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CBD Oil For Pain
One of the biggest benefits of CBD oil is pain relief and pain management. Patients find comfort for many disorders that cause pain by using CBD oils and other natural CBD products.
You can use numerous types and forms of CBD to combat many different types of pain, such as chronic pain, arthritis, back pain, and more.
Want to know more about CBD oil for pain relief? This guide will explore the pain-fighting benefits of CBD, what type of CBD for pain is best, and more.
What Is CBD?
CBD is one of a number of cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa plant but is the most therapeutic and effective one for pain relief.
The use of cannabis for pain relief dates back to ancient Chinese medicine, but scientists worldwide have only recently started to thoroughly research this plant. However, CBD research has been promising so far.
Typically, doctors prescribe pain medications to pain sufferers, but if they experience side effects or they begin to build a tolerance to the medication, those people often look for natural alternatives.
Most people who know the consequences don’t want to rely on pain medication if they don’t have to. CBD offers a practical and healthy alternative for those relying on other medications with many negative side effects.
While many cannabinoid studies have focused on CBD, other research has also included the use of THC – another therapeutic cannabinoid found in cannabis, which is responsible for the psychoactive effects and ‘high’ of cannabis. Certain types of CBD oil contain small amounts of THC; only CBD isolate contains no THC at all.
While there is stigma attached to THC due to its association with the cannabis ‘high’, studies show that pain relief is significantly improved when coupled with CBD.
What Types Of Pain Does CBD Relieve?
There are two main ways in which CBD oil relieves pain.
- The first is that it acts as a potent natural anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling and redness.
- The second is that CBD has a more therapeutic effect on the body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system regulates immune response, appetite, memory, metabolism and more.
Recently, scientists worldwide started thoroughly researching how CBD influences how we experience pain. The growing evidence that supports the reduction of pain in various disorders is living proof it works.
Some of the disorders, illnesses, and other pains positively affected by CBD include the following.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a specific type of pain that lasts for a significant amount of time, usually over three months. Treating chronic pain is a challenging process, but CBD oil can offer relief for some forms of it.
Chronic pain is usually the result of diseases, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia, but illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, or multiple sclerosis can cause it as well. Although it won’t entirely remove it, CBD oil can help relieve chronic pain to an extent.
Although it doesn’t treat the source of chronic pain, CBD oil can significantly alter your experience of it. CBD reduces chronic pain by affecting hormones in your brain and relaxing your body.
You can use CBD oil for targeting specific areas of chronic pain on your body as well, such as your hands, knees, or feet. You can now get CBD cream that is best for targeting these specific areas of chronic pain.
Whilst CBD can be beneficial for combating chronic pain, you can start to build a tolerance to it if you take it over a long period. To solve this, you can gradually increase your CBD dosage if its effects weaken so you can still feel the pain relief benefits.
Arthritis Pain
Arthritis is the inflammation of joints. Arthritis can cause your movement to be excruciating, slow and stiff. Some arthritis pain can originate from body inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis. In 2018, over 15% of New Zealand residents had arthritis.
Fortunately, CBD oil and medical marijuana can combat joint pain. CBD can lower the pain you feel with arthritis and has little to no side effects.
There has to be more research to work out CBD oil’s full effects on arthritis and joint pain, but most reports have shown that it does help to reduce the pain.
You can also target specific joints with CBD cream to reduce pain and stiffness.
Cancer Pain
Multiple cancer treatments have side effects that can cause varying levels of pain. Side effects can include vomiting, less appetite, and inflammatory pain.
The American National Cancer Institute has pointed to CBD oil as a possible option for reducing cancer-related pain. Of course, it isn’t a substitute for cancer treatment, but it can help combat pain, vomiting and a lack of appetite.
CBD oil combats cancer pain by acting as an anti-inflammatory. It does this by lowering various symptoms from cancer treatment side effects, such as systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.
Inflammatory And Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain can be an effect of neurological disorders stemming from damage to your nervous system. Neuropathic pain is most common in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, shingles and herniated discs.
Some reports have determined that CBD oil can act as an anti-inflammatory and help with neuropathic pain by numbing your pain receptors. However, other studies claim that the potential benefits of cannabis-based pain relief may be outweighed by the potential risks, although these studies have largely focused on combined CBD and THC products.
