One such CBD receptor is “TRPV1” which is the technical abbreviation for “transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V.” Now that’s quite a mouthful so I prefer another known name for the same receptor – Vanilloid –so dubbed because it has similar effects to the vanilla bean. Vanilla contains eugenol, an essential oil that has antiseptic and analgesic properties. When CBD binds with TPRV1 (aka the Vanilloid receptor) a process is activated to mediate pain perception, inflammation and body temperature.
So, the pain relief that CBD is known for is not because of the direct ingestion of the cannabinoid but in the way that it interacts with particular receptors. As you might expect, researchers and CBD consumers are making more noise about both clinical and anecdotal evidence of pain relief. A 2008 review examined two decades’ worth of preclinical studies and animal trials before concluding that CBD can be a successful tool for pain management without many adverse side effects. Another 2016 study by the University of Kentucky examined CBD’s effects on arthritic rats and found that the compound reduced inflammation and overall pain. Just now as I screened for “pain” and “CBD” in my go-to website for current research, clinicaltrials.gov, 47 studies popped up.
Things are happening. Stay tuned!