How To Use CBD Oil for Pain

CBD oil can be used in dealing with different types of pain. CBD oil is believed to interact with a person's endocannabinoid system, responsible for regulating body functions.

CBD is a compound chemical found in the cannabis hemp plant. It does not have psychoactive effects, so it does not cause 'high' to the users. The only approved CBD-infused medicine by the FDA is Epidiolex, prescribed for epilepsy. CBD comes in various forms, so it is important to speak to the doctor to advise a person on the best CBD product for them. This article explains how to use CBD oil for pain.

What is Pain?

Pain is an uncomfortable sensation in the body caused by the nervous system's activation. It can range from annoying to debilitating, where a person may feel like a sharp stab or dull ache. It can also be stinging, burning, pinching, or throbbing feelings. Mearin et al. (2016) explained that the feeling of pain might be consistent or occur only under some conditions. It may develop suddenly and last for a short time or be ongoing sensations repeatedly returning over several months or years. A specific injury or medical condition can cause pain, but some common causes of pain are; toothache, headache, sore throat, muscle cramps, stomach ache, bone fractures, burns, and illnesses such as arthritis, and fibromyalgia, flu, and other medical conditions that cause pain. There are several different types of pain where a person can experience one or more than one types of pain. Identification of the type of pain helps in developing a treatment plan. Types of pain include acute, chronic, nociceptive, neuropathic, and functional pain.

How to Diagnose Pain?

Pain is diagnosed by healthcare by doing a physical examination and asking you some questions about when it started and where it is most intense. Depending on a person's symptoms, the doctor may do some blood and urine tests. There might be some need to do an X-ray or CT scan. Learn more about does cbd cure lyme disease?

CBD Oil and Pain

 CBD for Chronic Pain Relief

Chronic pain is a type of pain that occurs over multiple months or years. It may be caused by some health conditions such as chronic migraine, cancer, arthritis, or fibromyalgia. In some cases, the cause of chronic pain may be hard to identify. Boehnke et al. (2019) explained that the CBD compound is believed to interact with a person's endocannabinoid system, which is made of receptors responsible for regulating body function. Receptors receive signals from different stimuli hence helping the cells respond. CBD creates anti-inflammatory and anti-pain-relieving effects that help in managing chronic pain.

CBD for Arthritis Pain

Arthritis is associated with swelling and tenderness of one or more joints caused by a fault in the immune system that caused the body to attack its tissues in the joints. The common symptoms include swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints, which may progress over time. Andrews & Phillips (2021) stated that CBD had shown promise in dealing with pain because of its anti-inflammatory properties, which bode well for arthritis treatment.

CBD for Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain involves various conditions and injuries that damage your nervous system. The pain is felt from various levels of the nervous system, such as the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. It manifests as tingling, muscle weakness, and sharp, shooting, burning, or stabbing pain—the common cause of neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis. Boehnke et al. (2019) explained that CBD administered topically to patients with peripheral nerve damage helps in reducing patients' intense pain and sharp pain. If both CBD and THC are used together, they improve the overall benefits of CBD.

CBD for Cancer-Pain Relief

CBD is believed to help in dealing with cancer-related pain by leading to the shrinking of cancerous tumors. The combination of THC and CBD extracts provides more effective pain relief than using opioids alone.

How to Use CBD Oil for pain?

Choose the Best Delivery Method

There are various delivery methods of CBD. It means that one can choose the best delivery method depending on their needs and choices. They can take CBD oil through CBD capsules, tinctures, topicals, or edibles. CBD oil administered orally may take some time to show effects because it passes through digestion fast. Administering CBD oil sublingually may be faster than other methods of CBD administration because CBD gets absorbed into the bloodstream directly. CBD oil for pain can be applied directly to the targeted area. CBD extract is mixed with a carrier oil to create a balm that can be used in rubbing it on your affected area. CBD is absorbed into the skin, so it is important to rub deeply to increase its absorption rate. Boonruab et al. (2020) explained that topical massage helps deal with neuropathic pain due to inflammation.

Finding the Right Dose

When trying to find the right CBD dosage for yourself, it is important to consult your doctor. They will be able to guide you in finding the correct CBD dosage according to your needs and health conditions. Brioschi et al. (2020) explained that CBD oil could interfere with your ongoing medications. It is important to start with a low dosage to gauge your reaction to CBD. One should do it gradually to get the desired effects if one wants to increase the dosage. It is not a must for one to increase the dose once they find what works for them. It is important to read the label for dosing instructions on specific products to ensure that you take the right dosage.

Conclusion

CBD oil is believed to interact with the endocannabinoid system responsible for regulating body functions, including pain. Anti-inflammation and anti-pain properties of CBD help deal with the different types of pain. Combining THC and CBD improves CBD's general benefits in treating pain. When using CBD oil for pain, choosing the best dosage administration is important, depending on your desires. Choosing the right CBD dosage depends on your health condition and needs.

References

Andrews, N. J., & Phillips, A. J. (2021). Community nurses support patients with fibromyalgia who use cannabis to manage pain. British Journal of Community Nursing, 26(2), 92–98. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2021.26.2.92

Boehnke, K. F., Scott, J. R., Litinas, E., Sisley, S., Clauw, D. J., Goesling, J., & Williams, D. A. (2019). Cannabis Use Preferences and Decision-making Among a Cross-sectional Cohort of Medical Cannabis Patients with Chronic Pain. The Journal of Pain. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2019.05.009

Boonruab, J., Damjuti, W., Niempoog, S., & Pattaraarchachai, J. (2019). Effectiveness of hot herbal compress versus topical diclofenac in treating patients with myofascial pain syndrome. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 9(2), 163-167.

Mearin, F., Ciriza, C., Mínguez, M., Rey, E., Mascort, J. J., Peña, E., ... & Júdez, J. (2016). Clinical practice guideline: irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and functional constipation in adults. Rev Esp Enferm Dig, 108(6), 332-63.