Canker sores are not a fun topic to discuss, however, they are even less fun to endure. Canker sores, also referred to as aphthous ulcers, are small, shallow sores that develop inside the mouth or at the base of the gums.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “The precise cause of canker sores remains unclear, though researchers suspect that a combination of factors contributes to outbreaks, even in the same person.”

Potential contributing factors include, but are not limited to: injury, foot sensitivities, stress, and lack of vitamins and minerals.

A recent study based in Thailand examined CBD as a potential treatment for canker sores, and the researchers’ findings are promising. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Bangkok, Thailand: The use of a topical agent containing trace levels of plant-derived CBD reduces ulcer size and promotes healing in subjects with recurrent aphthous ulcers (a/k/a canker sores), according to clinical trial data published in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 

A team of Thai researchers compared the use of a topical patch containing 0.1 percent CBD with a placebo in 100 healthy subjects with recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU).

The CBD ointment was applied three times per day for seven days. Ulcer size was measured on days zero, two, five, and seven.

Authors reported that topical CBD “reduced ulcer size and accelerated ulcer healing without side effects.”

They concluded: “This clinical study demonstrated that topical 0.1 percent CBD reduced ulcer size and accelerated ulcer healing without any reported local (signs of allergic and anaphylactic reactions) or systemic (vital sign and blood test alteration) side effects.

Furthermore, in the RCT [randomly controlled trial], topical CBD exerted an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the erythematous border size in the early stage and decreasing pain intensity in the late stage of RAU.

Thus, CBD may be appropriate for RAU patients who choose not to take topical steroids, except for cases where CBD is contraindicated.”

The findings are consistent with those of other trials and case reports finding that the topical application of CBD promotes wound healing in patients with scleroderma,  refractory leg ulcers and with the rare skin blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa. 

The topical application of cannabinoids, and of CBD in particular, has demonstrated benefits in the treatment of a variety of skin-related conditions, including psoriasis, erythema, pruritis, and acne.

Full text of the study, “Efficacy and safety of topical 0.1% cannabidiol for managing recurrent aphthous ulcers: A randomized controlled trial,” appears in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.

This article first appeared on Internationalcbc.com and is syndicated here with special permission.