Using CBD Oil for Pain Relief: Does It Work?
Cannabidiol or CBD is an organic compound found in cannabis plants. The substance is renowned for its wide range of properties, including analgesic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This makes it an alternative source of medicine, especially when it comes to reduce and manage chronic pain. But can it actually relieve pain? How can use CBD oil for pain and who shouldn’t use such products? Keep on reading to find out more about all these.
What Causes Pain?
People normally feel pain when nociceptors nerves detect tissue damage. They will transmit this information regarding tissue damage to the brain via the spinal cord. The main causes of pain include headaches, toothaches, muscle injuries, bone fractures, stomach aches, muscle cramps, strains, burns, cuts, and others. While some causes of painful conditions can be avoided, others usually occur as a result of other health conditions. it’s also worth noting that pain can be temporary or long-lasting, severe, or simply moderate. Knowing the cause and intensity of your pain is important in determining the best form of CBD to use.
Can CBD Oil Help with Pain?
It’s possible for CBD oil to help with pain management. The cannabis compound can block pain transmission in the brain and spinal cord. This can happen through opioid and vanilloid pain receptors.
Other reports indicate that its effectiveness for pain management involves reducing inflammation which is one of the main causes of pain. Other instances of how CBD oil can help with pain include easing the common side effects of pain such as depression, insomnia, and anxiety. CBD can also promote good cell health and promote their regeneration. This is important if you are dealing with painful conditions such as endometriosis, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia.
What Does the Research Say?
Since the early 2000s, small studies have found that CBD can help some patients dealing with chronic pain. It’s also been found to be effective in dealing with nerve damage as well as diabetic-related pain. Observational studies indicate that the effectiveness of CBD oil for pain lies in its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Which Types of Pain Can CBD Oil Help With?
Pain can occur as a result of underlying health conditions or simply injuries. But regardless of the cause, CBD works with the endocannabinoid system to promote overall improved wellness. Some of the common types of pain that CBD can help with include:
CBD Oil for Back Pain
Persistent back pain is usually caused by sciatica and when the peripheral nerves are damaged. Understand that peripheral nerve damage usually occurs as a result of constant impairment of the nerve function. CBD has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, making it effective for managing back pain.
It works by reducing the pain transmission through the nerves. CBD may also help defending the body against oxidative damage, activate the vanilloid pain receptors, and protect the body’s nerve cells from extensive damage.
CBD oil for Inflammatory Pain
Inflammation usually affects the immune system. It should be noted that inflammatory responses are usually triggered as a response to physical injury or infections. It can also be due to degenerative, metabolic, or autoimmune diseases. Common inflammatory conditions include heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes. Besides that, a physical ankle sprain or leg injury would still be inflammatory.
You can use CBD oil for inflammatory pain to manage these conditions. CBD usually prevents the onset or spread of autoimmune inflammation. Besides that, it can reduce the severity of existing inflammation, swelling, and redness. It also widens the blood vessels to reduce inflammation effectively and quickly.
CBD oil For Muscle Pain
Muscle pain can occur as a result of injuries or severe physical activity such as workouts. You can manage it by using CBD products which can help ease muscle tension, prevent inflammation, ease chronic pain, and promote faster recovery of cells. The effectiveness of CBD in easing muscle pain includes relaxing tight muscles, reducing muscle inflammation, blocking pain signals from reaching the brain, and speeding the healing process.
CBD oil for Arthritis
If you are suffering from arthritis pain that normally affects the joint tissues, you can use CBD for pain management. The organic cannabis compound is effective in easing arthritic inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
If you are dealing with osteoarthritis, for instance, CBD usually slows the activity of LOX enzymes. This will consequentially slow down the progression of arthritic inflammation in the joints. Consistent intake of CBD will gradually lead to the reduction of the pain symptoms with time.
CBD oil for Chronic Pain
NSAIDs usually induce some forms of chronic pain. For instance, some kidney transplant patients may end up experiencing chronic pain due to the harmful side effects of NSAID medications taken after surgery. Clinical trials indicate that CBD can effectively ease NSAID-induced pain, especially those caused by medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen.
Besides that, some forms of long-term pain are usually caused by underlying health issues. Research studies indicate that CBD is generally effective in pain management and has minimal side effects.
CBD oil for Cancer Pain
This pain is usually induced by chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Animal studies indicate that CBD can effectively prevent painful hypersensitization of the nerve receptors for pressure and temperature. Note that these are usually the side effects of chemotherapy treatment. So, CBD works by directly binding to the serotonin receptors in the brain.
What CBD Products Are Best for Pain?
Finding the best CBD oil for pain can be challenging. This is because you can find CBD products in several forms, including CBD oils, gummies, capsules, and topicals. If you have joint, muscle, or skin-related pain, then you should use CBD topical products. If you are suffering from other forms of pain, then consider internal forms of CBD such as oils, vapes, capsules, and gummies.
All these methods require that you know how to use CBD oil for pain. For instance, vaping using a vape cartridge usually provides the fastest pain relief. If you are looking for long-lasting pain relief, consider oral options or a transdermal patch. It should be noted that if you don’t like the taste of raw CBD hemp oil, then you should take CBD gummies.
Understand that the type of CBD oil also matters. For instance, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils are highly beneficial for chronic or severe pain relief. On the other hand, CBD oil isolate is ideal for those who are subjected to regular drug tests or are using other medications. But before taking any CBD products its ideal to discuss with your doctor first.
What CBD Oil Potency Should I Use for Pain?
“How much CBD oil should I take for pain?” well, there is no universal dosage recommendation since the use of CBD products hasn’t been approved by the FDA. In addition to that, not all CBD products found on the market are made equally. There is a wide range of products in different formulations and from various manufacturers.
Besides that, the severity of your medical condition, weight, age, and metabolism determine potency. It’s usually advisable to start with a low-potency CBD product to allow your body to build a tolerance that can accommodate a high dose. The recommended minimum potency for various CBD products include:
- CBD oils: 33 mg/ ml
- CBD topicals: 8 mg/ml
- CBD capsules: 15 mg/ml
Who Shouldn’t Use CBD for Pain Relief?
Most research studies related to the use of CBD involve adult trials. According to experts, children should, therefore, not use CBD products. Currently, there is very little research regarding the effects of CBD oil on a child’s development. Furthermore, breastfeeding and pregnant women shouldn’t use CBD oil products.
Final Thoughts
Does CBD oil work for pain? Well, from the overview above, it’s clear that CBD can be effective in pain management. You can use it to manage or reduce backaches, joint/muscle pains, and chronic pain. You can use the product in several forms, including topicals, tinctures, capsules, gummies, and others. Besides that, you can find CBD for pain in three pain types such as isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum CBD. Understand that the potency of CBD varies depending on the form. Besides that, users should always exercise caution since CBD is still in early phase of research.