By Luke Sumpter


In recent years, evidence has been mounting in favour of cannabis’ therapeutic prowess. Used for decades to treat ailments like chemotherapy-induced nausea, and now invoked for the treatment[1] of two types of severe epilepsy, cannabinoids are featuring more and more in modern medicine. As such, researchers are delving further into if, and how, cannabis and its derivatives might be of use to those with fibromyalgia.

Below, we take a look at the current state of medical research on using cannabis to ease symptoms of fibromyalgia. But first, let’s review the complex condition that is fibromyalgia (FM).

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA?

Fibromyalgia is a disorder defined by chronic muscle and joint pain, and accompanied by related symptoms such as fatigue, trouble sleeping, and memory and mood issues. It is not well understood what causes fibromyalgia, but it is thought that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way the brain processes pain signals.

Many times, fibromyalgia symptoms occur after physical trauma such as surgery or infection, but it can also be caused by stress. There are also cases where fibromyalgia develops without an obvious cause. Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than men. Those who are diagnosed with FM often suffer from anxiety and depression, and are frequently also found to have psycho-physiological conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), and headaches.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but various options—from pain medications to exercising and techniques for relaxation and reducing stress—can provide a certain amount of relief. Could cannabis be a promising treatment option for those suffering from fibromyalgia?

THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

Cannabis has actually been under the spotlight of the pharmaceutical industry for quite some time. What makes cannabis interesting from a medicinal perspective is that it contains hundreds of potentially valuable substances known as cannabinoids and terpenes. The way these compounds interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the human body—a network of naturally occurring cannabinoid receptors in the brain, nervous system, immune system, and other parts of the body—is chiefly of interest to researchers. There are two main cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system: CB1 and CB2.

  • CB1 exists mainly on neurones in the brain and nervous system, and in certain tissue and organs such as the spleen and heart.
  • CB2 receptors exist mainly on immune cells called microglia located throughout the brain and spinal cord. Their function is still largely unclear, however, they do play a role in pain perception in the brain, and are thought to play an important role in the development of chronic pain specifically.

CANNABIS AND FIBROMYALGIA

The potential therapeutic uses for cannabis, including for conditions like fibromyalgia, become increasingly evident when we understand the functions of the endocannabinoid system.

Fibromyalgia is frequently associated with the following symptoms:

  • Chronic pain
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Sore and aching joints
  • Fatigue and headaches
  • Bowel and bladder problems
  • Insomnia and sleep disturbances
  • Depression and low mood

 

THC-A
THC
THC-V
CBN
CBD-A
CBD
CBC-A
CBC
CBG-A
CBG
Analgesis
Pain relief
THC
CBN
CBD
CBC
Anti-inflamatory
Reduces inflamation
THC-A
CBD-A
CBD
CBC
CBG-A
CBG
Anoretic
Suppresses appettite
THC-V
Appetite stimulant
Stimulates appetite
THC
CBD
Antiemetic
Reduces vomiting and nausea
CBD
Intestinal anti-prokinetic
Reduces contractions in the small intestine
CBD
Anixolytic
Relieves anxiety
CBD
Antipsychotic
Tranquilizing, used to manage psychosis
CBD
Antiepileptic
Reduces seizures and convulsions
THC-A
THC-V
CBD
Antispasmodic
Supresses muscle spasms
THC
CBN
CBD
Anti-insomnia
Aides sleep
CBN
CBD
Immunosuppresive
Reduces the efficacy of inmune system
CBD
Anti-diabetic
Reduces blood sugar levels
THC-V
CBD
Neuroprotective
Prevents nervous system degeneration
CBD
Antipsioriatic
Treats psoriasis
CBD
Anti-ischemic
Reduces risk of artery blockage
CBD
Anti-bacterial
Kills or slows bacteria growth
CBD
CBC-A
CBC
CBG
Anti-fungal
Treats fungi infection
CBC-A
CBG
Anti-proliferative
Inhibits cell growth in tumors/cancer cells
THC-A
CBD-A
CBD
CBC
CBG
Bone stimulant
Promotes bone growth
THC-V
CBD
CBC
CBG

 

Interestingly, the ECS mediates these very same bodily functions and phenomena, which has led researchers to associate fibromyalgia with this regulatory network.

Dr. Ethan Russo, former Senior Adviser at GW Pharmaceuticals and now Director of Research and Development at the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute, claims that deficient cannabinoid levels may be the underlying cause of numerous conditions alleviated by cannabis.

According to Russo’s scientific paper on clinical endocannabinoid deficiency[2] as a possible reason for fibromyalgia, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, and other treatment-resistant syndromes, an imbalance of cannabinoids in our body could cause communication between the brain and certain body parts and functions to become disrupted. He explains how THC fills in for one of our body’s own natural endocannabinoids—anandamide, which reduces hypersensitivity.

But Russo is not the only researcher to conduct studies on the effects of cannabinoids for treating fibromyalgia.

RECENT STUDIES ON EASING FIBROMYALGIA PAIN WITH CANNABIS

In a study published in 2019 called “Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Fibromyalgia”[3], researchers examined 367 fibromyalgia patients who used cannabis for six months. The researchers wanted to determine whether cannabis has the potential to help with fibromyalgia-related pain, and what possible side effects it may have on patients.

Of the 367, 261 patients remained in the study, as some dropped out mid-study. The patients started the six-month trial with a baseline pain intensity of 9.0 on a scale of 0 to 10. At the end of the study, the median pain intensity reported was down to 5.0. Furthermore, 194 patients (81.1%) said they experienced at least some improvement in their condition without any serious side effects.

