CBD - How Beneficial Is It for Treating Back Pain?

CBD can be used for various medicinal purposes, such as relieving back pains. Read this article to know more about CBD and its effectiveness in treating back pain.

CBD can be used to treat pain and help the user relax. When choosing CBD, the user should know the types of CBD and should consult a doctor before using CBD for back pain. Furthermore, CBD has minimal side effects since it is an organic compound.

Recently, scientific research on the efficacy of CBD in pain management has derailed. Hemp was classified as a Schedule 1 Drug and listed as a Controlled Substance besides cocaine and heroin. However, Congress passed the Farm Bill in 2018. This legislation led to the removal of hemp from the legal definition of marijuana. Therefore, CBD attracted global interest, especially among people seeking herbal alternatives to conventional inorganic medicines. Furthermore, CBD has anecdotally proven effective, especially because it does not have psychoactive properties like marijuana. Read on to know more about CBD and how it may be beneficial in treating back pain;

What is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical component found in marijuana and hemp. It is important to note that marijuana and hemp are not the same. Even though they both belong to the cannabis family, hemp may be legal in the same jurisdiction where marijuana is illegal. The amount of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) determines the difference between hemp and marijuana. When the THC presence is below 0.3%, the plant is known as hemp, and when the THC presence is higher than 0.3 %, the plant is known as marijuana. THC is also a chemical component like CBD, and they both exist alongside hundreds of other chemical components in cannabis. THC is responsible for the psychoactive property of cannabis. Most legislation prohibits marijuana because of the high THC percentage. In jurisdictions where marijuana and THC are prohibited, CBD from marijuana is also prohibited. Hemp-derived CBD from hemp is, therefore, more common than marijuana-derived CBD from marijuana.

The Effectiveness of CBD in Treating Back Pain

Back pains are debilitating. Bath (2018) observed that back pain is common among most patients. Argueta et al. (2020) stated that CBD treatment for spinal injury, sclerosis, and fibromyalgia improved the patient's quality of life. Schilling et al. (2021) concluded that most people using CBD for back pain had a positive attitude and stated that CBD was beneficial in treating their pain. From the preceding, we may conclude that CBD may benefit back pain. Besides pain and inflammation management CBD may also be useful in the following ways;

For Relaxation

The user will likely experience anxiety, stress, and depression, causing mood swings because of back pain. Gruber (2021) suggested that CBD may be a mood enhancer, helping the user relax.

To Treat Insomnia

It is unlikely that the patient may have a good sleep while suffering from back pain. CBD may help the user by eliminating the issues causing insomnia, such as mood swings, stress, anxiety, pain, and inflammation.

How to Choose CBD Products

Buying CBD products may be confusing for first-time users because the CBD market is flooded with all types of CBD products. The following are the main factors that you should consider when buying CBD products;

The Type of CBD

CBD products are not the same. The user must know the types of CBD because they are placed in categories depending on their effectiveness. Furthermore, the user must be aware of the entourage effect, a phenomenon in which the chemical components of hemp work synergically to enhance CBD's therapeutic effects. The CBD categories are referred to as spectrums. There are three main CBD spectrums, namely;

Full spectrum CBD

Full spectrum CBD is considered more effective because it has a majority of cannabis components, including THC. The user, therefore, enjoys the entourage effect. The percentage of THC is usually 0.3% or less. The THC is, therefore, too little to make the user euphoric.

Broad spectrum CBD

The CBD in the broad spectrum has as many chemical components of cannabis as CBD in the full spectrum, except THC. Therefore, the user enjoys the entourage effect but it is not as effective as CBD in the full spectrum.

CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is the purest of the spectrum because it only has one cannabis component known as cannabinoids. The user, therefore, does not experience the entourage effect. The CBD isolate spectrum is the best for first-time users because it is the mildest of the three spectrums. It is also popular among users who would not want THC to be traced in their blood system no matter how negligible it is, e.g., athletes.

The Legality of CBD

CBD is legal depending on the laws of the jurisdiction that you are in. Therefore, it is not advisable to use CBD in an area where it's prohibited because the penalties may be harsh. Hemp may not be a psychoactive drug, but some states are still reluctant to amend their laws. Therefore, before using and selling hemp and CBD, you must understand your location's laws.

Should I Consult a Doctor before Using CBD for Back Pain?

Consulting a doctor before buying CBD is important for the reasons below;

• The doctor may run tests to check if you have other underlying health issues that may be affected by CBD.
• You may be on medication that can interact with CBD.
• The CBD market is unregulated, and there are some fake CBD products doctors can harm you, so the doctor can recommend the best places to buy CBD. Learn more about does cbd help with your appetite?

The Side Effects of CBD

CBD may seem harmless because it is non-addictive and cannot make the user euphoric. However, like any drug, CBD can cause side effects such as dry mouth and dizziness if used improperly. Improper use of CBD includes overdosing and mixing it with drugs and alcohol.

Conclusion

CBD has been a popular alternative for users since the legalization of hemp in the US, which not only de-stigmatized hemp use but also jump-started the expansion of the CBD market. When buying CBD, the users should familiarize themselves with the spectrums because they do not have the same effect on the user. To buy the best CBD, the user should consult the doctor to avoid compromising their health. The doctor may also recommend the best places to buy CBD. It is important to note that abusing CBD may result in side effects such as dry mouth and dizziness.

References

Argueta, D. A., Ventura, C. M., Kiven, S., Sagi, V., & Gupta, K. (2020). A balanced approach for cannabidiol use in chronic pain. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 561.

Bath, B., Lawson, J., Ma, D., & Trask, C. (2018). An observational study is a self-reported use of family physician, chiropractor and physiotherapy services among adult Canadians with chronic back disorders. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 1-11.

Gruber, S. A., Smith, R. T., Dahlgren, M. K., Lambros, A. M., & Sagar, K. A. (2021). No pain, all gain? Interim analyses from a longitudinal, observational study examining the impact of medical cannabis treatment on chronic pain and related symptoms. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 29(2), 147.

Schilling, J. M., Hughes, C. G., Wallace, M. S., Sexton, M., Backonja, M., & Moeller-Bertram, T. (2021). Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Survey of Patients' Perspectives and Attitudes. Journal of pain research, 14, 1241.