Cannabidiol products like CBD oil are commonly used by people for treating and managing symptoms of diseases like pain and inflammations. This is due to its positive effect on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) achieved by influencing CB1 and CB2 receptors of this system. One such important application is its effectiveness in managing the symptoms of shingles. It is a viral infection caused by residual chickenpox virus varicella-zoster, read on to know more about CBD oil and shingles.
What Is Shingles?
As mentioned in the introduction, shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you are cured of chickenpox infection, the residual VZV remains in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord in a dormant state. However, in some people with a weakened immune system like older people, those suffering from diseases like AIDS, those who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, etc., the virus will get reactivated. This reactivated VZV migrates to the skin surface and causes many of the obvious symptoms that are listed below.
- The first major symptom is pervasive body pain.
- The next common shingle symptom is the signature red rash and it can appear in different areas of the body. However, keep in mind that these rashes are sometimes misdiagnosed as eczema.
- Neuropathic pain is a prominent symptom of shingles, and it is coupled with numbness from time to time, itching, and tingling.
CBD Oil And Shingles
The biggest advantage of using CBD oil for shingles is its effectiveness in managing neuropathic pain. This is mainly due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Also, cannabidiol (CBD) reduces the inflammation and discomfort from the rashes, so you are less tempted to scratch from the itches. Moreover, it is a better option than pharmaceutical painkillers as it has no negative side effects and has many therapeutic benefits.
You can use CBD topical oil on the rashes as it soothes the discomfort and reduces the nerve pain. Although it is not scientifically proven, it has been found from experience that both the topical and oral use of CBD oil reduces the duration of a shingle outbreak. This is assumed to be due to cannabidiol enhancing the immunity due to its positive effect on the immune system.
Dosing CBD Oil For Shingles
There is no fixed dosage of CBD oil for shingles because of the difference in the physiology of people. But 20 to 25mg of cannabidiol (CBD) is a good lower starting point for many people and you can adjust the dosage according to changing needs and requirements.