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What is Chemotherapy Pain?
Pain that is caused due to the administration of chemotherapy is called chemotherapy pain. This therapy is used for treating cancer, by killing the abnormally growing oncogenic cells in the body. However this process also causes normal body cells to die, which results in range of pains in the body. The damaged cells signal degeneration causing pain and inflammation in the body. Chemotherapy pains can vary from neuropathic, Musculoskeletal pain to migraines and inflammation.
Signs and symptoms of Chemotherapy pain
- Neuropathic pain: Described as burning, tingling, or shooting.
- Musculoskeletal pain: muscle, joint pain, as well as bone pain.
- Headaches: can range from mild to severe.
- Abdominal pain: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, which can cause abdominal pain.
- Mucositis: inflammation of the mucous membrane in the mouth and throat, causing pain and discomfort.
How can Cannabis help with Chemotherapy pain?
Cannabis medicine directly works by regulating the Endocannabinoid system in the body. ECS regulates a range of processes in the body, mainly mood, appetite, sleep, pain sensation, and immune function. ECS comprises three main parts, endocannabinoids( naturally occurring in the body), enzymes ( used to break down endocannabinoids) and receptors( attachment sites). When our endocannabinoids default in function or are unregulated, discomfort in the form of diseases, pain, and inflammation occurs. Cannabis medicine works by bringing this system back into regulation.
It has been found that some compounds found in Cannabis like CBD, may be useful in reducing inflammation and pain. Terpenes and flavonoids work as analgesics and anti-inflammatories. One particular cannabinoid, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been studied for its pain-relieving effects. THC works by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and nervous system, which can reduce pain perception.
In addition to its anti-nausea and appetite-stimulating effects, cannabis has also been found to have potential anti-cancer properties. Some studies have suggested that cannabinoids may be able to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells, although more research is needed in this area.
Potential Benefits of CBD for Chemotherapy pain
- Pain Relief: CBD’s strong analgesic properties can help tackle severe migraine pain within minutes. Not only is CBD oil effective in countering neurological and localised pain, but it also inhibits pain sensations in the brain.
- Reducing Nausea and Vomiting: CBD has anti-emetic properties in that it is highly effective against vomiting and nausea.
- Improving Mood & Sleep: Migraine pains can often cause a lack of sleep and psychological distress. CBD oil is a relaxant that alters the reaction of the serotonin in the body, uplifting mood and reducing stress. It also decreases the time it takes for the brain to fall asleep and promotes uninterrupted sleep.
- Increasing Immune Response: Whenever our body experiences an injury, the body’s innate immune responds to it with an inflammatory response that activates the pain pathways. CBD can modulate this immune response by decreasing the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines thus decreasing pain.
- Reducing Inflammation: CBD acts as an antioxidant and decreases oxidative stress and systematic inflammation in the body. Inflammation is the root cause of most pain. By decreasing inflammation in the body, CBD reduces the intensity of pain. CBD can also reduce neuropathic pain by countering hyperalgesia (an abnormally heightened pain response in the body).