Overall, scientists need to do more research to identify all the benefits and risks of using CBD oil to relieve inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
Back Pain
Neuropathic pain can be an effect of neurological disorders stemming from damage to your nervous system. Neuropathic pain is most common in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, shingles and herniated discs.
Some reports have determined that CBD oil can act as an anti-inflammatory and help with neuropathic pain by numbing your pain receptors. However, other studies claim that the potential benefits of cannabis-based pain relief may be outweighed by the potential risks, although these studies have largely focused on combined CBD and THC products.
Overall, scientists need to do more research to identify all the benefits and risks of using CBD oil to relieve inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) causes permanent brain and nerve damage. Whilst CDB won’t treat MS’s full effects, it can help manage pain by combatting specific MS symptoms, such as muscle spasms.
Muscle spasms are one of the most painful MS symptoms. In the worst cases, they can be incredibly painful and last for a very long time.
If you have MS and use CBD oil for a short time, it can help to reduce muscle spasm symptoms slightly. Further testing is required to determine the full effects of CBD on MS.
Neck Pain
Like back pain, neck pain can stem from a previous injury or an illness such as arthritis.
Combining CBD Oil and THC can help combat pain of the neck, arms, knees and more.
Inflammation can contribute to multiple body pains, including the neck. However, CBD oil can reduce these pains because it is anti-inflammatory.
Rheumatic Diseases
Rheumatic diseases directly affect your immune system and cause it to attack your muscles, organs, joints and bones. For example, rheumatoid arthritis causes permanent and severe damage to your joints over a while.
CBD oil can slow down the degradation of your joints if you have RA, and in some cases, can even stop it entirely. Other symptoms you have with RA will also be affected, like a high fever and fatigue.
Skin Conditions
CBD can also be used to address skin conditions. Another study found topical CBD creams applied on children with a rare skin blistering condition healed the wounds quicker, gave them less pain and fewer blisters.
If you have a skin condition and want to use CBD to fight it, you should try CBD cream, a CBD ointment, CBD lotion, or CBD balm.
Diabetes
A review published in 2018 examined a wide variety of cannabis-based solutions and found some benefit in treating neuropathic pain, which often occurs in people with diabetes.
Whilst it won’t help with every symptom of diabetes, soothing the neuropathic pain will relax you and potentially prevent further damage to your nervous system.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder And Other Anxiety-Related Disorders
Whilst not physical pain, PTSD and other anxiety disorders can cause a lot of mental distress, which CBD can combat just as well.
Some research has shown that PTSD patients who are prescribed CBD and have counselling sessions show fewer symptoms. Combining CBD with THC can also help to reduce PTSD symptoms.
You can also apply CBD balm or cream to your skin to help with anxiety and sleep deprivation.
What Is The Best CBD Oil For Pain Relief?
Now you know the various pains CBD oil can combat, a question you may be asking: What is the best CBD oil for pain relief?
Before we look at the CBD products best for pain relief, we must look into what you can get in New Zealand.
What CBD Products Can You Buy In New Zealand?
To get a CBD product with pain-relieving effects, you will need a medical prescription from your local doctor. The amount of CBD you can get with a prescription is also restricted; the maximum you can get at a time is a three-month dosage.
CBD products must meet the standards of the Medical Cannabis Agency (MCA) to be made available for prescription. A doctor can prescribe CBD that doesn’t meet the standards of the MCA; however, the prescription must be for a named patient, and the doctor must import the product independently.
What Types Of CBD Are There?
There are three main types of CBD. They each contain different parts of the cannabis plant.
- Full Spectrum CBD Oil: Full spectrum CBD oil includes every part of the cannabis plant. It contains a small amount of THC – typically less than a 0.3% concentration. Because of the extra THC, full-spectrum CBD oil is more potent than pure CBD.
- Broad Spectrum CBD Oil: Broad-spectrum CBD contains most parts from the cannabis plant, but filters out THC to trace amounts. It is helpful to treat pain, but pure CBD isolate is more effective.
- Pure CBD Isolate: Pure CBD isolate only contains CBD. It typically comes in a powder or solid form. The manufacturers have to extract all other cannabis parts to make CBD isolate.
