Full-Spectrum CBD Oil Reduced Pain From Burning Mouth Syndrome in Placebo-Controlled Trial
- A clinical trial found that full-spectrum CBD oil significantly reduced pain and improved quality of life in patients with burning mouth syndrome compared to a placebo.
- The study involved 26 adults, with one group receiving CBD oil doses ranging from 10 to 50 milligrams daily and the other receiving a placebo made from avocado seed oil.
- Participants treated with CBD experienced a progressive decline in pain intensity, reaching a median score of zero by the end, along with notable improvements in physical, psychological, and social aspects of oral health-related quality of life.
- The study's limitations include a small sample size, non-randomized group allocation, and lack of double-blinding, prompting researchers to call for larger, more rigorous trials to confirm these findings.
Clear CBD Cannabidiol capsules and cannabis oil on wooden backdrop
Full-spectrum CBD oil significantly reduced pain and improved quality of life among patients with burning mouth syndrome, according to a clinical trial published in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology.
Researchers from the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil evaluated 26 adults with burning mouth syndrome, a chronic condition characterized by persistent burning or painful sensations in the mouth despite no identifiable lesions or underlying medical cause.
Participants were assigned to receive either full-spectrum CBD oil or a placebo made from avocado seed oil, with 13 people included in each group. Participants were not told which treatment they received.
The CBD group began with 10 milligrams per day, administered as two drops twice daily. Doses were gradually increased when symptoms persisted and no adverse effects were reported, with effective daily doses ranging from 10 to 50 milligrams.
Pain intensity and its effect on daily activities progressively declined among those receiving CBD, while scores remained largely unchanged in the placebo group. Statistically significant differences between the groups emerged beginning with the third assessment and continued through the remainder of the study.
By the final assessment, the median pain intensity score in the CBD group had fallen to zero on a 10-point scale, compared with a median score above six among those receiving the placebo.
Participants receiving CBD also reported significant improvements in oral health-related quality of life, including physical, psychological and social measures.
No serious adverse events were reported. One participant discontinued treatment after experiencing a severe headache, dizziness and weakness immediately after the first dose, although researchers considered the symptoms more consistent with a nocebo response than a pharmacological effect.
Researchers said participants reported that symptoms gradually returned approximately 15 to 20 days after treatment ended, suggesting that continued administration may be required to maintain the benefits.
The findings are limited by the small number of participants, 25 of whom were women, and by the study’s allocation method. Rather than using computer-generated randomization, researchers alternated assignments between CBD and placebo, meaning investigators could anticipate which group the next participant would enter. The study was also participant-blinded rather than double-blinded and enrolled fewer than half of the 56 participants called for by its sample-size calculation.
Researchers concluded that full-spectrum CBD oil may offer a promising treatment option for burning mouth syndrome but said larger, fully randomized and double-blind trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness and long-term safety.