Trendy CBD painkillers don’t work and could be harmful to your health, according to new research.
CBD is sold at many health food stores in capsules, oils, gummies, patches, creams and drinks and is marketed as a natural alternative to medications.
But now scientists from Bath and Oxford have found that it is no better than a placebo at relieving pain, and that the unregulated products may contain other chemicals that could be harmful.
Professor Chris Eccleston, from the University of Bath, said: ‘CBD poses a major problem for consumers. It is touted as a cure for all pain.
The study, published in the Journal of Pain, found that products contained varying amounts of CBD, from none to much more than advertised
‘But there is a complete lack of high-quality evidence that it has positive effects.
“It’s almost as if patients with chronic pain don’t matter, and we’re happy to see people trading hope and despair.
‘Pain deserves investments in serious science to find serious solutions.’
CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is one of the many chemicals that occur naturally in the cannabis plant.
In the UK, CBD products sold on the retail market are not covered by trading standards, meaning there is no requirement that they be consistent in content or quality.
The global CBD products market is booming and is estimated to be worth £2.4 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach £48 billion by 2030.
The study, published in the Journal of Pain, found that products contained varying amounts of CBD, from none to much more than advertised.
Some may also contain chemicals other than CBD that could be harmful or illegal, including THC – the main psychoactive component of cannabis.
They found that consumption of CBD products is associated with an increased number of serious side effects, including liver toxicity.
Dr. Andrew Moore, from the University of Oxford, said: ‘For too many people there is no medicine to control their chronic pain.
‘Chronic pain can be devastating, so they are very motivated to find pain relief in any way possible.
‘This makes them vulnerable to the wild promises about CBD.’
He added that health care regulators appear reluctant to act on the false claims made by some manufacturers of CBD products, especially when the products are widely considered harmless.
“What this means is that there is no consumer protection,” he said.
“And without a counterbalance to keep CBD sellers in check, the false promises about CBD’s pain-relieving effects are unlikely to diminish in the coming years.”