Of the three types, CBD isolate is the best for combating pain, but the other types are also effective.
What CBD Forms Are Great For Pain Management?
As well as the three different CBD types, there are also multiple forms of CBD that you can acquire. These forms include:
- CBD oil and CBD oral sprays: The most common form of CBD. You have to place CBD oil on your tongue and swallow it. CBD oils will numb your pain receptors if you’re in constant pain. Using them will reduce overall pain symptoms. You can also get CBD oral sprays for ease of use. You should mainly use medical CBD oil, not dietary supplements.
- CBD gummies: Whilst effective, CBD oil can make some people feel uncomfortable. CBD gummies are more soothing and will help with various pains, such as aching and chronic pain. In addition, some gummies contain ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties like pepper or turmeric. You can also get other edible CBD products, including chocolates, coffee, and more.
- CBD cream: CBD topical creams are excellent if you want to target a specific painful area like your back, neck, knees, and more. They will provide pain relief to the particular area without making your whole body feel numb. If you don’t want CBD cream, you can also get balms, ointments and lotions.
Each form of CBD has its merits. For example, if you suffer from chronic pain, you should use CBD oil or gummies. However, if you want to target a specific painful area, you should use a CBD cream, lotion, balm, or ointment.
Conclusion: CBD Oil For Pain Relief
The proven and effective pain relief delivered by CBD oil is life-changing for many people. It can help them get back into their proper sleep routines and significantly improve their quality of life. CBD can significantly reduce aching, chronic pain, arthritis, cancer-related pain, and more.
If a CBD product doesn’t give you the results you want, you could try a CBD and THC mix, which is more optimal for pain relief. However, mixes are more challenging to obtain than regular CBD.
You can seek medical advice before taking CBD oil if you want to. However, the fact that CBD works for so many means it is worth considering if you are suffering from pain of any kind. CBD can disrupt some prescription medication, so it is vital to make your doctor aware of whatever you’re taking.
Finally, It is worthwhile researching CBD oil before purchasing it. There are multiple CBD brands and forms out there, so you should find the one that best suits your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Will CBD Oil Take To Relieve My Pain?
For most pains, you will start to notice gradual improvements when you first start using CBD. The effects will be minor at first, and you may still feel some pain, but after two to three weeks, the improvements will be much more significant.
If the effects start to wear off after a more extended period due to your body’s increased tolerance for CBD, you can request for your doctor to increase your dosage.
What Dosage Of CBD Oil Should I Take For Fighting Pain?
The amount of CBD oil you take will depend on what type of pain you are suffering. For example, if you suffer from chronic pain, you should be taking between 2.5 and 20 mg of CBD oil per dosage. If your body mass is larger, you may require a larger dose.
Generally, the daily dosage should be 0.25mg CBD x your body weight (pounds).
Does CBD Oil Do Anything For Pain?
Whilst CBD will not be likely to cure your pain, it will significantly dull its effects.
For example, if you have a previous injury and suffer from back pain, your back problem will remain after you start taking CBD, but you will experience significantly less pain from it. CBD works by affecting multiple processes in the body, including the pain receptors.
How Do I Use CBD For Pain Management?
Using CBD oil for pain management involves placing the drops underneath your tongue and keeping them there for up to a minute. You can’t swallow the drops during this process, or the CBD won’t work correctly.
Alternatively, you can eat the CBD gummies, or if you’re using a cream, ointment, balm or lotion, apply it to the painful part of your body.
Does CBD Oil Have Any Side Effects?
Whilst not occurring very often, potential side effects of using CBD oil include diarrhea, losing appetite, getting dry mouth and becoming fatigued.
If you use any other medication, you must consult with your doctor before taking any CBD products because they can interfere with any existing medication.
As long as your doctor clears you to take CBD, you will mostly be fine, as the other side effects aren’t very common.
Dr Ron Goedeke, specialises in alternative and functional medicine. He is a foundation member of the New Zealand college of Appearance medicine and has been a member of the American Academy of Anti-aging medicine since 1999. With over 20 years of experience in the anti-aging field, Dr Ron Goedeke is recognized as one of New Zealand’s leaders in this new and growing field of medicine.
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