Like most viral infections, shingles are not desired. This is especially because of the painful and blistery rash that you get as a result. Shingles can occur in different parts of the body. However, they will be common on the right or left side of the torso. They can be easily identified as a stripe of blisters.
The shingles blisters are caused by the Varicella Zoster virus. This is the same virus that would lead to chickenpox. In case you have ever had chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus lies inactive for years. It is later that the same might reactivate and lead to shingles.
Shingles tend to make someone sensitive to pain. So, pain management would be highly recommended. Here is when you would consider using CBD oil for shingles. Do not be surprised that people are using CBD for shingles because CBD oil can have many benefits including possible treatment of shingles.
Let us find out more about CBD and shingles.
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Does CBD Oil Help With Shingles?
How CBD and shingles are related is quite a debated topic online. This is where people are looking to get the best CBD oil or product to use for shingles. However, with so much raw information out there, sometimes it can be tough to decide. So, does CBD oil help with shingles?
From time to time, you will come across anecdotal reports indicating how cannabidiol can help with therapeutic relief from skin health and disorders. A good example was a study published in December 2020[1] that showed how CBD can help relieve inflammation due to skin disorders. This is a good step toward helping more people understand how to use CBD for shingles.
There is the hope that there will be more reports on how CBD oil may help with shingles in the future. But for now, just know that CBD has the potential of offering anti-inflammation properties and better pain management too.
How Does CBD Work on Shingles?
CBD oil for shingles has grown in popularity in recent times. People are using CBD for shingles thanks to the many possible CBD health benefits that you read about almost everywhere. Even though the Food and Drug Administration agency does not evaluate such products, more people are not afraid of trying them out anymore.
So, understanding how CBD and shingles relate would give you the confidence of taking CBD for shingles and other possible skin infections.
First, we need to point out the Endocannabinoid System or ECS that people have already in their bodies. The Endocannabinoid System[2] is vital for helping us perceive pain. This is because it has receptors that will tell the brain your sensitivity to pain. In this case, it is pain due to the inflammation of the skin.
More recent studies[3] show that CBD contains cannabinoids that may help with pain management and the reduction of inflammation. Once you take CBD oil, it gets bound to the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the ECS, thus helping in the suppression of the pain and inflammation due to shingles.
As much as the studies do not exactly point to helping relieve shingles, we can see from studies how CBD may help with inflammation. When inflammation is reduced, shingles become more manageable. It is the same thing with sensitivity to pain.
Risk & Side Effects
Learning about CBD oil for shingles can sometimes make a person feel that they should simply start using CBD right away. However, before treating shingles with the use of CBD, consider consulting your doctor first. Of course, there might be a few possible risks and side effects of using CBD oil for shingles. Here are some;
- Even though there are several studies on the effects of CBD, but there is a need for more clinical trials that specifically target how you can use CBD for shingles.
- The regulations on CBD-related products are still lacking. Also, the FDA does not evaluate[4] such products. As such, it becomes harder for someone to simply believe what the manufacturer claims are true.
- There are chances that CBD may interact[5] with other medications you are using for shingles. These could be antiviral drugs that people use for shingles. No drug interactions should be encouraged.
There may be more such risks and side effects, so always consult with your doctor first before switching to using CBD oil for shingles.
Shingles Causes & Symptoms
Learning more about the symptoms of shingles and its causes also helps in preventing the condition from reoccurring. Some of the popular shingles symptoms include the following;
- Sensitivity to pain
- Feeling a burning and tingling sensation
- Numbness
- Sensitivity to touch
- A red rash appears after a few days of pain
- The blisters are filled with fluid that may break
- Itching
These symptoms may occur on a small section of the body and then spread with time.
The other not-so-common symptoms include headaches, sensitivity to light, fever, and fatigue. These might show up differently in various people.
Many people have always claimed that pain shows up as the first symptom of shingles caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It can be an intense pain sometimes that it is too uncomfortable to concentrate on other tasks.
