A Story Too Good Not to Share
This is a recent story from a good friend of mine that I felt was too valuable not to pass along. To all my friends in medicine and chiropractic, I hope this serves you as both insight and inspiration.
My friend has been dealing with persistent neck pain for weeks following an old accident that left him with a bulging disc in his neck. Despite trying various methods, nothing seemed to bring lasting relief. The pain has started to interfere with his daily life, affecting work, workouts, and even hobbies like hiking.
He’s been searching for a way to manage the pain but wants to avoid relying on over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. The doses he’d need for adequate relief could lead to liver stress or even damage over time, as these medications are linked to liver toxicity (1).
And this is where I have to say thank God for the endocannabinoid system (ECS). It is the largest receptor system in the human body and plays a vital role in regulating pain, inflammation, mood, and immune function (+ more).
Here’s where it gets even more interesting: researchers have discovered CB2 receptors within the intervertebral discs (IVD). These receptors can be targeted not only to help with pain and inflammation, but potentially to protect against and even prevent disc degeneration.
CB2 receptors are found mostly in the peripheral nervous system, with fewer located in the brain and spinal cord. However, when an injury occurs in a joint, whether that’s a knee, shoulder, or vertebrae, there’s an upregulation of CB2 receptors. This suggests that the ECS is deeply involved in immune response, tissue repair, and disease modulation (2).
A study published in Aging and Disease (a peer reviewed medical journal) showed that CB2 receptor activation, which CBD primarily influences, can delay cellular aging (senescence) in nucleus pulposus cells. These are the cells responsible for maintaining flexibility and shock absorption in the spine (3). In other words, when these cells age and deteriorate, so do our discs, and that’s what leads to pain and reduced mobility. Keeping those cells healthy means protecting our spine’s function and longevity.
To help, I gave my friend the Full Spectrum 1000mg CBD Salve and Full Spectrum 2500mg CBD Oil. The salve offered targeted relief, but because it’s applied topically, its effects are localized and don’t reach the bloodstream. For deeper, systemic benefits, especially for inflammation and disc health, internal use is key. That is one of the reasons why I love the Full Spectrum 2500mg CBD oil. It has about 84mg of CBD (anti-inflammatory effects) and 2mg of THC (pain relief). The goal here is to use THC in low quanitities that help prove pain relief without any buzz effects, making this oil also great for daytime use. I don’t brag on products or try to promote them very often, but this story needed highlighting.
The results? Noticeable improvement. While the pain wasn’t completely gone, he described it as “easier to ignore,” which is a huge win. His range of motion improved, and the relief allowed him to refocus his energy on his daily activities rather than the discomfort.
By understanding how CB2 receptor activation can slow disc cell aging, promote tissue repair, and modulate key inflammatory pathways, we can reshape how we approach disc degeneration in both medicine and chiropractic care. It’s another powerful, natural tool we can use to help patients improve their quality of life.
The best part? This approach is safe, effective, and plant based, harnessing mechanisms modern medicine is only beginning to understand. The research is there. It’s time we start integrating it into practice to better serve those who trust us with their health.
Bee Well,
Brandon Farless
References
1. 1. Malespin M. H. (2018). Risk of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Safety of Acetaminophen in Patients with Advanced Liver Disease. Clinical liver disease, 12(3), 85–88. https://doi.org/10.1002/cld.737
2. 2. Bie, B., Wu, J., Foss, J. F., & Naguib, M. (2018). An overview of the cannabinoid type 2 receptor system and its therapeutic potential. Current opinion in anaesthesiology, 31(4), 407–414. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACO.0000000000000616
3. 3. Du, J., Xu, M., Kong, F., Zhu, P., Mao, Y., Liu, Y., Zhou, H., Dong, Z., Yu, Z., Du, T., Gu, Y., Wu, X., Geng, D., & Mao, H. (2022). CB2R Attenuates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Delaying Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence through AMPK/GSK3β Pathway. Aging and disease, 13(2), 552–567. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2021.1025
