Neuropathy refers to any condition that disrupts the normal activity of the nerves of the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves connecting to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is very common, occurring in appx 25% to 30% of the population. It is also estimated that 60% to 70% of diabetes sufferers will develop neuropathy.

This system is made up of 3 types of nerves:

• Autonomic Nerves : Responsible for controlling automatic bodily functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, digestion, breathing, elimination, etc.
• Common symptoms of autonomic neuropathy include:
• Dizziness and/or fainting
• Abnormal heart rate and/or blood pressure
• Problems with elimination
• Digestion issues
• Sexual dysfunction
• Apnea
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Sensory Nerves : Responsible for carrying messages from your through your spinal cord to your brain. These are the nerves that tell your brain that you have been injured, that you smell something pleasant vs something unpleasant, etc.
• Common symptoms of sensory neuropathy include:
• Numbness & tingling (especially in hands and feet)
• Burning and/or pins and needles (especially in hands and feet)
• Loss of reflexes and/or coordination
• Sensation of wearing socks or gloves
• Motor Nerves : Work in the opposite way as sensory nerves. They are responsible for carrying messages from your brain to your muscles. Example: Your sensory nerves tell you that you are touching something hot, your motor nerves tell your muscles to move away from the hot surface.
• Common symptoms of motor neuropathy include:
• Loss of muscle control
• Spasms and/or cramps
• Muscle twitching and/or weakness
• Frequent falling
• Difficulty walking
• Inability to move part of the body

What causes neuropathy?
Many things can cause neuropathy, but just to name a few:

• Heredity
• Diabetes and other systematic diseases
• Certain cancers and chemotherapy
• Trauma/Injury
• Certain medications
• Vitamin deficiency
• Excessive alcohol consumption

The most common neuropathy complaint that I get in the store is in the feet and hands. Customers report numbness, tingling, extreme pain, and even restless leg. I feel horrible for these customers because they are in constant, maddening pain that is not relieved by anything they have tried. Most of them report relief in minutes when using a CBD pain cream and almost all report relief (ranging from "better" to "gone") when using an oral and a topical for more than a week. It is crystal clear to me that CBD works very well in most cases for neuropathy, but in this article we are going to try to unravel the "why" behind it.

What makes cannabinoids such a good option for treating neuropathic pain?
The short answer is that we make our own cannabinoids in our bodies. We have a network of cannabinoid receptors in our bodies called the Endocannabinoid System. We make cannabinoids in our bodies that interact with these receptors helping our body to maintain homeostasis. The cannabinoids in hemp and cannabis (called phytocannabinoids) are so similar to our own endocannabinoids that they interact with the receptors the same way as our endocannabinoids. Our endocannabinoid system influences & regulates many physiological processes in the body such as:



• Inflammation
• Electrical balance in the brain
• Immune system regulation
• Mood
• Appetite
• Ocular pressure (pressure in the eye)
• Pain threshold and perception of pain
• Appetite
• Digestion

This is just to name a few to give you an idea of how supplementing and strengthening this system can help with a whole host of problems including neuropathy.

How should I use CBD for my neuropathic pain?

My personal opinion is that any chronic pain responds best to an oral and a topical combined. We call it the power pain combo and offer a 10% discount when purchased together. Call or come by today and ask all the questions you want!