Cananbis

Noteworthy is that patients were able to reduce or replace their prescription meds while taking cannabis: 22% of patients stopped or reduced their dosage of opioids, and 20% of patients reduced their use of benzodiazepines.

In 2017, the National Academies Press (NAP) published a comprehensive review[4] of the therapeutic effects of cannabis. According to the review, substantial evidence suggests cannabis is effective at treating chronic pain in adults.

In the 2011 study “Cannabis Use in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Effect on Symptoms Relief and Health-Related Quality of Life”[5], 28 cannabis users were asked to report perceived benefits of cannabis for fibromyalgia symptoms. An additional 28 FM patients who were non-users were also observed. Results showed a “statistically significant… reduction of pain and stiffness, enhancement of relaxation, and an increase in somnolence and feeling of well being [in the cannabis group]. The mental health component summary score of the SF-36 was significantly higher in cannabis users than in non-users”.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that none of the participants noted any worsening of fibromyalgia symptoms when using cannabis.

In a 2018 study[6], 25 people with fibromyalgia took part in a placebo-controlled test on the pain-relieving effects of marijuana. Researchers administered three different types of cannabis, each with a different THC and CBD content, as well as a placebo.

Results showed that 44% of patients reported a 30% reduction in pain, while 24% reported a 50% reduction in pain. Interestingly, the study found that none of the treatments had an effect greater than placebo on spontaneous or electrical pain responses, but those who received Bediol (which contained 13.4mg of THC in addition to CBD) displayed a 30% decrease in pain scores compared to placebo (90% vs 55% of patients). This led the researchers to conclude that “cannabis varieties containing THC caused a significant increase in pressure pain threshold relative to placebo”.

Based on these results, more research is required to understand if cannabinoids, and which ones, might be effective for treating pain-related fibromyalgia symptoms.

CANNABIS FOR TREATING OTHER FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS

For patients suffering from fibromyalgia, muscle and joint pain is just one of numerous potentially debilitating symptoms. With the pain often comes trouble sleeping, depression, nervousness, stress, and other psychological issues.

While it is yet unclear whether cannabinoids can suppress fibromyalgia in a statistically significant way in a large human population, there is some evidence that cannabis can help improve sleep[7] in people with fibromyalgia in the short-term. Consider the following from “Chapter 4: Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids” published in The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research (2017):

“There is moderate evidence that cannabinoid meds, primarily nabiximols, are an effective treatment to improve short-term sleep outcomes in individuals with sleep disturbance associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and multiple sclerosis”.

These findings are backed by an earlier study performed in 2010[8] that investigated the effects of nabilone, a synthetic form of cannabis, on sleep in FM patients. Researchers found that nabilone was indeed effective at improving sleep in fibromyalgia patients, and that a low dose of nabilone administered at bedtime “may be considered as an alternative to amitriptyline”. 

CONCLUSION

Judging by the information above, in our hunt for safe, inexpensive, and effective treatments for fibromyalgia, cannabis could be at the forefront. Most evidence herein is still anecdotal, but the high-quality research performed thus far is encouraging. Research is ongoing, and more extensive studies are surely in the pipeline.

External Resources:
  1. FDA approves first drug comprised of an active ingredient derived from marijuana to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy | FDA https://www.fda.gov
  2. Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered: Current Research Supports the Theory in Migraine, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel, and Other Treatment-Resistant Syndromes https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Fibromyalgia. - PubMed - NCBI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4 Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids | The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research | The National Academies Press https://www.nap.edu
  5. Cannabis Use in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Effect on Symptoms Relief and Health-Related Quality of Life https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. An experimental randomized study on the analgesic effects of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis in chronic pain patients with fibromyalgia https://www.researchgate.net
  7. 4 Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids | The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research | The National Academies Press https://www.nap.edu
  8. The Effects of Nabilone on Sleep in Fibromyalgia: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial http://www.med.mcgill.ca
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

Cookies settings

We are requesting your permission to use your data for the reasons stated below:

Functional cookies

Functional cookies help our website to function optimally and allow us to personalise certain features.

Preference cookies

Preference cookies allow us to remember information that influences the way our website looks, including your preferred language based on your region.

Analytical cookies

Analytical cookies give us insights into website traffic and customer behaviour, including how many people visit our site, how long they browse for, and which parts of our site they visit.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of data from a particular website that get stored on a user’s computer while they’re surfing the internet. Cookies have several different functions. Some of them track browser activity that enables businesses to deliver targeted advertisements. Other cookies serve to remember user login details to different websites to make jumping on social media, or other sites, a more fluid process. Because each cookie has its own unique ID, these pieces of data allow website owners to measure the unique traffic coming into their site.

Why do we use cookies?

Cookies come in handy when you visit our website. They ensure you stay logged in, that you can shop safely, and that the items you add to your cart stay there before you make a purchase. But cookies also help us. The data they provide allow us to improve our website and enable us to present you with targeted advertisements that are compatible with your interests.

What kind of cookies do we use?

Functional cookies

Functional cookies help our website to function optimally and allow us to personalise certain features.

Preference cookies

Preference cookies allow us to remember information that influences the way our website looks, including your preferred language based on your region.

Analytical cookies

Analytical cookies give us insights into website traffic and customer behaviour, including how many people visit our site, how long they browse for, and which parts of our site they visit.

How can I disable or delete cookies?

Not a fan of cookies? No worries. You can disable them (with the exception of necessary cookies) in your browser settings. However, blocking cookies may impact your browsing experience and prevent you from enjoying all of the technical features of our site.

Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: