How Can CBD Oil Be Used in Relieving Pain In Humans?

Taking prescription medications for pain is sometimes associated with side effects. For this reason, there is an increased use of CBD oil for pain relief. This article explains how you can use CBD oil to relieve pain, the kind of pain CBD oil is most effective in providing relief, and methods of taking CBD oil for pain.

In many countries, there used to be restrictions on the manufacture and use of CBD products. The restrictions discouraged scientists from researching more about the benefits of CBD and its effect on the human body. As cannabidiol is being legalizedin many nations now, research has gained momentum and is showing positive results. Scientists are finding out that CBD oil can effectively ease certain conditions and pains. There are different ways to use CBD oil, as discussed below.

Definition Of CBD

CBD is one of more than 100 compounds of the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD is non-psychoactive since it does not affect the same receptors in the body as THC. According to Fine& Rosenfeld (2013), CBD influences the endocannabinoid system to use its endocannabinoids more effectively in regulating functions like sleep, immune response, and pain. THC causes a high by affecting the brain's endocannabinoid receptors, causing the production of pleasure chemicals, for example, dopamine. There are different varieties of cannabis plants with different levels of THC compound. In the UK, CBD derived from hemp is considered legal. Hemp is one of the different varieties of the cannabis plant that contains 0.2% THC.

CBD Oil

One of the many different products made from CBD is CBD oil . CBD oil is a liquid that consists of carrier oil and CBD derived from cannabis. CBD is extracted from hemp and then added to the carrier oil to form CBD oil. Different CBD oils have different strengths, and for this reason, people use them for different purposes. You should therefore consult your doctor before buying a certain CBD oil.

CBD For Chronic Pain

Most people define chronic pain as any pain lasting longer than a few months. According to the study done by Baron et al. (2018), when CBD is used alongside THC, it can help to relieve various chronic conditions and pain. CBD can be effective in relieving pains that result from conditions such as multiple sclerosis and injuries in the spinal cord.

CBD for Arthritis And Joint Pain

The most common symptoms of arthritis include swelling, joint stiffness and pain. Arthritis is a broad term that refers to many joint-related conditions and pain. In a study done on rats, researchers applied topical CBD gel to rats with arthritis. They noted a reduction in inflammations and signs of pain. CBD oil can be effective in relieving arthritis pain in humans though more human research is underway to confirm the findings.

Multiple Sclerosis

This autoimmune condition affects the entire body through the brain and nerves. According to Łabuz-Roszak et al. (2019), the most common symptoms of MS are muscle spasms. When muscle spasms become very strong, they cause constant pain. The use of CBD oil can help reduce muscle spasms.

Neuropathic Pain

Toth & Moulin (2013) states that neuropathic pain results from nerve damage. This pain can be caused by multiple sclerosis and infections such as shingles. Though more research needs to be done to understand the effectiveness of CBD in relieving neuropathic pain, CBD oil has shown the ability to relieve this kind of pain.

How to Take CBD Oil For Pain

CBD oil is available in different forms, including creams, lotions, oils, capsules, etc. The different forms require different methods of consumption. You can consult your doctor to find the best CBD form and get advice on dosage.

Using Capsules

CBD oil dosage in capsules is pre-measured and fixed, making it effective in dealing with pain. Choosing a good quality CBD oil capsule guarantees you the benefit of pain relief.

Tinctures

Taking tinctures involves placing CBD oil drops under the tongue. The capillaries absorb CBD oil into the bloodstream.

CBD Oil Topicals

Different ingredients are used together with CBD oil to manufacture creams, lotions and gels. CBD topicals are applied on the skin in areas where you are experiencing pain. You may experience relief shortly after application though it mostly takes about 30 minutes. CBD topicals can be used for pains caused by inflammations and neuropathic pain. You should be very careful if you have a pre-existing skin allergy if you plan to use CBD topicals. In this case, the best thing to do is to consult your doctor before trying them.

Vaping CBD oil

Vaping refers to taking CBD oil vapour from a vaping device. Vaping gives an immediate effect of CBD compared to the other methods of consumption. Most CBD oils used for vaping are highly concentrated with CBD; therefore, you should be careful to avoid taking a high dose. It is important to note that the long-term effects of vaping are unknown. Learn more about best ways to use cbd oil

CBD Edibles

CBD edibles are foods infused with CBD oil. When you take CBD gummies, they go through the digestive system before being absorbed into the bloodstream. It takes longer to experience the effect of CBD gummies for pain, though the effect lasts longer than with other forms of CBD oil. Some edibles contain flavours to make the taste better. It is hard to maintain a consistent CBD dose by taking edibles. The amount of CBD in edibles varies with the product. It is, therefore, hard to find the same dosage in different brand products of CBD gummies. CBD gummies are more effective in relieving widespread pain and the feeling of soreness.

Conclusion

Almost all research on CBD oil for pain is done on adults. Experts do not recommend using CBD oil to relieve pain in children. However, epidiolex, a drug approved for treating epilepsy, is safe for use by children. Avoid taking CBD oil alongside high-fat foods. High-fat foods have the potential to increase CBD concentration in the blood, putting you at risk of experiencing side effects. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should avoid taking CBD oil. Though CBD oil is beneficial in pain relief, research needs to continue to know the effect of CBD on the root cause of pain.

Reference

Baron, E. P., Lucas, P., Eades, J., & Hogue, O. (2018). Patterns of medicinal cannabis use, strain analysis, and substitution effect among patients with migraine, headache, arthritis, and chronic pain in a medicinal cannabis cohort. The journal of headache and pain, 19(1), 1-28.

Fine, P. G., & Rosenfeld, M. J. (2013). The endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids, and pain. Rambam Maimonides medical journal, 4(4).

Łabuz-Roszak, B., Niewiadomska, E., Kubicka-Bączyk, K., Skrzypek, M., Tyrpień-Golder, K., Majewska, A., ... & Pierzchała, K. (2019). Prevalence of pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and its association with anxiety, depressive symptoms and quality of life. Psychiatr Pol, 53(2), 475-486.

Toth, C., & Moulin, D. E. (Eds.). (2013). Neuropathic pain: causes, management and understanding. Cambridge University Press.