Is it safe to use CBD for pain?

There are many different ways that people have come up with managing pain. Some are over-the-counter medications; others are more holistic. These natural holistic approaches have gained popularity in recent years. This is a positive approach as there can be negative repercussions to some pain treatments. But is it safe to use CBD for pain? Is CBD an option?

You must be thinking, what does this have to do with CBD (or, as it is also known, cannabidiol)? Many people have started taking CBD to help manage their pain. So, what can CBD do for your discomfort? Read on to find out. 

First: What is CBD?  

The best way to understand CBD and what it may do is to know what it is and what it definitely isn’t.

CBD is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant comes in various types. One of the better-known ones is hemp. As of 2018, the hemp plant is legal to grow and sell throughout the United States. This was deemed federally legal by the Farm Bill. There are a lot of different reasons for this, but one of the biggest is that hemp has a lot of CBD and not as much tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

THC is the component of the Cannabis sativa plant that gives users a ‘high’ feeling or a type of inebriation. This component is not legal in all states. Some states have legalized it either for recreational or medicinal uses. CBD does not have the inebriating effect like THC. Hemp contains less than 0.3% of THC and is not enough to get users ‘high’. The common version of cannabis that has a lot of THC is marijuana. These two cannabinoids are often found together but can be separated from one another. CBD has been described to give holistic health benefits.  

Now that we have that covered, we need to ask, does CBD for pain work?

Pain + CBD 

Does CBD for pain work? It is quite possible More research on CBD needs to be done before we can say anything for sure, but a few studies can be looked at. First, there is one study that focused on how CBD may be able to help animals struggling with inflammation. Pet owners were asked to give their dogs with age-related inflammation daily doses of CBD and observe how their pets responded. The owners in their surveys reported that their dogs appeared to move better and with less pain. This suggests that CBD may be able to help reduce inflammation-caused pain.

In this study, CBD spray and a placebo were evaluated in 300 patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy.  Those who were given a placebo did not get the same results as those who were given the CBD spray. The researchers found that those who were given the CBD slept and moved better and reported having less pain.  

Other uses of CBD 

Now that you know that CBD for pain is a possibility, perhaps you are wondering what other uses of CBD there are. We’ve listed a few of them here for you:  

Skin health: Although CBD topical usually never reaches the bloodstream it does not mean that they cannot assist in skin health. In this study, it explains that those with and without skin conditions had improved skin health after the use of CBD topicals. The researchers found this through several tests and photographic surveys.

Promote a sense of calm: CBD has been described as promoting a sense of calm in those who have feelings of anxiousness. This is why people have often used CBD right before bed to calm any nerves they may have or in the morning to start their day with a nice state of mind. 

Approved medicinal use: Though there are not many yet, there are some CBD-based medications that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Epidiolex is the most well-known. This medication helps those with two severe types of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Dravet syndrome. There are a handful of others that assist those going through cancer treatments with nausea it may cause.

CBD for Pain Products 

What CBD products are available now? There are many different CBD products out there, but be careful of where you buy from, as not all are made to be of the same quality. It is important to read labels and research how retailers are obtaining and creating these products. Here is a list of some that are available:  

Soft gels: Soft gels are pill-like capsules that are made with liquid CBD. These are swallowed and then go through the digestive system to reach the stomach. This is where it is broken down and the CBD is absorbed through the stomach lining and into the bloodstream.  

Edibles: Edibles come in various forms and are similar to soft capsules. But instead of swallowing the product you chew the yummy gummy. The CBD is then absorbed into the system during digestion.

Topicals: CBD topicals are used to promote skin health. Topicals come in salves, lotions and even creams. The CBD that is found in topicals never reach the bloodstream. However, they have been described to give benefits from the pores of the skin. These work best when used liberally and often. You can find many different kinds of topicals, even ones that clean like hand sanitizers.

Tinctures & oils: These types of CBD are very similar to tablets in the way they reach the bloodstream. They are added to a carrier oil and are used sublingually. This is one of the fastest ways to get CBD into the bloodstream.

Perhaps after reading this article you have decided to add CBD into your discomfort managing regimen or maybe you have decided to use it for a different purpose. Either way, we hope that we have helped you gain a better understanding and more confidence surrounding the subject. If you have any questions or concerns about CBD, be sure to ask your doctor about it. They will be able to help you figure out if CBD is safe for you.