Study: cannabis oil, an effective treatment for fibromyalgia

Brazilian researchers have discovered that cannabis oil may be an effective treatment for patients with fibromyalgia, according to the results of a recently completed clinical trial. An abstract of the study, «Ingestion of THC-Rich Cannabis Oil in People with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial,» was published last week in the journal Pain Medicine.

To carry out the study, researchers tested the effectiveness of a plant-based cannabis oil on 17 women with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. The patients were treated over an 8-week period with a THC-rich cannabis oil. The initial dose was one drop per day, with subsequent increases based on symptoms. The average dose for participants in the cannabis group was 3.6 drops per day, equivalent to a total of 4.4 milligrams of THC and 0.08 milligrams of CBD per dose.

The patients were divided into two groups, one of which received cannabis oil, while the members of the control group received a placebo. The questionnaire on the impact of fibromyalgia was administered before and after the intervention, and then five times over the course of eight weeks. The researchers reported that «the impact of the intervention on the quality of life of participants in the cannabis group was evident, resulting in reports of improved well-being and increased energy for activities of daily living. Pain episodes were also reduced.»

«To the best of our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate the benefits of the’cannabis oil, a whole-plant extract rich in THC, on the symptoms and quality of life of people with fibromyalgia,» the researchers wrote. «We conclude that the phytocannabinoids »may be an inexpensive and well-tolerated therapy for relieving symptoms and improving quality of life in these patients, and we suggest that this therapy be included as a herbal medicine option for treating this condition within the Brazilian public health system."

Given the impact that fibromyalgia can have on patients’ health and the need for effective and affordable medications to treat it, researchers have recommended further research to study cannabis as a treatment for the condition.

«Given the considerable harm caused by fibromyalgia and the impact it can have on individuals, their families, communities, and the public health system, it seems necessary to explore alternative, inexpensive, and well-tolerated therapies that help patients regain their well-being and quality of life,» the study states.