Increasingly sold in France, CBD (cannabidiol) does not help relieve persistent pain, according to a new study.
- At least 12 million French people suffer from chronic pain.
- CBD is increasingly consumed in France, often with the aim of reducing this type of suffering.
- A new study has just demonstrated that CBD is not effective in reducing chronic pain.
CBD products do not relieve pain and are even potentially harmful, according to a new study led by the University of Bath (United Kingdom).
CBD (short for cannabidiol) is one of many chemicals found naturally in cannabis. CBD is easily found in specialty stores and on the Internet in the form of oils, creams, edible products or drinks.
“CBD is presented by sellers as a cure for all pain, but there is no solid scientific evidence of this kind of effect,” says study director Chris Eccleston.
Pain and CBD: 15 trials yielded no positive results
For his study, recently published in The Journal of Painhis team synthesized the results of numerous research relating to the use of CBD to treat pain.
They found the following:
– CBD products sold directly to consumers contain varying amounts of CBD, ranging from none to much more than advertised.
– CBD products may contain chemicals other than CBD, some of which may be harmful.
– Of the 16 randomized controlled trials that studied the link between pain and CBD, 15 yielded no positive results.
– A link between CBD and increased rates of serious adverse effects such as liver toxicity has been established.
“For too many people who suffer from chronic pain, there is no medication that can alleviate their pain. Chronic pain can be terrible to endure, and so people who suffer from it are highly motivated to find a cure. This makes them makes us vulnerable to the crazy promises made about CBD”, laments Dr Andrew Moore, co-author of the study and former researcher at the University of Oxford.
“Pain deserves investment in serious science to find serious solutions,” concludes Professor Chris Eccleston.
12 million French people suffer from chronic pain
“At least 12 million French people suffer from chronic pain”, indicated the Apicil foundation last year. In detail, more than 20% of our population reports having chronic pain of moderate to severe intensity and 32% express daily pain for more than 3 months.
Furthermore, one in two people with chronic pain has an impaired quality of life and two in three patients are not relieved by their treatment. 2/3 of individuals (70%) suffering from chronic pain present psycho-social repercussions (sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, cognitive problems).
In 2022, 71% of the French population said they had heard of CBD. In total, 16.4% of people aged 18 to 75 residing in our country say they have used CBD at least once during their life and 10% say they have used it in the last 12 months.
“These figures demonstrate the significant and rapid diffusion of CBD in France, given its recent availability to the general public”indicates Public Health France.
