CBD oil for treating pain: effects, benefits, and uses

Here's why cannabidiol oil, more often referred to as CBD oil, is the new craze in the health and wellness industry

Published October 3, 2018 4:45PM (EDT)

CBD Oil (Yana Tatevosian)
CBD Oil (Yana Tatevosian)

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Cannabidiol oil, more commonly referred to as CBD oil, is the new hot topic in the health and wellness industry. It has taken the industry by storm, and many users claim that it helps melts away anxiety, relieve depression, and ease sleep issues, among other things. But, the best CBD oil use that is possibly the most intriguing - perhaps even the biggest game changer - is pain relief.

As the USA grapples with an opioid epidemic and struggles to treat the over 50 million Americans who battle with chronic pain, CBD oil has established itself as a non-addictive alternative with few, if any, adverse side effects. People apply it as a topical, smoke it through a vape pen, or ingest it as a pill.

Chronic pain conditions are still among the top reasons that people visit their physicians, and this number is rising. It’s likely that everyone will suffer from chronic pain at some point in their lives. While it can’t be cured, the good news is that, with proper care, it can be treated effectively. Since pharmaceutical drugs usually come with an array of adverse side effects, the solution lies in natural treatment, often in the form of CBD oil.

The effects of using CBD oil for treating pain

CBD is a compound that can be found in hemp; the group of compounds it belongs to are known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are linked to cannabis. However, the various compounds are present in different plants and with varying concentrations. While THC is the cannabinoid that is responsible for making users high due to its psychoactive properties, it’s important to note that hemp has the lowest traces of THC and an abundance of CBD. Thus, CBD oil that has been extracted from hemp won’t produce the effects of being “high” when you use it.

Our body has its own endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for the regulation and maintenance of various functions like immune system responses, sleep, and pain. The ECS produces its own natural cannabinoids, and using CBD oil further boosts the function of the ECS by providing exogenous cannabinoids in the form of cannabidiol.

Our body has specific receptors that have a strong reaction to cannabinoids. The external cannabinoids, in this case, CBD, attach themselves to the receptors and produce pain-killing and anti-inflammatory effects. This helps to relax the immune system, which often becomes overactive in response to pain. Therefore, CBD induces a soothing and calming effect on the body and helps it to relax. Studies have shown that CBD has the potential to treat chronic pain that is caused by more serious conditions like Multiple Sclerosis or cancer - it is important to note that the pain of the conditions might be relieved, but CBD is in no way a cure.

Pain management doctors believe that CBD oil might prevent pain impulses from reaching the brain. A study that was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine suggested that CBD oil may act on certain immune system receptors to reduce inflammation, which is a key component in various forms of chronic pain.

Also, according to one particular study, CBD prevents the body from absorbing anandamide from the bloodstream. Anandamide is a compound that is associated with pain regulation. The more anandamide present in the blood, the lower the amount of pain a person will feel.

But possibly the best part about using CBD oil is that you won’t develop a tolerance for it. This is unlike many pharmaceutical drugs which patients do develop a tolerance for and therefore have to keep upping the dosage to get the desired effects. CBD oil remains effective consistently and is not an addictive substance. It’s therefore considered to be a much safer alternative to opioids.

The benefits of using CBD oil to treat pain

CBD is generally a well-tolerated substance, which gives it a distinct advantage over other pharmaceutical medications currently available to treat pain. Some of these other medications include opioids, steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and anticonvulsants, all of which can cause complications to one’s health and well-being.

One of the biggest draws to CBD is that there is no record of adverse side effects. While it’s possible that you may feel a little drowsy and might not be able to operate a vehicle after using it, you will more than likely be in the clear. Compared to the side effects associated with other pain medications, this are minor and nothing to be concerned about.

Another big draw for CBD oil is that it doesn’t have any psychoactive effects. In other words, it won’t make the user high. This means that you can get all the desired benefits of cannabis without any risk of being “stoned.” This is the reason patients are now turning to CBD oil. Society is catching on to the fact that cannabis, but more specifically CBD oil, is not a harmful drug and could actually help with various health conditions, including pain relief.

Also, we cannot overlook the fact that CBD oil is a completely natural product. It originates from a plant, unlike opioids which have been synthetically produced and modified and contain all sorts of “potent” ingredients. CBD is derived from the stems and leaves of the hemp plant, and it really doesn’t get much better than that.

Another thing that CBD oil has going for it is that it has the potential to treat other conditions, not only pain. It’s also known to relieve anxiety and stress and uplift the mood, which means that you could use it as a two-in-one.

Lastly, prescription medication can be very expensive. In fact, it is thought that Americans spend over $300billion on prescription drugs each year. If your prescription drugs aren’t giving you the desired relief, there’s no reason to be spending a ton of money on it. CBD oil is a much cheaper than prescription medication. The best CBD oil will help you to save money and treat pain at the same time.

Using CBD oil to treat pain

When putting together a CBD regime for a specific illness, or, in this case, pain relief, it’s important to understand that you should use CBD regularly for maximum relief. In other words, it should first be used as a preventative, but it can also be used to manage flare ups. You should think about CBD oil as a dietary supplement, whereby you want to establish a baseline concentration in your system.

So by now, you probably wondering what the best way to take CBD oil for pain is. There are four typical ways to get CBD oil in your system. You can choose which one works best for you based on your lifestyle and health goals.

Inhalation

This is a good option for adults who have some vaping experience. Teaching a non-smoker or a child how to take CBD oil with a vape pen will be complicated and unnecessary. However, inhalation is the most efficient delivery system for CBD, with more of the substance entering the bloodstream than other methods. The CBD enters the lungs and is quickly diffused into the bloodstream, bypassing the liver.

Topical application

Lotions, creams, and salves are typically produced for local pain-relief and healing. It only works on the uppermost layer of the cells, so no CBD enters the bloodstream. The best way to apply a topical is to rub it into the skin a few times a day.

Sublingual

Pure CBD oil, concentrates, and tinctures can be administered under the tongue (sublingually). This delivery method allows the CBD to be absorbed by capillaries in the mucous membranes, and enter directly into the bloodstream. The remainder of the oil is swallowed and can be digested slowly.

This method of delivery allows the patient to have both immediate and long-lasting relief. To take CBD oil sublingually, simply hold it under your tongue for up to a minute and a half, enabling the mucus membranes to absorb the CBD. This will bypass the liver and digestive system. The CBD, therefore, reaches the bloodstream and interacts with the ECS within minutes.

Ingestion

Ingestion is the easiest way to deliver a dose of CBD oil. Swallowing the concentrated CBD oil allows it to pass through the digestive system and then metabolize in the liver. The CBD then enters the bloodstream. This is the exact way that most of your daily vitamins are delivered.

CBD oil can be mixed with a variety of products including baked goods, juices, teas, or salad dressing. It’s also available in capsules and as candy.

Final thoughts on CBD oil for treating pain

CBD oil has shown incredible promise as a treatment for pain. If it affects receptors in the immune system and brain in the way that researchers believe it does, it could reduce inflammation and pain. You can find a lot of informative information on marijuanabreak.com.

The treatment of pain with CBD oil is trendy and thought to have legitimate medicinal properties. However, just like when trying any sort of new medication, you should consult with your doctor before beginning a new CBD oil therapy to ensure that you are using it properly and with minimum risk.


By MarijuanaBreak Staff



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