Lyme disease is a condition that creates problems every day for its victims. This persistent infection can make you feel pretty hopeless, especially since there are limited treatment options. Unfortunately, most of them don’t work very well either. As a result, many people have started to turn to cannabidiol (CBD).
Lyme disease can lead to neurological impairment or even heart damage. CBD oils are a new approach to dealing with this vector-borne disease. In this article, you’ll learn if CBD oil helps with Lyme disease. Let’s get started.
What is Lyme Disease
Before jumping into the details, you need to know about Lyme disease. It is a bacterial infection caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi. It’s transmitted to people through infected ticks. It’s a huge problem to tackle as it’s hard to diagnose.
The symptoms are similar to most common illnesses. However, if it’s left untreated, the problems will become aggravated. Once infected, you can either face acute problems or chronic ones.
Unfortunately, there are no vaccines to prevent this disease. But some tests can help identify the symptoms. You should get the treatment started as soon as you can.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
People don’t experience the same effects from Lyme disease. However, if you get infected, you’ll face some common symptoms. These include a bull’s eye rash, lethargy, body aches, headaches, and more. Some people even get swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, and fever. You’ll also have a more challenging time concentrating on work.
You may develop arthritis, heart problems, strange nervous sensations, or chronic joint pain in severe cases. Many people face facial paralysis. Others tackle depression, anxiety, and confusion.
People with severe symptoms tend to develop psychological problems like depression and anxiety. In worst cases, their bodily functions can become permanently damaged.
Antibiotic treatment sometimes doesn’t help either. This means that the sufferer is subjected to chronic Lyme disease. Experts still do not know why this happens. Studies claim around 10 to 20 percent of infected people tend to face chronic problems.
Where CBD Oil Comes In
You might ask how can CBD oil help with Lyme disease? Well, CBD has been getting a lot of buzz due to its therapeutic properties. It has medicinal properties that can tackle inflammation, insomnia, and more. The traction it has gained makes people wonder whether CBD oil can help with Lyme disease.
CBD oil isn’t a cure by any means. And there’s no strong research that backs this theory. However, CBD oils like 500 mg CBD Oil UK can help with specific symptoms.
Can CBD Oils Really Help?
CBD oils are reportedly helpful for Lyme disease patients. There is no conclusive research for this yet; however, some clinical trials are showing hopeful results.
Cannabis includes CBD and other cannabinoids. CBD oils influence the immune system of the human body. One positive effect seems to be in reducing inflammation, but the benefits don’t end there. CBD is said to have antibacterial as well as antioxidant properties that prevent oxidative stress.
Of course, CBD has a positive effect on mood and sleep. CBD helps with your mental health too. Chronic Lyme disease patients can benefit from this. This unexpected source could provide some hope for the future. Nonetheless, more research must be conducted before the full benefits are known.
CBD Oil for Lyme Disease: Pros and Cons
It’s established that CBD oil has some potential therapeutic benefits. However, while CBD is beneficial for many people, some drawbacks are associated. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
Advantages of Using CBD Oil
- Patients with Lyme disease have a prescribed course of antibiotics. Some require more than one course. These medicines can be pretty intense. In addition, many need residual pain relief. Here’s where CBD oil comes in. It can stop sleep disruptions and relieve fatigue.
- Studies suggest CBD oil can alleviate Lyme disease symptoms like joint pain and inflammation.
- CBD oil has no psychoactive effects. An authorized CBD product contains no more than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
- CBD is considered non-addictive by the World Health
Organization (WHO). Therefore, daily use is typically safe.
- You don’t need a prescription to buy CBD oil.
Disadvantages of Using CBD Oil
- Using CBD oil with prescribed medications is not wise as CBD can alter the way the body metabolizes the medicine.
- The CBD industry is new and unregulated.
- In some people, CBD can cause dry mouth and a loss of appetite.
Choosing a CBD Product for Lyme Disease
There are two things you need to consider while choosing a CBD product: the type of CBD you’re buying and the legitimacy of the manufacturer.
Types of CBD
CBD oil comes in full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate.
A full-spectrum CBD oil contains all the cannabinoids found in hemp, including trace amounts of THC, although not enough to produce psychoactive effects. This oil is the best for Lyme disease as it has everything the body requires.
Broad-spectrum CBD does not contain THC. CBD isolate offers CBD in its purest form. People sensitive to cannabinoids prefer this.
Vendor Credentials
The second thing you need to look at is the vendor’s certification of analysis (COA). This certificate provides information about the purity and quality of the product. This certificate covers the cannabinoid profile, residual solvents, or heavy metals.
Here’s what you need to look for. The certificate must be issued from an ISO-accredited laboratory. It’s best if the FDA gives the certificate. Also, it should state how much CBD the product has.
Make sure there’s third-party testing involved. The FDA doesn’t control CBD products the way they regulate prescription drugs. Companies peddling false claims or labels may not be immediately caught. Here’s where COA comes in handy. They’ll add any third-party testing results.
How Much CBD Do You Need for Lyme Disease?
People suffering from chronic pain seek instantaneous relief. You’ll get the easiest and fastest relief from CBD vape oils. However, they can have adverse side effects. So it’s best to use CBD oil.
Moreover, there’s no standard dosage of CBD oil for Lyme disease. A typical dose of 10 mg or more is enough to treat inflammatory conditions. You should start with smaller doses and gradually increase them. Find what works best for you.
Administrating CBD is relatively easy too. Just a few drops under your tongue will work. This process relieves lethargy, insomnia, unexpected palpitations, and more.
If you don’t want to ingest it, you can stick to oils, creams, and patches. The CBD won’t go into your digestive system. You can use this to treat joint or muscle pains.
The appropriate dosage varies. What works for others won’t be the same for you. Do some trial and error. As mentioned before, CBD products have varying potencies. See which dose works the best for you and your health.
If you’re new to this, start with the lowest dose and increase it over time. Also, edibles take time to work. So wait a while before consuming more. Then you can amp up the dosage if you need to.
Consuming Different Forms of CBD
You can use CBD in various ways. First, topicals should be applied to the skin directly. However, they only target a specific area. For example, if the joints in your fingers are sore, apply the topicals there.
You can also consume CBD through oil, gummies, or capsules. Or you can try adding edible CBD oil to your food or drink. Always pay attention to the labels. There are some CBD oils that you shouldn’t ingest. So it’s best to be careful.
If you’re taking antibiotics, consult a professional before taking CBD. The two products might not interact appropriately. Moreover, you should do a patch test to apply CBD topically. You may find that you are allergic to the product. Always think of potential problems!
Alternative Treatments for Lyme Disease
Alternative treatments for Lyme disease include hypnosis, acupuncture, and meditation. All of these can be used to ease insomnia, anxiety, and body pain.
People suffering from sleep disruptions can benefit from these too. In addition, some companies sell CBD tea bags. CBD might not be a cure, but it certainly helps improve certain health conditions.
Final Thoughts
There’s no question that Lyme disease patients will find relief from CBD oil. At the very least, its anti-inflammatory properties can help relieve pain. Of course, there are some additional health benefits. Studies claim CBD for Lyme disease has potential, but more research must be conducted.
It’s best to consult a medical professional before using CBD oil to treat Lyme disease. Proper use of the substance is a prerequisite. Additionally, buy CBD products from a reputable store with a Certificate of Analysis (COA). With these safety measurements, you can consume the product with minimal concern.