Can CBD Help Alleviate Sciatica Pain?

People can go miles to find a remedy for pain, and CBD can treat it. This article explains how CBD helps to reduce sciatica pain by providing details to the following headlines: What exactly is sciatica pain?, how to use CBD to alleviate sciatica pain;  the linkup between CBD, sciatica pain, and the endocannabinoid system (ECS); and benefits of CBD in alleviating sciatica pain.

CBD is an active chemical compound derived from the leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant, especially the hemp species. It has gained huge popularity in the health field due to its ability to reduce chronic pains, anxiety, and inflammation. The most common pain associated with 40% of the world's population is sciatica condition. Most people are searching for methods to alleviate the pain without dangerous side effects like drug dependency, and CBD has proven to be the right remedy. Research shows CBD-infused products like lotion, gummies, and suppositories can compact the pain and treat the damaged cells caused by sciatica conditions.

What is Sciatica Pain?

Liyew (2020) explained that sciatica is the pain that runs along the sciatic nerve in the lower abdomen and through the buttocks, and down each leg. It usually affects one side of the body and is the spinal condition that compresses the sciatica nerve. This results in inflammation, tingling, burning sensation, or chronic pain. It can be classified into four types, namely; acute, which lasts for 4 weeks; chronic sciatica, which is severe pain for more than 8 weeks, alternating sciatica which affects both legs and the lower feet, and lastly bilateral sciatica, which is a result of wear and tear in the vertebrae.

How To Use CBD To Alleviate Sciatica Pain

CBD is readily available in various forms in the market. However, each form is used differently depending on your problem. Urits et al. (2020) highlighted the following CBD-infused products that work effectively and quickly to combat sciatica pain;

Sublingually

It involves using CBD tinctures under your tongue and holding the liquid for a few seconds to allow the CBD to be absorbed through the mouth membranes to the bloodstream. It is more effective than swallowing the oil since the compounds in the bloodstream easily reach the lower abdomen. Sciatica pain is treated in less than 5 minutes.

CBD Oil Topicals

They include CBD-infused cream, lotion, and body scrub that are rubbed directly to the skin gently and deeper to ensure CBD penetrates the skin. Upon application in the lower part of the body, its effects take 20 to 30 minutes to alleviate the lower abdomen pains like sciatica.

 CBD Suppositories

CBD oil is infused into rectal suppositories, medications inserted through the buttocks to the rectum. Some people use CBD rectal suppositories for sciatica pains to bypass the unpleasant earthy oil flavor of cannabis products. Additionally, CBD compound is effective when delivered with suppositories since it is soft and thus melts fast inside the rectum. CBD is released and absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Its effects kick in in less than 3 minutes.

CBD, Sciatica Pain, and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

Cooray et al. (2020) stated that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system mandated for pain relief. The ECS is responsible for controlling internal body balance (homeostasis) by alleviating imbalances like inflammation, pain, anxiety, and stress. When you feel pain in the sciatica nerve, the body is sometimes deficient in maintaining homeostasis due to a low level of body cannabinoids. CBD interacts with ECS receptors for pain relief by increasing the production of endocannabinoids which binds with the receptors to tackle the imbalance. Afterward, it prevents their breakdown by enzymes resulting in more time to tackle sciatica pain.

Benefits of CBD in Alleviating Sciatica Pain

Reducing Inflammation

Pellati et al. (2018) explained that the immune system triggers inflammation to protect the body from infection. However, the system can cause inflammation in normal circumstances, resulting in damage to cells. CBD is largely known for its anti-inflammatory and non-intoxicating properties, which help treat the body from chronic pains by producing cytokines compounds in the body. Cytokines help to reduce inflammation hence decreasing sciatica pain.

 Reducing Anxiety Associated With Sciatica Pain

People with sciatica pain are anxious, resulting in worsening the pain. Anxiety increases the oxidative stress activities in cells, increasing inflammation and thus more pain. CBD increases the production of endocannabinoids, providing calming and relaxing effects to the patient. Also, it interacts with brain receptors increasing the production of the stress hormone serotonin in the brain; Low production of the hormone results in increased anxiety

Calming Effects and Improves Sleep Quality

Most people wonder how sleep help reduce pain since doctors always advise their patients to take good sleep for pain recovery. This is because, at a sleeping status, your body is at its lowest metabolic rate; therefore, the body can focus the energy on tissue and cell production. However, most people can't sleep while experiencing chronic pain. Therefore, CBD provides the patients with calming effects, relaxing the body muscles and joints. In the daytime, it ensures people are alert and fresh, resulting in stabilizing the sleeping pattern

CBD Oil Has Healing Properties

Sciatica pain is caused by damaged cells and tissues around the lower abdomen. CBD helps in the healing process of tissue or intracellular injuries. It contains omega 3 and 6 organic nutrients, which help the body tissue produce new cells to replace dead cells, thus reducing pain. Moreover, CBD oil is diluted with organic oils such as hemp seed oil which contains healing nutrients like amino acids and Vitamin E, C, and A. Learn more about can cbd help you focus?

CBD is Neuroprotective

Sciatica Pain is largely associated with damage to the nerve senses in the skin. CBD has decreased some burning and tingling feelings in the buttocks and thighs due to damaged nerves caused by spinal cord injuries. CBD is taken; it interacts with superficial sciatica nerves under the skin and acts as a protector by blocking pain transmission to the brain and preventing tearing of the nerves. This makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. Learn more about can cbd help with an itchy scalp?

Conclusion

CBD products such as CBD oil, lotions, creams, and suppositories have gained popularity in alleviating sciatica pain for people. You can use CBD products in different ways to harness the benefits. The most effective include placing a tincture under your tongue, direct application to your skin, and CBD suppositories up to your rectum. They will help alleviate sciatica pain by reducing inflammation, combating anxiety, providing good sleep, and acting as a healing agent to treat damaged tissues. It is important to consult your doctor before joining the CBD regime for better advice on how to use the compound to treat sciatica conditions.

References

Cooray, R., Gupta, V., & Suphioglu, C. (2020). Current aspects of the endocannabinoid system and targeted THC and CBD phytocannabinoids as potential therapeutics for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases: a review. Molecular Neurobiology, 57(11), 4878-4890.

Liyew, W. A. (2020). Clinical presentations of lumbar disc degeneration and lumbosacral nerve lesions. International Journal of Rheumatology, 2020.

Pellati, F., Borgonetti, V., Brighenti, V., Biagi, M., Benvenuti, S., & Corsi, L. (2018). Cannabis sativa L. and nonpsychoactive cannabinoids: their chemistry and role against oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer. BioMed research international, 2018.

Urits, I., Gress, K., Charipova, K., Habib, K., Lee, D., Lee, C., ... & Viswanath, O. (2020). Use of cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of chronicles pain. Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology, 34(3), 463-477.