The location of the pain can sometimes be mistaken for nerve pain, problems with the lungs, or kidneys. It is why you always have to consult a doctor to get an assurance of what is ailing you. To make it even more interesting, some people may have shingles without the rash.
Other than the rash occurring around the torso, sometimes you can get them on one eye, around the neck, or even the face.
Causes
Have you ever wondered what causes shingles? Well, the varicella-zoster virus is what leads to shingles. This is the same virus that leads to chickenpox. Those who have experienced chickenpox before will have the virus in an inactive state. It would, later on, be reactivated as shingles.
A quick point to note is that not all people with shingles experienced chickenpox before. It can happen on its own.
The exact reason for shingles is still unclear. However, it may be due to lowered immunity. That is how you find shingles being common in older people and those likely to have weakened immune systems.
You may have heard that shingles are also called herpes zoster. It gets the name varicella-zoster virus and is in the same group of viruses known as herpes viruses. These are the viruses that would cause genital herpes and cold sores too.
How To Choose The Best CBD For Shingles?
Whenever you are seeking the best CBD oil for shingles, you will find several options including full-spectrum, CBD isolate, and broad-spectrum. Each type of CBD oil will have specific benefits they offer to a person. So, understand them first before picking.
Whichever you decide to settle for, you need to know a few things before you can take CBD oil for shingles. Here is how to get good quality CBD oil to use for shingles.
- It would be good to buy CBD oil that has a certificate of analysis or COA. These are simply lab reports that the brand would post on their website for readers to learn more about their products. It would be better if the lab testing was done by a third-party lab.
- What are other people saying about the brand or product? Here we mean that you look at the reviews of the CBD product. If most of the reviews are negative, it is best to avoid using such a product for shingles.
- The product should also be safe. One of the ways to learn about product safety is the hemp source used to make the CBD oil. The products with non-GMO and organic labels would help someone feel confident about the product.
- Consulting a doctor before using CBD oil to treat shingles is also vital. A doctor who understands what CBD does would also recommend the best dosage or brand to help treat shingles.
- First, understand if there are any legal stipulations surrounding the use of CBD and related products in your country or state. This would help you access high-quality CBD products good for shingles.
CBD Oil Dosage for Shingles
Right now, there are proper guidelines on which exact amount of CBD you should be used for shingles. However, several experts recommend that you start with a low CBD amount and increase it gradually while monitoring the effects.
The CBD dosage for shingles may vary based on the form of CBD. The two main options are using CBD oil as an oral dose and topicals for external use only.
When using CBD oil, 20 to 25mg of CBD per day may help with pain associated with shingles. As for topical application, 1 to 5 mg for every 10 pounds of body weight can be good for starters to deal with the painful rash.
In case you are using topical CBD, apply only to the affected area with blisters once a day. Other than relieving the pain, the same may help alleviate itchiness too associated with shingles.
Final Thought
Whenever you experience symptoms of shingles, the chances are the immune system has gone down and the varicella-zoster virus has now led to shingles. The shingle’s conditions will be painful to a point that you may consider using CBD oil to help soothe the pain and eventually treat the shingles. However, how good is it?
Those who may have tried CBD for other ailments may consider it for shingles too. So, you too could try it also and see how it works out. There are a few studies showing how CBD is important for our health. Since CBD may have anti-inflammatory and pain relief features, it may be time to try it for the condition of the shingles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It is possible for a person with shingles to pass the varicella-zoster virus to other people who are not immune to chickenpox. It would occur mostly if there is direct contact with the open shingles blisters.
CBD oil may help with shingles due to its anti-inflammation properties and also the pain relief features.
You can use either of them or even both at the same time. Sometimes topical applications might be the best if the blisters are open as the cream would help in pain relief and lower inflammation.
It is possible that you may come across some side effects of CBD. These side effects will be pronounced if you use too much CBD per day. They include dry mouth, reduced appetite, and drowsiness.
The most recommended antiviral medications are acyclovir, famciclovir, valacyclovir, and more. These medications will work best if taken as soon as the rash appears.