According to a scholarly survey published in the Journal of pain, more Americans are affected by pain more than heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. About a third of the people experience disabling pain that impacts their lives.
Patients living with acute or chronic pain are always looking for ways they can effectively manage their pain. Painkillers commonly prescribed by doctors include acetaminophen, opioids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, these medications have side effects that cause addiction and dependency issues after long-term use.
The Journal of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research published a report that shows that the use of marijuana for pain relief goes back to ancient China.
How CBD Oil Helps with Pain Management
CBD helps relieve pain in several ways. It works by stimulating the endocannabinoid system, partly responsible for memory, mood, and how we experience pain. The British Journal of Pharmacology published a study in 2004 that showed that CBD could help relieve pain in rats through TRPV1 receptors.
These receptors control functions like body temperature, inflammation, and awareness of pain. It also inhibits glutamate levels in the spinal cord and brain of mice. Glutamate is associated with the transmission of pain and increased sensations.
It is also shown to enhance anandamide signaling in the human trials according to human trials. It is known as the ‘bliss molecule.’ Healthy levels of anandamide are linked to feelings of happiness and well-being.
The ECS is modulated to bring the body’s state of homeostasis or balance back. It is also known to promote sound sleep for people with disrupted sleep patterns due to chronic pain. More research into the therapeutic potential of CBD is still being carried out.
CBD has also been documented as a potential treatment for chronic pain conditions that have been considered challenging to treat like intractable cancer pain and neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis. However, more research is still needed even though CBD has been effective in alleviating neuropathic pain caused by stroke or cancer.
The British Journal of Pharmacology published a research paper in 2013 that found that CBD extract could help alleviate severe neuropathic pain in cancer patients going through chemotherapy. It also helps suppress inflammatory pain that causes headaches and muscle cramps.
In 2016, the European Journal of Pain performed a study on rats, and the researchers found that the oral bioavailability of CBD limited. Hence, when pain or inflammation is specific to one area, like muscular pain and arthritis, the topical application of CBD would be more effective than oral ingestion.
The current research proves that CBD or cannabinoids are a potent anti-inflammatory agent that helps decrease pain, especially where inflammation is the main factor like arthritis and colitis. It has been studied in treatment as well as prevention of nerve pain, or neuropathy.
However, before you use CBD for chronic pain, we recommend talking to your doctor so he can advise you on how to add CBD to your treatment plan. You also need your doctor’s permission before you can get off your prescription meds.
Advice for People Wanting to Try CBD for Pain
You are already dealing with either acute or chronic pain; we don’t recommend that you smoke or vape CBD. Smoking anything will only harm your lungs or eventually lead to lung disease. According to the CDC, vaping was associated with an epidemic of lung disease.
We recommend that you buy only from reputable sources. Like vitamin supplements, CBD products are not FDA approved or regulated to treat diseases, so be careful. Before buying the product, check their third-party lab results to make sure that the ingredients stated on the product are the same on the test, the product isn’t contaminated with pesticides or heavy metals, and that it is THC-free.
Consider how you want to administer CBD. For slowly extended relief, opt for sublingual oil or capsule form. For faster relief of a target area, CBD topicals are your best option.
Start slowly and gradually increase your dosage until you figure out the best dosage that relieves your pain. You can do this by tracking your symptoms to get a sense of how helpful CBD oil is to work as part of your pain treatment plan.
Check with your state laws to make sure that medical marijuana is legal in your state and how the state feels about CBD. The last thing you want is to get in trouble for trying to get pain relief that works.
Considering you can’t get addicted or dependent on CBD like you would on opioids and pain medication, make sure first get the approval of your doctor before using CBD for pain. It also helps to learn more about CBD before adding it to your daily regimen.
Visit the Hempire to know the best CBD oil for pain.