Taking CBD oil for pain can be the solution for many when nothing else works. It can also be a good alternative for you who do not want to use strong and possibly addictive medications. In this article, we will dive into the subject of CBD for pain and take a closer look at why CBD oil can have a good effect for several types of pain, including chronic pain and nerve pain.
CBD for chronic pain
CBD oil has been shown to be effective against various forms of chronic pain that are often based on various inflammatory conditions.
In short, it can be said that CBD simply treats the symptoms by reducing the inflammation itself and by result reducing the pain.
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain can be defined as such pain that has been going on for a long time. What is considered chronic pain may differ depending on which doctor or medically trained person you talk to. Some people believe that a persistent pain that has not gone away after 12 weeks should be classified as chronic, while others believe that it takes up to 6 months.
Chronic pain can be difficult to treat and traditional medicines can in the long run become ineffective as the person concerned builds up a tolerance. And unfortunately, it is also not uncommon for the painkillers that are given to also have an addictive effect.
In the end, the victim often has to accept the pain for what it is and try to learn to live with it.
Living with chronic pain can be very stressful and for the person affected, it can have a number of negative consequences, both physical and mental, which can affect both work life, private life but also social life.
It is very difficult to measure pain and for patients with chronic pain, it also means that you have to try to explain how it feels and how painkillers work for it. Many people find it difficult to get the help they need from care because of this.
How does CBD relieve pain?
CBD oil for pain can be a very effective solution. The reason is that CBD uses one of our natural signalling systems (the endocannabinoid system).
The endocannabinoid system (abbreviated ECS) consists of CB1 and CB2 receptors. Both types of receptors are found throughout the body, but CB1 receptors mainly affect things such as memory, emotions, appetite and pain. CB2 receptors, on the other hand, are more involved in functions such as the immune system and can help balance the same.
The body produces something called endocannabinoids. There are mainly two types of endocannabinoids in the body and their task is to stimulate the said receptors, which in turn have an effect on, among other things, the above-mentioned bodily functions.
Cannabinoids, such as CBD, can replace the body’s self-produced endocannabinoids and thus stimulate ECS in a similar way. This is partly due to the analgesic effect of CBD that many people experience.
Because CB receptors are found in both large parts of the body and in the brain, CBD oil for nerve pain can be just as effective as for chronic pain.
Often relieves the source of the pain
Many diseases that lead to chronic pain are due to autoimmune diseases or inflammation in the body. CBD can have an effect against this type of pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to balance the immune system
A good example of how CBD can relieve inflammatory pain is joint pain. Many rheumatologists and people with arthritis testify that they suffer less from joint pain after using CBD oil or CBD capsules.
There are also more studies that have shown that many who feel less pain in the joints both during activity and at rest when given CBD oil. According to researchers, further studies are needed to be able to determine what effect CBD has on joint pain in humans, and whether the substance has such an effect that it can be used as a medicine.
Use of CBD against other types of pain
It is also possible to use CBD oil for pain that is not inflammatory. CBD oil, for example, has been shown to be effective against migraines and menstrual pain.
When it comes to acute pain, that is, such pain that occurs with sudden injury, CBD oil is not always the best option. In such a situation, it may be a better option to use some other form of painkiller. The reason is that acute pain is a way for the body to signal and warn that something is wrong. In this way, this is a good pain and nothing that CBD oil can go in and “correct” via ECS.
How to dose and use CBD oil for pain
Treatment with CBD oil for pain can look different for different people. Common to those who want the best possible effects, is that they should choose the right type of CBD oil, and that it should be dosed correctly.
Use a high quality CBD oil
In order for CBD oil to be able to help you treat the pain you are experiencing, it is of utmost importance that you choose a high quality product. This means, among other things, that the oil contains a suitable amount of CBD (cannabidiol), and is extracted in such a way that all important cannabinoids from the hemp plant have been utilized.
Such a product may be of the full spectrum type or of the broad spectrum type. The full spectrum oil contains a very low dose of THC that occurs naturally in the hemp plant, while the broad spectrum is completely free of THC.
The right dose regularly
When you start using CBD oil, it is often a good idea to start with a slightly lower dose and slowly increase the dose to get your body used to it. After a while, you will find the right dose for you. If you want a more noticeable effect, you can either increase the amount of CBD oil or buy a more potent CBD oil where the concentration of CBD is higher.
The most important thing for you to experience the positive effects that treatment with CBD oil can give is that you make sure that your intake of CBD is regular, preferably 3 times a day.
The recommended daily dose varies with different products but is usually about 3 – 5 drops per occasion and day.
5 Benefits of CBD Oil for Pain
1. Counteracts and balances
One of the absolute best features of CBD oil is that it not only suppresses the pain you are experiencing. If the pain is caused by an imbalance in your immune system or due to an ongoing inflammation in the body, CBD will activate ECS which in turn will try to fight ongoing inflammation.
Many people feel that this is a better effect, than some painkillers that only “hide” the pain.
2. Uncommon with side effects
Side effects when taking CBD are uncommon and according to the research that has been done, it is possible to take very high doses of CBD without any side effects. Research done on CBD and side effects has shown more significant side effects only occur when consuming about 1500mg CBD per day.
This is equivalent to about a bottle of 15% CBD oil daily. Unlike the recommended 3-5 drops 3 times daily which is usually recommended.
3. Not tolerance-building or addictive
Unlike cannabis oil, which often contains a high concentration of THC, according to research, CBD oil is neither tolerance-building nor addictive. This is also an advantage over the many painkillers, such as opiates, which are often used as a treatment for pain. Although CBD is extracted from cannabis, there is no concern about side effects in the form of addiction.
People who take drugs that are tolerant can usually experience that they become ineffective after many years with the same drug. The risk is that you continue to increase the dose to try to relieve the pain in a similar way as when you started the medicine. Since CBD is not tolerance-building, the same problems do not arise when using CBD oil.
According to research, CBD does not cause addiction or increased tolerance and this means that you do not have to feel anxious about becoming addicted.
4. Does not only treat pain
An advantage for the people who use CBD oil is that many feel that CBD oil not only helps relieve pain but also provides several other positive effects. Among other things, many feel that CBD helps them sleep better, relieve anxiety, relieve inflammation (in joints and skin, for example).
5. Easy to dose
It is very easy to dose CBD oil. Place the recommended number of drops under the tongue, wait 60 seconds and swallow. If you want to make it even easier for you, you can choose to buy CBD capsules. Then you take 1 capsule at morning, lunch and dinner, and do not have to think more about dosage.
Summary of CBD oil for pain
CBD oil can be a good option for you who suffer from different types of pain. Among other things, it can relieve nerve pain, migraines and menstrual pain. But it is also, and perhaps most importantly, effective for chronic pain.
The key to getting the best possible effects by treating CBD for pain is to take the CBD oil regularly, in the right dose and to choose a good quality oil. CBD is effective against pain because it stimulates the ECS (the endocannabinoid system) which in turn can help alleviate pain signals or curb ongoing inflammation that causes the pain.
People who take CBD to treat pain also often testify that they sleep better, have reduced anxiety and a generally better quality of life thanks to the fact that the pain they lived with has decreased.