As per the statistics, about one million Americans develop shingles every year. It is a virus that leads to painful rashes and can result in many long-term complications. There are not many treatment options available for shingles and many people are considering natural remedies like CBD oil for shingles. But, can CBD oil be used to treat shingles? Read ahead to know.
What Is Shingles?
Shingles is a common viral infection that is caused by varicella zoster. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus will remain dormant in the body of people when they recover from chickenpox and can flare up later in their life. The risk of shingles will increase with age and a shingle vaccination is available for people above the age of 50. The most common symptom of shingle is the rash that usually affects one side of the body. However, many other short-term and long-term problems can happen as a result of shingles infection.
Pain, itching or tingling typically affecting one side of the body can be the first symptoms of shingles. Painful blisters will develop in the same area of the body between one day and two weeks. Rashes usually appear in a single strip on the face or around the ribs. However, it can affect the complete body of people with compromised immune function.
CBD Oil For Shingles
As many people are searching for alternative remedies for shingles, more and more people are considering cannabidiol CBD. As CBD is non-intoxicating and has many benefits, people are considering CBD as a treatment option. Currently, there is no research specifically on the effectiveness of CBD in treating shingles. However, there is evidence available that cannabis-based medicines could be helpful in the case of some complications like PHN.
A 2018 review looked at the effectiveness of different cannabinoids on neuropathic pain. Several neuropathic conditions including PHN were investigated and it was concluded that cannabis-based medications can increase the number of participants experiencing relief from pain. Several methods of consumption were included in the review and found that CBD topical like salves were also useful.
However, users should be careful while using CBD to treat infections. This is because studies are still going on to find the effects of CBD on the immune system. Therefore, until we know more about the effectiveness of CBD in treating shingles, it will be wise to avoid using CBD at the early stages of shingles. CBD should be safe in treating the residual symptoms once the initial infection clears, but it is recommended to consult with a physician before using it.