Media can make CBD feel like the newest, trendiest, jack-of-all-spades, product. You can purchase CBD products for anything in just about every shape, size, and color. It’s mainly famous for its ability to treat pain.
The big question is if it works, and if so, how?
CBD is still relatively new in modern medicine, and we still don’t know everything about it. However, there are studies are being done all the time to better understand why and how CBD is helping people. And a few of the results are back: CBD is more than just snake oil.
What Is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, are cannabinoids extracted from hemp plants. Your body creates cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids. Your endocannabinoid system is connected to your central nervous system, and it’s involved in many processes, including pain, mood, memory, inflammation, etc.
CBD doesn’t directly attach to your CB receptors; instead, it’s thought to make your endocannabinoids work more efficiently. Endocannabinoids are incredibly versatile, and we still don’t understand their full uses in the body.
How Does CBD Help with Pain?
The Journal of Experimental Medicine released a in 2012 that suggests that CBD can reduce pain and inflammation. Anecdotal evidence by thousands can certainly back this up, and it reassures what many already know. CBD can be good for pain.
Unlike the original theory, CBD you’ve taken doesn’t attach to the receptors in your brain. Instead, they make your endocannabinoid system work more effectively. CBD can decrease the number of signals that causes your pain to be stimulated, inflammation, and possibly more.
Do You Need THC for Pain Relief?
THC is the psychoactive part of the plant that creates that “high” feeling. Most CBD oils are made from hemp plants, and not marijuana plants. This means that there will be less than 0.3% THC in the product you find. The lack of THC makes it legal to sell in many places all over the world.
Whether or not THC is important in pain regulation is certainly up for debate. There is a lot of evidence to show that you don’t need THC for the benefits of CBD pain relief. However, it’s thought that the presence of THC can help CBD work more efficiently in the body.
CNET conducted an interview with Kevin Boehnke, Ph.D., research investigator in the department of anesthesiology and the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan. CNET quoted him as saying, “Also, taking CBD and THC together, compared to a similar amount of THC alone or CBD alone, seems to have better analgesic effects.”
While people who are a fan of the “high” feeling agree, more research still needs to be done.
CBD and Chronic Pain
Pain and chronic pain aren’t the same things. Chronic pain is when pain lasts for weeks and months on end, with little to no natural relief. People who experience chronic pain are usually the ones who are on the search to find safe pain relief without relying on prescription medication like opioids.
That’s why CBD seems so attractive. It’s natural and relatively inexpensive compared to prescription medication. We’ve already discussed how CBD can help with pain, but whether or not it can help with chronic pain is another discussion.
In 2017, there was some scientific literature discussing the effects of CBD and chronic pain. They concluded, “There is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.” This was at the end of the chapter, but there was some mention that the effects of CBD for chronic pain are “modest.”
Similarly, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine just published a report on CBD in support of it being an effective tool for pain management. There are many other scientific reports on this subject, and it may be interesting for you to look at the anecdotal stories of people who’ve tried CBD for themselves. They’re not always positive, or even trustworthy, but it can give you an idea of real-world results.
You should always consult with your doctor before taking anything new—especially if you’re already on medications—but this could be something to discuss with your physician. You won’t know if it works for you until you try it. Just make sure that the CBD you purchase is full-spectrum, high-quality cannabinoids.
However, there are some arguments that some of the studies concerning the connection between CBD and pain relief on animals do not translate well to humans. That, or they are not used with THC-free CBD, and therefore you can’t use these studies to recommend CBD without THC. The information is conflicting, but we’re slowly working our way toward the answers.
How Much CBD Should I Take for Pain Relief?
CBD is available in a variety of dosages. You can purchase a tincture and only take a few drops, or buy a low dose gummy bear and take 5mg. You should understand what is considered a high and low dose.
- A low dosage of CBD is considered 5mg.
- An average dosage of CBD is considered 10mg.
- A high dosage of CBD is considered 30mg+.
As with anything, you should always start low and work your way higher. If you take a lower dosage and you don’t feel any effects at all, slowly increase it until you see results. There are no specific guidelines for how much CBD is considered safe, but these are the average ones recommended by companies.
How to Choose CBD Products for Pain Relief?
First, you want to make you buy the appropriate amount of CBD. Most people report needing to take higher dosages of CBD to help with their pain relief. So, when you purchase your CBD product, make sure to purchase enough to last you a month even if you’re taking 30mg a serving. If you end up needing less, then you’ll have a healthy supply.
Then, think about the kind of pain you’re experiencing. If it is bone or nerve pain, you could have better luck with an internal product like tinctures, edibles, or capsules. If you’re experiencing arthritis or muscle pain, you could have more luck with topical products. Check out our guide on how to choose the right ones for you, and our list of the best ones.
Conclusion
As you can see, CBD is still a hot topic in the scientific community. Understandably, people are excited about a new product that can increase their quality of life. There’s strong evidence in support of it, but until we know more, it’s up to you to try it. If you decide to try CBD, speak with your doctor first and discuss the possible benefits for you.