As you likely already know, cannabis oil has become an extremely hot topic within the world of health and wellness. A type of cannabinoid, CBD (or cannabidiol) is a chemical found naturally in cannabis, including hemp and marijuana plants.
Free of THC, which creates the sensation of being “high” that many people associate with marijuana products, CBD oil offers other effects that have been successful used to treat various health symptoms, including pain. CBD oil is found as part of the selection in many nearby marijuana dispensaries, making it readily accessible in countries where cannabis is made legal.
Thus far, we have evidence to suggest that cannabis products, and oil in particular, can help reduce pain, inflammation, and the overall discomfort which is an unfortunate reality of many health conditions.
Below are the seven ways on how to use CBD oil for pain:
1. Understand the research behind CBD oil
Many people who have been suffering from chronic pain for years claim that CBD oil has been a total game changer in terms of how they manage their symptoms and condition. Especially in light of research done into how damaging the opioid epidemic has been, many people are relieved to have found an alternative form of treatment to help them cope.
Although it is fair to say that CBD oil certainly isn’t as dangerous as an opioid in terms of its propensity to be habit-forming and cause more side effects, there is still more research that needs to be done. There is certainly much to suggest that CBD oil boasts impressive pain-reliving benefits though. Let’s take a closer look.
2. Learn about Epidiolex
The question on how to use CBD oil for pain has been so common nowadays, especially now that is has been prescribed for epilepsy, Epidiolex is currently the only CBD product on the market that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved.
It is used to treat seizures caused by two forms of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, two rare but serious conditions that usually appear in early childhood or infancy. Containing cannabidiol, it comes as a liquid solution that’s taken by mouth and is approved for use in adults and children ages 2 and older.
3. Research non-prescription CBD products
The fact that Epidolex exists speaks to the fact that CBD oil has some serious potential that is still being explored, but as it stands—there aren’t any FDA-approved, non-prescription CBD products.
For that reason, it is important to understand that they aren’t regulated for purity and dosage like other medications and that it is necessary to do some research yourself and talk with a doctor to see if it’s an option for your condition.
4. Use CBD oil for chronic pain relief
Without getting too technical, here is a basic overview of why it is thought that CBD oil could be helpful is addressing chronic pain. Each person has a cell-signaling system known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which has receptors throughout the brain and immune system. Some researchers think that CBD interacts with these receptors, which are tiny proteins attached to your cells.
As they receive signals, mostly chemical ones, from different stimuli and help your cells respond, the response creates anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects that help with pain management. One review published in March 2018 looked at all the studies on CBD for pain conducted between 1975 and 2018.
These studies looked at how CBD oil could be used for treating cancer pain, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia. With some fairly landmark results, researchers concluded that CBD was effective in overall pain management and didn’t cause negative side effects.
5. Use CBD for arthritis pain relief
Likewise, there was a promising study released in 2016 that looked at how CBD could be used to treat rats with arthritis. The researchers applied CBD gel to rats for four days in a row and noted reduced inflammation and overall pain in the rats’ affected joints.
There were also no obvious side effects. These exciting finding suggest that the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects of CBD gel could potentially help people with arthritis. However, more human studies are needed before any conclusions can be reached.
6. Use CBD for cancer treatment relief
CBD has also proven itself to be promising when it comes to helping people who are battling cancer. Studies done on mice have even shown that CBD can lead to the shrinking of cancerous tumors.
Although it is too soon to say much about how promising that is though, most studies in humans have investigated the role of CBD in managing pain related to cancer and cancer treatment. It has had especially encouraging results when looked at as a method to treat side effects associated with chemotherapy, including pain, vomiting, and lack of appetite.
7. Use CBD for migraine pain relief
As it stands, studies on CBD and relief of migraine pain are still fairly limited. The studies that do currently exist only look at CBD when it’s paired with THC, not when it’s used alone.
Nevertheless, promising results from a 2017 study indicate that CBD and THC can lead to less acute pain and less intense pain for people with migraine.
