suitable, but our CBD Tablets are a good option, too. These dissolve under the tongue, and are easy to carry with you wherever you go.

If you plan to start using CBD for lupus, always consult your doctor first; especially if you are already on medication. CBD can sometimes influence the effectiveness of painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and SSRIs.