CBD reduce pain?

Will CBD reduce pain?

Author: Lauren Smithson

cbd reduce pain?

Table of Contents

cbd reduce pain?

How Does CBD Work in the body?

CBD is a type of cannabinoid. These are chemicals that are found naturally in hemp and marijuana plants. Unlike its counterpart, THC, CBD does not cause the ‘high’ feeling associated with THC. Over the last few years, more and more people have been discovering the pain-reducing properties of CBD. Chronic pain has become an epidemic in the U.S. According to a 2016 study, it was estimated that around 50 million U.S. adults had chronic pain and 19.6 million had high-impact chronic pain, with higher numbers of both chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain reported among women, older adults, unemployed adults, adults living in poverty, adults with public health insurance, and rural residents.

For those looking for an alternative to prescription medicine, such as opioids, CBD can offer a non-habit-forming pain reliever with minimal to no side effects. More research is being performed every day on the pain-relieving benefits of CBD oil and other products. CBD works in a very unique way inside the body to relieve pain. CBD is broken down in the endocannabinoid system. This system is a biochemical communication system in the body that plays a crucial role in regulating our physiology, mood, and everyday experience. The cannabinoid receptors within this system are stimulated by the CBD causing our bodies to enjoy the pain relief benefits. While it may be beneficial to try the pain-reducing properties of CBD for your chronic pain, always speak to your doctor before altering your treatment plan.

Is CBD or THC better for pain?

CBD and THC are the two most famous of the many compounds found naturally in the cannabis plant. CBD is known for its calming effects while THC is known for the ‘high’ it can give the user. Both have been touted as a pain relief option, but which one provides more pain relief? Unfortunately, since THC is a scheduled substance, there aren’t many studies to test its therapeutic benefits on humans. This leaves the CBD v. THC pain relief benefits argument up for debate. There have been studies that have shown that CBD is best for pain all around, including inflammatory pain. THC has also been shown to relieve many different types of pain, but unlike CBD, it has also been shown to dull the perception of pain, rather than reducing the pain itself. Also, THC is known for giving that ‘high’ that many pain sufferers do not want to experience, thus CBD is the recommended place to start when looking for pain relief.

What kind of pain can CBD reduce?

Pain begins in the body at the root of an injury or inflammation. Once the injury occurs, the body’s immediate reaction is to activate pain receptors. This signals your brain to register the pain and that is when you start feeling it. There are many different types of pain our body can feel including chronic pain, arthritis, cancer treatment pain, migraine, and fibromyalgia.

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and usually lasts longer than six months. This pain can persist even after the injury or illness heals. The pain receptors keep signaling pain in your body and some individuals can suffer chronic pain even when there is no past injury or apparent body damage. Chronic pain is linked to conditions that include headache, arthritis, cancer, nerve pain, and back pain. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has receptors throughout the body that receive signals, mostly chemical ones, from different stimuli and help your cells to respond. The ECS response to CBD creates anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects that aid in pain management.

Arthritis

According to arthritis.org “arthritis” is not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions and it is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults have some type of arthritis. Common arthritis joint symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. Symptoms may stay about the same for years but can progress or get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain. The anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects of CBD could potentially help people with arthritis. There are laboratory studies that have demonstrated the promising effect of CBD during animal studies showing anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.

Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy treats many types of cancer effectively, but it often causes side effects. The side effects of chemotherapy are different for each person and depend on the type of cancer, location, type of drugs, and size of the dosage. The most common side effects of chemotherapy are fatigue, pain, nervous system changes, and nausea, and vomiting. With CBD, the pain-relieving effects can have a positive impact on the pain during and after treatment.

Migraines

A migraine is a severe throbbing headache that can cause a pulsing sensation, usually on one portion of the head. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. These headaches can last hours or even days. In an article by Forbes, it is stated that ‘an overwhelming majority of migraine sufferers found relief with the use of CBD oil, according to the results of a recent study. Data from a clinically validated survey showed that 86% of respondents reported a decrease in headache impact after using a cannabidiol (CBD) formulation for a 30-day trial period.’

