Whenever we talk about CBD, the conversation inevitably drifts towards the multitudes of things it’s said to possibly help with. In true Lofi fashion, we’re here to check out the science, see what it says, and report on any gaps in the research. CBD education is important, and we want to help you make an informed decision about the products you’re using and the effects they may have.

This time, we thought we’d look into CBD and surgery, chatting about things like safety, recovery, and what we know so far about its impact on surgical procedures. Spoiler alert; it’s not a lot. That’s not to say there aren’t some promising thoughts emerging, however.

That said, always check in with your doctor and disclose any CBD or cannabis use. We’re not medical experts.

A Quick Note on Safety

Turns out, there are a lot of people using CBD around the time of surgery. It’s important to note that cannabis use (including CBD) before surgery is considered to be unsafe. This is largely because of how it impacts anesthesia, but smoking or consuming things can lead to other complications during surgery as well. With this being the case, it’s important that you disclose to your doctor about your cannabis use ahead of time.

There’s also some talk about how long-term and regular cannabis use may lead to additional pain after surgery. However, this study also didn’t test for type of cannabis being consumed, cannabinoids, frequency of use, or other variables – so CBD applicability is unclear.

For the purposes of this post, we’re specifically discussing CBD’s potential use in post-surgical recovery.

State of the Science

When it comes to science that discusses a direct connection between CBD and post-surgical recovery support, we don’t currently have much. What we do have, however, often talks more generally about cannabis use than speaking about CBD more specifically.

This review of the science we have so far about cannabis (not CBD specific) and surgery found that studies are often inconstantly conducted and missing information. It mentions that not much is known currently about how cannabis impacts things like wound healing and other important surgery considerations. It called for more research to be done. Similarly, this review of studies investigating the potential of cannabinoids as a pain management alternative to opioids in orthopedic surgery found that more rigorous, controlled studies are needed before we can say anything either way. Lastly, this review of the literature also spoke specifically about postoperative symptoms such as pain management, nausea, and bladder retention, and came to similar conclusions: not enough research has been done to validate whether or not different cannabinoids may have use in post-surgical recovery.

The majority of the research we do have speaks more about how CBD may have the potential to help with specificsymptoms of post-surgical recovery, such as inflammation, pain management, and mental health. This links back to what we know about how CBD interacts with our bodies, so before we get into any specific post-surgical symptoms, let’s cover some of the basics.

The ECS – How CBD Works

To start off, it’s important to understand the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and what it does. Simply put, the ECS is a series of receptors and transmitters that help to keep our bodies in homeostasis, or balance. The ECS contributes to everything from our sleep cycles to managing pain, mood, appetite, memory, stress, and immune responses.

There are two main receptor sites in the ECS: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are largely found in the brain and nervous system and are linked with decreasing pain, anxiety, and inflammation. CB2 receptors, on the other hand, are found primarily in organs associated with the immune system, and are often linked to pain management.

CBD, full of compounds called phytocannabinoids, impact the ECS, supporting the system in its mission to keep us balanced. Specifically, CBD is known to interact with CB1 receptors in particular, while other cannabinoids, such as THC or CBC, are more known for interacting with CB2 receptors.

CBD has also been shown to inhibit or desensitize TRPV1 receptors, which are known for increasing body temperature, inflammation, and signaling pain.

To summarize, there is research to suggest that CBD’s impact on the ECS may have pain management applications and anti-inflammatory properties – all things that are relevant to post-surgical recover. For more information and a general overview investigating what we know so far about the impact CBD has our bodies, check out our post here.

A Matter of Full Spectrum

Another important thing to understand is the entourage effect, and how the unique chemical makeup of the CBD you’re consuming may also have an impact on its effectiveness when it comes to post-surgery recovery. Although the science is still new, cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids are said to work together in what’s called the entourage effect. Put simply, this means that when all these components are present, they’re able to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual parts. This is one reason why we at Lofi prefer Full Spectrum CBD.

