If you know Papa & Barkley, you know that we’re passionate about CBD news and exploring the potential of this all-natural plant for general wellness, supporting recovery from exercise, and fostering a natural state of calm and wellbeing.
Today, we’re especially excited to share recent CBD research that offers new and fascinating insights into the placebo effect and how it may influence our perception of physical experiences. If you’re interested in understanding how to incorporate cannabis as part of your wellness routines, this post is for you.
The Experience of Sensation and Discomfort
Sensations and discomfort are a part of life. While sometimes bothersome, these feelings can be important signals related to our overall wellbeing.
There are many approaches for general comfort, including practices such as massage or other lifestyle choices. Here at Papa & Barkley, our best-in-class topical Releaf Balm has a special place in our history as part of the wellness journey of our founder's family. Our products are crafted to support your approach to general well-being, and we emphasize the importance of quality by making our products from 100% USA-grown hemp plants and triple-testing for purity and safety.
What Is the Placebo Effect? How Placebo and CBD Relate
A moment ago, we mentioned the placebo effect. What is the placebo effect? Simply put, it’s a phenomenon whereby a pharmacologically inert substance—such as a sugar pill—can create perceived effects simply because the subject believes it will improve their health. It’s a fascinating aspect of physiology, and it’s been studied extensively in clinical research.
So, what does this have to do with CBD? As highlighted in recent CBD research from Syracuse University, part of CBD’s influence within wellness routines may reflect both its own properties and the power of the placebo effect. Let us explain.
The experience of sensation—such as discomfort—varies for each individual and can include both the intensity and the quality of what’s felt. As Martin De Vita, one of the authors of the study, explained in an interview:
“If you think of pain as the noxious noise coming from a radio, the volume can represent the intensity of the pain, while the station can represent the quality.”
In other words, how the sensation feels on a qualitative level is different from how severe it is. The study suggests that both CBD and the placebo effect can influence this experience, affecting both the intensity and quality of discomfort perceptions.
Echoing the findings of other clinicians, De Vita points out that it’s important to know where your CBD actually comes from. At Papa & Barkley, we make our award-winning CBD products from 100% USA-grown hemp plants, then triple test it for purity and safety. Our complete line of Releaf products—including topicals, capsules, and drops—are thoughtfully formulated to support your general wellness routine.
In Conclusion: Evidence Supports Ongoing Research in Cannabinoids and Wellness
The role hemp and cannabis play in the experience of comfort and wellness is complex, and research is currently underway to illuminate how cannabis terpenes (the aromatic “essential oils” that give hemp and cannabis plants their unique aromas and flavors) and other active compounds in the plants might be impacting its efficacy. This latest study adds to a growing body of knowledge about how CBD might be integrated into wellness routines in complementary ways.
Do you have other questions about the placebo effect or incorporating CBD into your wellness routine? Reach out anytime; we’re always here to help!
