IBU-NOFUN: Why CBD is the better choice than Ibuprofen!

Just got back from cycling 80km through the hills around Göteborg, legs are killing me – pop three ibuprofen. Spent all Saturday night dancing like a fool at the Taylor Swift Concert in Stockholm, woke up sore everywhere and I won’t even mention how my head feels — took four ibuprofen. Sore wrist from golf – ibuprofen, constant back pain from old football injury – ibuprofen, arthritis acting up while trying to handle the ropes on your boat – ibuprofen …. I think you get the point. 

IBUPROFEN’S STORY

As the recent COVID pandemic highlighted, ibuprofen use and misuse has grown to ’epidemic’ proportions in Europe. Back in 1961 Boots Drugs Ltd. filed a patent for the compound 2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid, later to be called ibuprofen, after running trials on 600 patients for the relief from rheumatoid arthritis pain. The patent was granted later that year and ibuprofen was offered as an alternative to Aspirin but with lesser gastro-intestinal side effects. The use of ibuprofen grew steadily and the scope of its uses expanded. When the patent expired in 1981 the generic market exploded. A whole new category of drugs flooded the market and were given a new categorical name — (NSAID) Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Last year over 25 million packages of ibuprofen were sold, a recent study found that roughly 48% of the European population used an NSAID in the calendar year 2022. Sweden, surprisingly, had the highest per capita rate of consumption of any European country at 67%! Quite obviously, and ironically, it wasn’t COVID that was the pandemic that ibuprofen was supposed to help mitigate – but rather ibuprofen itself that is the pandemic.

INFLAMMATION (A HARD WAY TO SPELL SWOLLEN)

What is inflammation – besides being such an annoyingly difficult word to spell? Inflammation is the term used to describe your body’s protective response to injury. Your body sends white blood cells to the site of the injury to help protect your body; as they accumulate they lead to heat, swelling, fever, redness, and of course pain. This collectively is what we refer to as inflammation.

SO WHAT DOES IBUPROFEN DO IN THERE?

Quick science lesson, don’t get scared by all the fancy language, it’s your body and you deserve to know — Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for their anti-inflammatory (stop swelling), analgesic (stop pain), and antipyretic (stop fever) effects. During this inflammatory process, damaged cells release arachidonic acid, a natural compound that binds to cyclooxygenase, an enzyme crucial for producing compounds essential for blood circulation. This interaction results in the formation of the hormone prostaglandin H2. So why should we care about these prostaglandins? Dr. Viet Cai, an anesthesiologist and Harvard Medical faculty physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, explains, ”In instances such as bruises, headaches, or cuts, prostaglandins are generated in these regions, leading to the throbbing sensation and occasional warmth surrounding the area.”. That’s right, the inflammation that you feel is the result of these prostaglandins. And ibuprofen is an attack dog aimed at prostaglandins.

A GENTLER APPROACH: CBD

CBD – Natural, Non-Addictive, Non-Toxic Alternative

You have most definitely heard of CBD and its relationship to anti-inflammation – otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this. Let’s look at CBD and its anti-inflammatory properties.

 The endocannabinoid system serves as a vital regulatory mechanism in maintaining bodily balance or homeostasis, including the management of pain and inflammation. CBD exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by interacting with the endocannabinoid system and various signaling pathways, effectively reducing or inhibiting inflammation.

By engaging with the endocannabinoid system, CBD can either activate or inhibit mechanisms that regulate the body’s inflammatory response following injury or in the presence of a disease. CBD engages with the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 within the endocannabinoid system -this system, dispersed throughout the body, includes the immune system. By binding to these receptors, CBD aids in decreasing inflammation by impeding the release of pro-inflammatory compounds. It inhibits the production of the prostaglandins we discussed earlier – those hormones that were responsible for attracting the white blood cells and triggering the inflammation.

Unlike ibuprofen, which primarily alleviates the symptoms arising from inflammation, CBD oil assists in promoting internal processes that deter the body from generating those symptoms initially. CBD operates by tackling the underlying cause rather than merely treating the symptom itself.

THE DARKSIDE: IBU-NOFUN

That all being said, the purpose of this article is not to disparage ibuprofen, ibuprofen certainly has many proven benefits. The question is rather whether the potential negatives, the proven negatives, and the scope of ibuprofen’s efficacy is right for you and your anti-inflammatory needs. Let’s take a quick look at a comparison of the potential benefits of CBD and ibuprofen.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS – Ibuprofen vs. CBD

We certainly see a lot more green on the CBD side, the only real beneficial advantage of the ibuprofen is in fever-reducing properties, and even that advantage is mitigated by the fact that CBD anti-inflammatory properties can often prevent the instigation of a fever in the first place.

Here comes the most important part! I dearly hope you have survived reading up to this point because now you get the pay-off. What are the potential side effects of taking ibuprofen or CBD? Take a look at the chart below.

The Severity of Ibuprofen’s side-effects may not be worth the benefit.

Which is safer: CBD or ibuprofen? 

CBD stands out as a safer option when compared to ibuprofen. Being entirely natural and non-toxic, CBD doesn’t pose a risk of overdose. While users may experience minimal side effects, the list of potential adverse effects associated with ibuprofen is not only lengthier but also encompasses more severe and potentially life-threatening risks. One can quite clearly see that the potential side-effects for CBD are comparable to eating a cheap greasy dinner and watching a boring movie. However, the list of the potential negative side-effects of ibuprofen use are not to scoff at.

As mentioned earlier, ibuprofen acts by inhibiting both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes; COX-1 enzymes primarily reside in the stomach, hence stomach-related issues arise as a common side effect. I’m sure you’ve had a doctor cautioned you against taking Ipren on an empty stomach, and this is why. Consuming food before ibuprofen intake can often mitigate these effects.

Studies have now repeatedly demonstrated that prolonged ibuprofen usage can potentially lead to stomach ulcers, intestinal bleeding, decreased kidney function, and liver failure, all of which can be life-threatening. Additionally, there’s a small subset of the population allergic to ibuprofen, who may experience severe reactions. Furthermore, and without doubt the most alarming recent finding, has been that the regular prolonged use of ibuprofen may elevate the risk of heart attack and stroke.

It is not a matter of CBD or ibuprofen being better. Rather it is a situation where you must determine what is better for you – both now, and in the long-term. We would of course recommend doing your own research and making your own decisions – nobody knows how you feel better than you! 

Find the Relief that works for you – Let loose your Moose!