There’s also some research to suggest that different kinds of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids produce unique effects. For example, the cannabinoid CBDA may have anti-anxiety properties, while CBN may be able to contribute to sleep. In terms of terpenes, there’s been some research to suggest that mycrene, limonene, and linalool may be able to help with anxiety. Paying attention to the chemical composition of the products you’re purchasing by checking out certificates of analysis (COAs), is often a good way to develop a deeper understanding of these compounds and how they affect your body specifically.

If you want more information about the entourage effect, we’ve spoken about it previously.

With all that out of the way, let’s talk about CBD and specific post-surgical symptoms.

Inflammation

CBD is being investigated as a potential way to combat inflammation, and thankfully, we have a lot of emerging scienceon the topic. We’ve actually discussed CBD’s potential as an anti-inflammatory in our posts about arthritis, covid-19, and migraines, if you’d like more information.

Additionally, flavonoids are known for being full of antioxidants, and are fairly well established for having anti-inflammatory effects when studied in the food and nutrition context or in isolation. Cannflavin, specifically type A and B, is a kind of flavonoid solely found within cannabis plants. When studied in isolation, these compounds are said to have a greater anti-inflammatory effect than aspirin. Another flavonoid found within CBD, quercetin, may also have anti-inflammatory properties, according to research conducted in the food and nutrition context. For more information about some of the flavonoids found within CBD, check out our post here.

Pain Management

A lot of the research we have supporting CBD as a potential way to help mitigate pain is due to how it supports our ECS. That said, these effects are still fairly well established. For example, a CBD drug called Sativex has been approved for use within Canada as a potential pain reliever for the discomfort associated with advanced cancer and multiple sclerosis. We chatted more about CBD as a possible pain reliever (and anti-inflammatory) in our posts about arthritis, exercise, periods and hormonal disorders, headaches, and sex.

Two cannabinoids, Delta-9 THC and CBC may have specific pain management applications. When studied in isolation, Delta-9 THC has been shown to interact with CB1 receptors, and studies have suggested this interaction may help to reduce pain and inflammation. CBC, on the other hand, has been shown to interact with CB2 and TRPV1 receptors when studied in isolation.

Certain terpenes have also been suggested to be useful for pain management. Myrcene, for example, is a compound that may have applications as a painkiller, sedative, and muscle relaxant when studied in isolation. Since this is a larger topic, we’ve spoken more about terpenes here.

Sleep, Mental Health, and Other Things

There’s some evidence that CBD may also be able to help support things like sleep regulation, anxiety, or depression. Because these are all larger conversations, the applicable posts are linked if you want to find out more.

Several of the terpenes commonly found in cannabis are known to help promote particular health effects, including ones that can contribute to sleep. Myrcene, for example, is a compound known to be a painkiller, sedative, and muscle relaxant. Another terpene, called linalool, prevalent in lavender and some strains of cannabis, is said to help treat anxiety and manage stress.

Medication Interactions and Other Notes

When considering using CBD, it’s important to be aware that it has been known to interact with certain medications. Specifically, be on the lookout if your medication has grapefruit warnings. Always check in with your doctor first.

CBD isn’t a “cure all,” especially if you’re in need of more medical assistance. Additionally, taking into account things like dosage, method of consuming CBD, and what kind of CBD you’re looking for are all important things to consider, especially if you’re just starting out. Equipping yourself with knowledge and setting your expectations can help you avoid awkward ‘this isn’t working for me’ moments and set you up for success.

Again, any form of cannabis use (including CBD) should be disclosed to your doctor prior to surgery. Due to the ways cannabis can mess with medications and anesthesia, it’s not considered safe to consume pre-surgery.

TL;DR

While some of the research we have so far is promising, we still have a ways to go to fully understanding how CBD can potentially help with post-surgery recovery. While we do have some promising information about how CBD may be able to help with things like inflammation, pain management, and mental health, it’s important to remember to always check in with your doctor, disclose any cannabis use to them, and follow their instructions.