Jaw function improved over time in patients with myofascial pain disorder (MPD) who received either cannabidiol (CBD) or hemp seed oil, according to a new clinical trial published in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

The study, conducted by researchers from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medicine, used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design to evaluate whether oral CBD could help manage pain and improve function in patients with MPD of the temporomandibular region.

A total of 54 participants with moderate to severe jaw pain were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either CBD oil or a placebo made from hemp seed oil. Researchers measured pain levels over one, two, and three months using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while jaw function was evaluated at each timepoint using the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale.

Although the study did not find a statistically significant difference in pain reduction between the two groups, both the CBD and placebo groups showed improvement in jaw function over time. Researchers reported that this within-group improvement was statistically significant, even though neither treatment outperformed the other in a direct comparison.

Pain scores remained relatively similar between the groups throughout the study period, with no meaningful advantage found for CBD in reducing jaw pain. Even so, the functional gains seen in both groups suggest that oral treatment, monitoring, or other aspects of care may still contribute to better day-to-day jaw use over time.

Researchers also tracked adverse effects as an exploratory measure, although the abstract did not emphasize any major safety issues associated with CBD use.

The findings add nuance to the broader discussion around cannabidiol (CBD) and pain-related conditions. In this trial, oral CBD did not improve pain more than placebo, but both CBD and hemp seed oil were associated with improved jaw function over the course of the study.