Fibromyalgia

The Mayo Clinic defines fibromyalgia as a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals. The National Library of Medicine comments that while the current evidence is still limited, emerging data does suggest a positive effect of CBD in fibromyalgia.

How to Use CBD for Pain

There are many different ways to take CBD, orally, sublingually, and topically. With so many choices it can be hard to make the decision for what is best for your individual pain management needs. From gummies and capsules to tinctures and lotions, let’s look at the best products for each administration.

Orally

Many CBD products are for oral administration. CBD can come in many oral forms such as gummies and capsules. These take your body time to digest depending on factors such as your weight, metabolism, and your diet. To start feeling the effects of CBD it could take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. A great place to start with oral CBD is with a high-quality gummy. Calm by Wellness Hemp CBD Gummies contain 10 mg of CBD per gummy and are even available in a vegan form.

Sublingually

Administering a CBD oil tincture under the tongue is one of the quickest ways to experience pain relief. This way the active ingredients are absorbed directly into the bloodstream and take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to take effect within the body. For those that are just starting out with a CBD oil tincture, it is best to get one that has a great added flavor since it can take some getting used to. Calm by Wellness CBD Oil Tincture contains the perfect blend of broad-spectrum hemp extract and organic strawberry extract formulated to make your life more tasteful and enjoyable.

Topically

Lotions and salves can be infused with the healing powers of CBD oil and can be applied topically directly to the affected pain areas. This direct application can reduce pain and inflammation and even aid achy joints. CBD Lavender Lotion and Hemp CBD Healing Salve are both great products to start with to see if topical CBD is the right treatment path for you.

How long does CBD take to work?

This is the million-dollar question for most people that are interested in trying CBD as a pain reliever for the first time. Unfortunately, it is not a one size fits all answer. How long CBD takes to ‘work’ inside the body depends on a couple of different factors such as, which way you consume CBD, dosage and potency, CBD quality, individual biology, and consistency. The administration method of CBD is the biggest determining factor on how quickly CBD will start working for you. Sublingual consumption of a tincture (under the tongue) is the most effective followed by CBD gummies, and then CBD topicals. Next, the amount of CBD you are taking per day will affect how quickly you feel relief. In general, the higher the potency, the quicker you will feel it. When starting a new CBD regiment, it is important to consider the kinds of results you want to achieve and then adjust the dosage accordingly.

This usually includes testing different administration methods. Everyone is different so it is something you need to test out for yourself. Usually, a great place to start is a CBD tincture, a dropper full once per day. It is a fact that not all CBD products are created equal. Marketing claims are highly unregulated and many of these brands do the bare minimum quality control. Many of these products contain impurities, additives, and can even contain traces of THC. To check the quality of a company’s claims, always check the third-party lab certifications as well as looking to see if the products are full spectrum. Full-spectrum contains more cannabinoids that have beneficial effects as well. Another factor that can affect your experience with CBD is your individual biology.

If you take CBD, there are certain effects that are guaranteed to take place but the timing can be different for everyone. Bodyweight, metabolism, and your own endocannabinoid system balance can all determine your individual interaction with CBD. Lastly, consistency is key! For some, the pain relief effects of CBD will come immediately with the first use. For others, it might take a few weeks to notice the powerful effects of CBD. So if you don’t feel it right away, be patient. Some impatient people might give up after a few CBD doses even though they might be taking a bad-quality product. To feel the effects of CBD, the user must take it consistently.

Summary

For those looking for an alternative to prescription medicine, such as opioids, CBD can offer a non-habit-forming pain reliever with minimal to no side effects. The use of CBD can help with many different types of pain including chronic pain, arthritis, cancer treatment pain, migraine, and fibromyalgia. There are also many different ways to take CBD for pain management, orally, sublingually, and topically including gummies, capsules, tinctures, and lotions. How long CBD takes to ‘work’ inside the body depends on a couple of different factors such as, which way you consume CBD, dosage and potency, CBD quality, individual biology, and consistency.

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