CBD Oil for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil hasn't been proven as a safe or effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS). There are some promising findings for CBD treatment in other conditions, such as fibromyalgia syndrome, but no specific research on chronic fatigue.

Yet chronic fatigue is an extremely difficult illness to manage and interest in treating ME/CFS with CBD products remains, especially as many people find little relief from the fatigue, headache, joint pain, and other symptoms with conventional treatments.

This article explores how CBD might help people living with ME/CFS. It discusses what's known from CBD research about benefits and possible side effects, drawn from other conditions that may respond to CBD.

What Is CBD Oil?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which comes from the cannabis plant. That's the same plant that gives us marijuana. However, CBD—as an oil or in other forms—doesn't have psychoactive properties. That means it doesn't provide the "high" associated with marijuana.

The substance in marijuana that gets you high is called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Growers who want to maximize the plant's psychoactive effect use breeds and techniques that result in higher levels of THC.

On the other hand, cannabis that's grown for hemp is generally richer in CBD than THC, and that's where CBD comes from.

How CBD Oil Works

CBD is believed to offer health benefits by acting on dopamine receptors in your brain. Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter (chemical) produced in the body that's associated with mood regulation, pleasure, and reward. It's also involved in processing pain sensations.

However, as researchers learn more about CBD, it has become clear that there is more than one chemical pathway that leads to effects in humans. CBD also is believed to act on a specific serotonin receptor, one that's linked to pain relief effects in animal studies.

Studies of CBD have identified its effects on more than a dozen chemical receptors but scientists are still working to understand these mechanisms.

Research on CBD Oil Benefits for ME/CFS

So far, there's no research evidence for ME/CFS treatment with CBD oil. There are no ME/CFS treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration, either, but the needed research on ME/CFS is evolving.

There's now a registry of more than 4,000 people living with ME/CFS, with the You + ME database available for scientific research on the condition.

Research findings that may have implications for people living with ME/CFS include:

• A 2017 ​study that suggests CBD may diminish the activity of brain cells called glia that can lead to central sensitization. That's a hypersensitive central nervous system and a major feature of ME/CFS and other central sensitivity syndromes such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine.
• A 2017 study on Alzheimer's disease that suggests CBD lessens oxidative stress and suppresses pro-inflammatory activity. These effects could prove helpful with ME/CFS.
• A 2016 review that found evidence for treating migraine and irritable bowel syndrome with CBD, and perhaps fibromyalgia. These conditions are related to ME/CFS.

ME/CFS is believed to stem from the dysregulation of multiple systems throughout the body. The symptoms are similar to those of influenza, and can include:

• Weakness and fatigue
• Headache
• Tender lymph nodes
• Joint pain
• An inability to concentrate

While it's less well documented in ME/CFS, a condition called endocannabinoids deficiency, characterized by lower amounts of naturally produced endocannabinoids in certain individuals, has been linked to fibromyalgia, making cannabis products a promising treatment.

CBD also is believed to help with your body's homeostasis, which is keeping things like temperature, respiration, and blood flow in proper balance. Homeostasis tends to be out of balance in ME/CFS.

Why More CBD Research Is Likely

Studies are expected to advance treatment options, identify side effects, and address the needs of people living with ME/CFS pain and related symptoms.

CBD is being researched for numerous conditions, and many of those conditions share features with ME/CFS. Other study results that apply to similar conditions don't extend to ME/CFS, but they provide some basis for informed speculation.

People living with ME/CFS offer anecdotal evidence on how CBD helps to relieve symptoms. When patients with difficult-to-treat conditions tell their healthcare providers something works, they're likely to show interest.

Side Effects

The possible side effects of CBD aren't completely known. Some reported side effects include:

• Changes to liver enzymes used to process drugs
• Dry mouth
• Low blood pressure
• Lightheadedness
• Drowsiness
• Increased tremor in Parkinson's disease, at high doses

The following side effects are possible but require more study, according to the World Health Organization:

• Changes in hormonal levels
• Immune system changes, with stimulation at low levels and suppression at higher levels

The immune system effects will be especially important for ME/CFS, which is believed to involve a chronically overactive immune system.

How to Find CBD Oil

CBD oil may be available at local shops and dispensaries, and its best to buy CBD from a trusted source. When the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law, it made hemp an agricultural product. That means products made from hemp—including CBD—are legal at the federal level.

If you are buying CBD oil, first consider why you want to use it and which form will best meet your needs. It's best to have this conversation with a healthcare provider to help inform your decisions and ensure you avoid any complications like drug interactions with your medications.

CBD oil can be used in several different ways. You can smoke it (typically in vape pens), take it in capsule form, use it sublingually (under the tongue), use oral sprays or drops, or apply it topically to your skin. A crystalline form of pure CBD is also available, which is generally taken sublingually.

CBD products also come in varying strengths so check the labels for the number of milligrams in each dose.

You'll also want to ensure your products are certified by a third party, such as the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), or U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).

The website ProCon.org has information about which states have laws specific to CBD oil. A site called Governing maintains a map of where marijuana is legal in some form.

Summary

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil shows promise in treating chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) but as yet there's no research evidence for its benefits. However, studies have demonstrated that CBD may offer help to people living with similar inflammation-related conditions, and more research specifically for ME/CFS is likely.

CBD comes in different forms and varying strengths. Your healthcare provider can help you to determine if a type of CBD product can help and explain any side effects that you may experience. Keep in mind that CBD isn't associated with a marijuana-like high.

With legal changes in-store and more research coming, things may change rapidly when it comes to CBD oil and other cannabis-based treatments. It's likely that much more will be known about the effectiveness and safety of these products a few years from now.

A Word From Verywell

You have a lot to consider when it comes to any form of treatment, and even more when it comes to CBD for chronic fatigue. Be sure to consider the pros and cons, including the legal ones. Discuss this option with your healthcare provider to make sure you're not endangering your health. As with any treatment, watch for side effects.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Doctor Discussion Guide

Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions.

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